Shinseki Resignation

Of course he'll be made a scapegoat, it is politics after all. Unfortunately, his departure (by whatever means), in itself, does nothing to fix any of the problems the VA is facing (or has brought upon themselves). Just another example of bureaucracy run a muck.
I for one am getting rather tired of hearing about yet another investigation into the same problems. Exactly how many investigations on the same issue does it take before someone in a position of authority actually even TRIES to fix anything! This has been going on (per the VAs own internal investigations) since at least 2010!
end rant.

I think it was the best decision overall for GEN Shinseki to just resign. I personally believe the VA system is so broken that it may never be fixed, however that's defined. I don't think it really can be perfected, honestly. Many well thought-out solutions exist on paper and have been conceived by brilliant people, but the implementation and optimization of this massive health care system as an entity of the government is almost impossibly hard. Yes, I do think GEN Shinseki fell on the sword here, but this was the right call to make as the leader of the organization. (Note: my personal opinions, not those of RallyPoint.)

The problem wasn't Shinseki to begin with, the problem is the whole bureaucratic system itself. Shinseki just rode the bull, so to speak, and couldn't handle it. No one can. The whole system needs overhauled to a more patient centric way of doing things. We as Americans have accepted this bereaucratic system for far too long. Nothing will change as long as we continue to go along with it. So my arguement is, it doesn't matter who is in charge, it's the system that is flawed. Look back and read about the early progressive movement of the late 1800s early 1900s led by President Woodrow Wilson. When he was a college president at one of the Ivy League schools, which the name escapes me at the moment, he wrote essays about how a bereaucratic system was the ideal system in which to control the masses because people assigned to positions in government would make better decisions on your life in general. I am really generalyzing his whole argument, but he and others like him worked to create a European style bereaucracy here in the states and were successfull. Now look at where we are today. We have accepted that we need to jump through hoops of fire on multiple different levels to get anything done through the government, and they control a great deal of our lives. I suppose those of us in the military have a great deal more patience with this because we live it, but that is my argument again, think of how many forms we fill out every day, how many outside agencies we have to go to, how many levels of agencies look over our shoulders. Now translate that to the VA in all of its responsibilities, not just the medical side, and take a deep breath. Things won't change until the system changes.

Absolutely scape goat... Let's say that General Odierno should be fired because all of the scandals we had with Generals the last two years is that fair? Absolutely not there is tiers of leadership and every one of those hospitals have a head honcho, they are the ones that should be accountable for their fail organizations and the government should recoup all those bonuses. It is impossible for Shinseki to know they were hiding lists of patients at that level is entirely to low. It's like blaming the Army chief of staff for the post commander of FT Jackson for hiding and affair how could he possibly know. Unfortunately it's politics and someone needs to fall on that sword to appease the public and the higher government to save face with the voters.

Nice

Scapegoat. This system was broken long before he took it over. How can we blame a man who tried and did his best to work inside a corrupt system with no chance to fix it? This is the same operation that just granted an octogenarian his benefits from serving in WWII, was that his fault also? Yes changes need to be made, but I don't think this is the change that needs to be made. Place the blame on the system, not on the person who was attempting to run it. So much for my .02.

I blame the people under GEN. (Ret) Shinseki for poor supervision, he was at the top of the pyramid can't see everything. Was he getting any support to fix the problem?

It was the right thing to do. But....... then the Administration turns around and appoints his Deputy as the interim Secy. As if he didn't know what was going on?
The bad decisions just keep coming.

Eric Shinseki's resignation will not fix the problems at the VA. A congressional investigation, will not fix the problems at the VA. Firing a few of the people working for the VA will not fix the problems at the VA. Blaming the top bosses, will not fix things at the VA. Shinseki is doing what he was told to do: Fall on his sword, for "the good of the government". Shinseki has had his hands tied the entire time he was in charge. When you can't fire people, end their careers, or punish those who work for you, you are not a threat to them, and anything you want to do, can be safely ignored by those who don't care, are crooked, or are incapable (either due to others above them not letting them, or because they don't know how to) of fixing things.

There is only one way to fix the VA: Fire everyone who has any hint of having a hand in either delaying, or sub-standardizing the treatment of veterans. Put all others on notice, and find someone with a proven track record from OUTSIDE the VA to fix the VA. Charge them with a 1-year goal, of improving quality of care and time it takes to get care and give them the power to do so. Doctors, nurses, PAs, and other practitioners who are found negligent: revoke or suspend their medical license. Anyone found to have been drinking or who as contributed directly to the suffering of someone - jail time.

It is time to be a complete *ssh*le to these types of people and get rid of them.

Will you get them all? Probably not. But the few that remain will be so scared they will toe the line and do the job. Later, they'll probably screw up and get caught eventually, and hopefully before someone else is killed or dies due to their negligence.

Unfortunately I severely doubt the ones who were truly responsible for the deaths and delayed care at the AZ VA were not held accountable.