Senator asks VA chief about ‘continuing culture of chaos’ that fails veterans. Is Chaos the right word?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 09:06:02 -0400

Note: Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) is not a veteran.

Apparently frustrated with the slow pace of the investigation, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) has written to McDonald to ask what he is doing to change the practices Frye brought to light, among them the widespread use of purchase cards — usually meant as a convenience for minor purchases of up to $3,000 but used routinely to buy billions of dollars worth of medical supplies without contracts.

“Prior to your confirmation, you pledged to me that you would clean up the VA,” Grassley wrote to McDonald on June 19. “Unfortunately, time and again, news reports highlight instances that illustrate a continuing culture of chaos at the VA that fails our veterans.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/06/22/senator-to-va-chief-what-are-you-doing-to-address-continuing-culture-of-chaos-that-fails-our-veterans/

Senator asks VA chief about ‘continuing culture of chaos’ that fails veterans

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) questions whether Secretary Robert McDonald is making good on his pledge to "clean up the VA."

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 24 at 2015 10:14 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:14:10 -0400

Sadly, it appears 'culture of chaos’ seems totally appropriate. IF there was a stronger word one could use, then that word would be appropriate.

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jun 24 at 2015 10:42 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:42:29 -0400

While the compensation and care side have horrible backlogs and almost no organization, coupled with an atmosphere of CYA at the expense of what's right, I can say the GI Bill side seems to be very smooth and customer friendly (knock on wood).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2015 10:57 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:57:34 -0400

As an Iowan native, I can assure you that Senator Grassley is on the side of veterans.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 24 at 2015 11:47 AM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 11:47:30 -0400

All I know is if someone offered me McDonald's job, I'd shout "$%A#^ You" in the loudest possible voice. Fixing that mess is going to take years and a lot of local investigations followed by firings.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 24 at 2015 1:46 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 13:46:56 -0400

It is my opinion that the VA problems are so deep and wide, that one person can't fix it.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 24 at 2015 6:44 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 18:44:44 -0400

The VA has been broken for so long that it will take a while to clean up the mess. With that said, yes I think chaos is the right word.

Also, I would like to know what steps McDonald HAS taken so far.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 24 at 2015 7:55 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 19:55:14 -0400

I began visiting our local VA hospital while participating in activities sponsored by my VFW Post. As soon as I kick this summer cold, I plan on visiting on my own, helping out where I can. During one visit I met a veteran Army nurse, a former staffer at the VA hospital, and now a patient. I asked her what could be done to improve service and she replied without hesitation, "Fire half of the staff". She went on to describe which half: The ones who failed their patients, who would stop practicing medicine at least a half hour before quitting time, who simply were collecting their guaranteed federal paycheck and benefits. How do you overcome that?

It takes leadership. We need someone at the top, the President, to set the tone and appoint people who have the qualifications to fix the problem. Sadly, this President has no experience fixing anything. Even sadder, if he has no practical skills, how can he possibly recognize them in others?

Interestingly, as I studied Cuba, I learned that the dictator who Castro supplanted, Fulgencio Batista, studiously removed all competent leaders from the armed forces. He couldn't leave anyone around capable of leading a coup to replace him as he did in coming to power. It seems a common feature of all dictatorships.

President Obama is not a dictator. He did not come to power by virtue of a coup. We elected him in spite of his total lack of qualifications. He has surrounded himself with others similarly lacking in qualifications. What right have we to expect anything other than the train wreck we are witnessing?

There is a strong likelihood that we are going to repeat that same mistake and elect Hillary Clinton. I fully expect it. Given her abrasive management style, I shudder at the thought of what will happen in our bureaucracies once she attains the office.

God help us...