Veterans taking care of Veterans

   I originally set up this blog to view my concerns about Veterans issues.  That was a couple months ago.  A comrade of mine has pushed me to publish the blog but I've always had trouble with time, among other things.  With the recent VA Scandal( the origins of which are not recent at all), I have pushed myself to react.
   While some called for the resignation of VA Secretary John Shinseki, I never thought that was the answer.  Its like cutting the head off of a mythical hydra, another head grows back.  Its the same thing.  We, as Veterans and as a country, must transform the Veterans Administration healthcare system.  It isn't working and hasn't been working for decades. 
   The recent legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have stalled.  That's right, the politicians cant figure out how to reconcile both bills into one bill that they will pass.  So all that talk about Veterans being able to go to any hospital, that's all smoke and mirrors right now.Check out a story about why its stalled and why it wont be passed by the Independence Day recess by Congress here http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/06/26/bill-crafted-in-response-to-va-scandal-gets-pushed-off/.
   So, once again, the politicians and bureaurcrats are twiddling their thumbs, doing nothing to fix the problem.  And the problem is millions of Veterans are waiting for healthcare they deserve and need.  Now.    According to a report by Sen. Tom Coburn, thousands of Veterans have died due to misconduct by the VA. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/06/25/coburn-report-slams-va-as-broken-system/.
   Amidst all of this, the VA put out a tweet on its twitter account about saving the oceans, http://defensetech.org/2014/06/17/vets-slam-va-tweet-on-protecting-oceans/.  When I read the tweet I was amazed.  The VA is in the middle of a scandal which has cost the lives of Veterans.  And they are worried about climate change and the like.  This illustrates the depth of the problem we Veterans face.  The VA Scandal has to be solved, now rather than sooner or later. 
   The last thing I want to do with this blog is to have it become some sort of political ruse.  I will say that this problem with the VA has gone on through several different presidential administrations.  President Obama said he was going to straighten it out when he was campaigning to be president back in 2008.  Last night he was fundraising.  It isn't solving the VA scandal or any of the problems with the VA. 
   And this blog wont solve the VA scandal.  But everyone that reads this blog can help to end it.  Call your representative and senators.  Tell them they have the obligation to take care of the Veterans of this country.  They signed on the dotted line to protect our country and they paid a price. Now the politicians and the bureaurcrats can't decide how to give those Veterans the care they deserve.  Then tell the politicians you can't decide how to vote the next time they are up for re election.  When I have called my comgressmen I have also told them I don't give a care about recycling or climate change, until they fix the VA healthcare system.  Take care of our Veterans above all else. 
That is all.