Vets groups upset with Carson's plan to eliminate VA

His underlying premise is correct regarding the Health Care aspect of the Dept of VA.

We "shouldn't" need it. In "theory" we should be able to handle this at DoD level. However, the problem is that Operations > All. The DoD will NEVER be able to meet the needs of Non-Operations oriented "personnel" (Veterans).

That said, the Dept of VA has proven consistently (over its entire existence) to be Incompetent, Inefficient, and Untrustworthy. Why shouldn't it be "dismantled" other than the fact that we need "A" organization to provide "this service." The real question is "Is the Dept of VA (Current), the correct Organization to provide said Service? OR would some OTHER Organization (ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION, including 2 monkeys and a typewriter) be better at it?"

But back to your comments to SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. Can the VA be "fixed" or is it beyond repair in its current incarnation? OR the something I think is actually more apt "Are we asking the VA to do something that it is actually not capable of doing (aka Are we setting it up for failure?)"

I believe the US Government has a hard time with "Social Programs" (et al), and the VA as a Social Program (possibly the Largest Federal ran) is just not sustainable. Not that we shouldn't try... just that we may not be capable (outside our skill set).

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Agreed. VHA is definitely broken and something needs to be done. I'm just not smart enough to know if we can fix it or should it be scrapped for something else? If the latter, I AM smart enough to know that the VHA needs to stay until that "something better" is operational. Something is better than nothing, right?

PO1 John Miller - "Something is better than nothing, right?" That's a great theoretic discussion. I could probably argue successfully both ways on that.

However the Dept of VA (et al) does A LOT of good, beyond just the VHA. It is EXTREMELY proficient when it comes to its two other major tasks of Education and Burial Benefits. But those treat "every Vet the same" which is something bureaucracy is good at. Something machines are good at. "Product in, Product out." The failing of the VHA is that every Individual is different, and Machines can't handle that. They just aren't designed to.

But back to your question: "if we can fix it or should it be scrapped for something else?" In simplest terms, my "belief" is that we need to Transition (Fix & Replace in steps) the current system (VHA) into a Different Dept, leaving them with ADCON, but giving OPCON to someone who can actually be held accountable, and who would scale better.

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Great points to all.

I agree that the VA, aside from the VHA, does a lot of good, especially in the 2 areas you specifically mentioned.

As far as VHA I also agree. My health issues aren't necessarily the same as yours or anybody else, even if we have the same condition.

CPT (Join to see) it could be because of the current debate, after all its politics.

He is not talking about privatizing the VA, he wants to fold it into the DoD so there is some accountability (at least that is my understanding of his idea). Not to mention, there is no Veteran oversight currently.

I understand what your saying,I simply dont believe that's his true agenda and the VA is not broken beyond repair as GOP would like you to believe.Why?Because if the 41 Senators who voted against the landmark Veterans Bill would have voted for it,the VA would have been on a path of reform and sustainability.The Compehensive Veterans Health and Benifits and Retirement Pay RestorationsAct of 2014,was supported by the American Legion. legion.org/legislation/ qa... and huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/re...