VA Recap: U.S. Vet on Cause, Solution, and Scale of Scandal

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VA Recap: U.S. Vet on Cause, Solution, and Scale of Scandal

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"They say, oh, the [U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs] needs more money. It enrages me," says Concerned Veterans for America's Dan Caldwell. "They need more accountability. They need more cultural change. They need more competition. They need more reform."

Reason TV traveled to Phoenix, AZ, where the now nationwide VA scandal initially broke. Caldwell joined Reason TV's Tracy Oppenheimer to discuss the scale of the scandal, systemic problems with VA facilities, and possible solutions.

"There should be more services at the VA where you have a private healthcare option. Particularly primary care services. Standard things you'd go to your family doctor for," says Caldwell. "I don't see a reason why the VA should be doing those things. I think that they need to specialize in treating war wounds, service-related disabilities, and other things along those lines."

Caldwell also discusses the origins of the scandal, Sen. Tom Coburn's (R-Okla.) report, and problems with incentive pay.

About 7 minutes.

Produced by Tracy Oppenheimer. Camera by Zach Weissmueller.

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Comments

[Anon E. Mouse]

It cracks me up when progressives insist that government-run health care on a LARGER SCALE than the VA will be better than the VA.

[PH2050]

Double down on stupid, that always works!

[Notorious G.K.C.]

Is this the part where someone says, "seeing Tracy Oppenheimer reminded that veteran what he was fighting for all this time!"

[Rasilio]

Cause: Government
Solution: Less government

[PH2050]

This is why I only use the VA medical system as a way to dodge the Obamacare penaltax.

[Dances-with-Trolls]

I will go bankrupt before I use the VA for anything.

[PH2050]

Dude, don't *get* anything from them but just *enroll*. Swiss Servator or some similar handle up here informed me of it so now my broke college student ass doesn't have to worry about that stupid PPACA/IRS double-team when I file.

And can I recommend you use the GI Bill or Voc Rehab? Something? Think of all the shitbags you served with that are draining that money and pissing it away. The Leviathian is unsustainable anyway so help hasten its demise as accelerating technological change renders it irrelevant.

[PH2050]

"There should be more services at the VA where you have a private healthcare option. Particularly primary care services. Standard things you'd go to your family doctor for," says Caldwell. "I don't see a reason why the VA should be doing those things. I think that they need to specialize in treating war wounds, service-related disabilities, and other things along those lines."

SO MUCH THIS. Also, why the fuck does something like the Million Veteran Program even exist? And the genomic data extrapolated is outlawed from being shared with the donors themselves?

[Agammamon]

That would be nice.

I've got a friend who they send to *Tucson* for treatment.

Not even Phoenix, TUCSON! Which is twice as far away from here as Phoenix.

[Corning]

But But I though Single Payer would fix all ills?!?!

[RishJoMo]

Dude why didnt I ever think of that?
http://www.AnonToolz.tk

[Alice Bowie]

If there is ANYTHING that completely changed my Liberal Mind of having Public Clinics to service the poor, the disabled, and the pensioned is the VA.