Wednesday - February 09, 2005

A Budget Follow-up--The VA Cuts

Yesterday I posed a question more or less along these lines:  “if budget cuts are so steep this year why is it that nowhere can I find any numbers actually corroborating it?”

Of course we can’t find the justification for calling “cuts” “STEEP” because it’s all bullshit. For one, the budget is not getting “CUT!” Of course, to the panty-waisted pinko-fucktards of the media (to include most Democrats in this country) any reduction from “projected” numbers is considered a “cut.” Yet they will not admit that to roll back a tax cut is called a “tax increase.” Typical double standard hypocrisy.

A reader posed a question related to the “cuts” in the VA budget.  She wanted to know how she could justify to a leftist colleague the increases in fee structure for VA services.

Well, I dug up a bunch of stories on the subject but for the life of me could not find an answer to explain how the cuts would affect which people.

But I can relate a personal observation of what may be going on.

I had a neighbor who had his own insurance plan. He was 82 and served in the Navy back in WW II.  Then President Bush came into office and increased benefits.  (note: VA funding has CLIMBED 47% in 5 years!!) Anyway, this neighbor has a lot of money.  Two of his sons are millionaires.  My neighbor jumped ship and went to the VA for treatment.  Why?  Because it was cheaper than his insurance.  Of course. 

It’s a function of supply and demand.  Similar to what happened here a few years ago with HMOs.  Hernando County was on the verge of losing its last HMO and the blue-hair crowd was in a tizzy.  Then all of a sudden the government increased the amount disbursed per person to HMOs for Hernando residents (we were the low guys on the totem pole in Florida for reimbursement.) Now there are 4 HMOs here.  Co-pays which used to be $10 or $20 are now $5.  Pharmacy co-pays which used to be $7 or $10 or $20 are now zero in many cases.

And the liberals are telling you there is no crisis in Medicare?  When money rains down like manna from heaven for these programs?  No crisis?  Yeah, right!

Anyway, I think the president’s new proposed co-pay program will make people re-evaluate where they get care. VA should be for those most needing it (sort of like a Medicaid for military guys) I’m a 26 year veteran.  I do not use VA.  Frankly, it’d be the last place I’d go to.  Given they blew almost a BILLION dollars on a computer program that DOES NOT work, I can not be too enthused about their reliability of care.

So it’s about time this happens. 

I may change my mind when someone can show me more numbers proving that those who make little money will get hurt by this but be prepared, I will take no prisoners in the debate.

So read this article. And this one. And this one. And this one. And this one. And this one.

Bear in mind that you will have to read between the lines on them.  The President wants “better off” vets to pay more of their way.  Also bear in mind that the biggest screaming is coming from the liberals.  Once you begin a government entitlement program and they start sucking off that tit, they will scream if you threaten to remove it.

Why else does everyone have their knickers in a twist over the fact the president is not increasing the budget?  They call it cuts.  I call it not increasing it as much as they want.  Tell me one time federal spending has DECREASED?

Notice they all say about the same but none give firm numbers for the means testing.

One last thing:  the VA budget gets a 2.7% increase in 2006.  Some “CUT” huh?

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Posted by Ranting Right Wing Howler     on 02/09/2005 at 07:46 AM   
Filed Under: • Economics •  
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