Posted on Apr 24, 2015
New bill gives VA secretary power to fire any employee! What do you think?
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Now that he has the power lets see what he does with it. They identified over 1000 VA employees that should be fired, what are your thoughts on how many will be canned. I'd be willing to bet, if we are lucky, not more than 100 will be discharged from VA Service. I personally hope it is all 1000 and anymore they find out that have screwed veterans over.
You have the go ahead secretary now use it to fix the broken and corrupt system and start doing things right for our veterans. Salutes
You have the go ahead secretary now use it to fix the broken and corrupt system and start doing things right for our veterans. Salutes
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VA Claim
VA Claim
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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The VA is the one topic I let myself get truly irate about.
However (pausing for dramatic effect), I'm not sure how I feel about this.
This seems like a fox guarding the hen house issue. Although I do agree the Secretary should be able to remove "bad cogs" from the machine, as he sees fit. I also think that Political Appointees should have very tight reins when it comes to removing non-elected Civil Servants.
There's a reason we have a Civil Service Union, and it was generally because our politicians were abusing our "administration."
I fear that "sweeping changes" which is what we need, will lead to "salt the Earth" and "fear to fail" and "not my job" mentality which may be worse than what we have now.
Many of the People in the VA are great. Every interaction with the PEOPLE at the VA I have ever had has been good. They are trying to help. Every interaction I have had with the SYSTEM however... that's my issue.
I think the SYSTEM is broken. Not the PEOPLE.
I can rant all day long about the VA. I have. I loathe the organization, and as I said, I do let loose and get irate about them. I use the full fury of my 1a Protections on them. But I fear that this solution may not be correct.
It's like firing a plumber because he doesn't have the right tools to do the job, when the plumbing itself was cobbled together over the last 250 years, and takes a rocket scientist to figure out.
However (pausing for dramatic effect), I'm not sure how I feel about this.
This seems like a fox guarding the hen house issue. Although I do agree the Secretary should be able to remove "bad cogs" from the machine, as he sees fit. I also think that Political Appointees should have very tight reins when it comes to removing non-elected Civil Servants.
There's a reason we have a Civil Service Union, and it was generally because our politicians were abusing our "administration."
I fear that "sweeping changes" which is what we need, will lead to "salt the Earth" and "fear to fail" and "not my job" mentality which may be worse than what we have now.
Many of the People in the VA are great. Every interaction with the PEOPLE at the VA I have ever had has been good. They are trying to help. Every interaction I have had with the SYSTEM however... that's my issue.
I think the SYSTEM is broken. Not the PEOPLE.
I can rant all day long about the VA. I have. I loathe the organization, and as I said, I do let loose and get irate about them. I use the full fury of my 1a Protections on them. But I fear that this solution may not be correct.
It's like firing a plumber because he doesn't have the right tools to do the job, when the plumbing itself was cobbled together over the last 250 years, and takes a rocket scientist to figure out.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
CSM Michael Lynch I started another thread in regards to this topic... but.. here's the gist of my "theory."
Were this a military unit, and I the commander looking DOWN. After seeing all these failures, changes of commands, sweeping changes, years of issues, budget increases etc. I would have to ask myself:
"Have I set this unit up for failure?"
or
"Is it even possible to accomplish the Mission (as stated)?"
The more I look at the problem, and I look at this one A LOT. I have doubts.
To draw an analogy. Imagine your mission is to take and hold a series of caves in the side of a mountain.. but they don't give you any ground forces. Just air. Sure, you can shoot at it... but you can never plant the flag.
Were this a military unit, and I the commander looking DOWN. After seeing all these failures, changes of commands, sweeping changes, years of issues, budget increases etc. I would have to ask myself:
"Have I set this unit up for failure?"
or
"Is it even possible to accomplish the Mission (as stated)?"
The more I look at the problem, and I look at this one A LOT. I have doubts.
To draw an analogy. Imagine your mission is to take and hold a series of caves in the side of a mountain.. but they don't give you any ground forces. Just air. Sure, you can shoot at it... but you can never plant the flag.
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CSM Michael Lynch
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS I think you are spot on with this analogy. I'm like you this is one topic I dread seeing everyday. I'll l give you a for instance just recently. 2 Weeks ago I'm in the VA and the earliest apt I can get with one of the clinics is 30 June I took it, if I had waited it would have probably been 30 July or later frustrating doesn't even begin to tell you how I feel and I know we all do. I believe it is going to take yearssss to unscrew this system
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
CSM Michael Lynch Have you tried calling them?
Just for giggles call their phone number. Try to get a person on the line.
"We're sorry, please call back AFTER business hours, so you can leave a message and we'll call you back during business hours [sic]"
http://www.disabledveterans.org/2015/02/18/exposed-va-call-centers-block-veterans-calls/
Just for giggles call their phone number. Try to get a person on the line.
"We're sorry, please call back AFTER business hours, so you can leave a message and we'll call you back during business hours [sic]"
http://www.disabledveterans.org/2015/02/18/exposed-va-call-centers-block-veterans-calls/
EXPOSED: VA Call Centers Block Majority Veterans’ Calls
ABC15 investigators just confirmed what most veterans’ have been saying for years, that the majority of veteran calls are blocked at ailing VA Call Centers. In the call center industry, “blocked” calls are calls that do not get through to a call center operator due to a full call cue. So, bloc…
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I'm not sure that getting more shovels is going to help to get out of the hole.
Especially when I see stuff like this...
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/30/va-nurses-picket-increased-hospital-staffing/22602961/
Especially when I see stuff like this...
http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/01/30/va-nurses-picket-increased-hospital-staffing/22602961/
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If I were the Secretary I would have a field day. I'd make it fun too. I'd go up to them and tell them to pick a number between 1-10. Whatever number they pick, I'd say "That's right! That's how many minutes you have to gather your shit and get out of here. You're fired!"
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