HadIt.com Elder Chuck75 Posted February 18, 2015 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) 1923 - Charles R. Forbes, VB (VA) head, resigned his post after serious fraud and corruption came to light. President Harding, physically choked Forbes, and eventually appointed Frank Hines as the head of the Veteran’s Bureau. 1945 - President Truman accepted the resignation of Hines, when the press discovered overworked and understaffed VA hospitals resulted in poor care. Hines was replaced by Omar Bradley. A VA Facility in Chicago is still named after Hines. 1955 - Congress empaneled a commission to help streamline the executive branch. They found massive waste and incompetence at VA hospitals, with wait times three times that of non VA hospitals. (Sound Familiar?) Sweeping changes were recommended. (Evidently, any changes actually made were not sufficient.) 1969 - Nixon appointed Donald Johnson as VA Administrator. An L.A. Newspaper published articles citing the lack of care at VA hospitals. The National Academy of Science found that about 70% of veterans were obtaining substandard care. Donald Johnson resigned in 1974. 1974 - His successor, Richard Roudebush was hammered for poorer veteran's care, slow claims processing, and perhaps the most egregous, saying that vets were "crybabies". Roudebush was not forced to resign, even after he had his office? door nailed shut by veterans. 1981- 1982 VA head Robert Nimmo referred to A.O. related chloracne as "just a little teenage acne", and veteran's groups as "greedy". He was driven to and from work in a chauffeured limousine, leased with government funds, and spent $54 thousand or so dollars to redecorate his office. He resigned for "Personal Reasons". 2014 - And then there are the recent VA scandals and a new secretary. A pattern is rather obvious, don't you think? VA incompetence, mismanagement, and corruption become too obvious to ignore, and make it into the news. Public outrage results. It's easier to have a sacrificial lamb than substantially change things. (And less costly) Public attention is eventually diverted. And the cycle just starts over again. Let's hope that Congress and the new secretary can break the pattern! Recent events involving the choice act, and other proposals make me wonder! Edited February 18, 2015 by Chuck75 broncovet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Buck52 Posted February 18, 2015 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted February 18, 2015 I agree Chuck75 I've always had the thought that us Veterans have always been put oh the ''backburner'' why is any body guess. Thanks for that Research! Buck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Chuck75 Posted February 18, 2015 Author HadIt.com Elder Share Posted February 18, 2015 I agree Chuck75 I've always had the thought that us Veterans have always been put oh the ''backburner'' why is any body guess. Thanks for that Research! Buck! Think of this for a moment. A disabled vet is a "used up" resource, at least to the military. A disabled vet consumes resources that might be utilized in more politically popular areas. It's nothing new, and has been going on for a very long time, and across many nations. (and so on!) Buck52 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Pete53 Posted February 18, 2015 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted February 18, 2015 My opinion is that no matter what the politicians say the VA is run just the way they want it to be. Instead of a grateful nation we deal with jealous bureaucrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notorious Kelly Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 Agree with Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HadIt.com Elder Buck52 Posted February 19, 2015 HadIt.com Elder Share Posted February 19, 2015 Chronological History of the Department of Veterans Affairs1930The Veterans Administration was created by Executive Order S.398, signed by President Herbert Hoover on July 21, 1930. At that time, there were 54 hospitals, 4.7 million living veterans, and 31,600 employees.1933The Board of Veterans Appeals was established.1944On June 22, President Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944. (Public Law 346, was passed unanimously by the 78th Congress). This law offered home loan and education benefits to veterans.1946The Department of Medicine & Surgery was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Health Services and Research Administration, renamed the Veterans Health Administration in 1991.1953The Department of Veterans Benefits was established, succeeded in 1989 by the Veterans Benefit Administration.1973The National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred to the VA.1988Legislation to elevate VA to Cabinet status was signed by President Reagan.1989March 15. VA became the 14th Department in the President's CabinetBuck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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