[Peace-discuss] VA closures as support for troops

[Ricky Baldwin]

Thanks, Paul, for posting this-

I'm actually very familiar with the VA in Canandaigua
mentioned below, as I was their union rep for a couple
of years when we lived in Buffalo.  So I can tell you
unequivocally that this move comes on top of many
years of egregious abuses.  The place is very sad
already, half empty, and staffing is dangerously low
at almost all times even to cover the patients they do
let in.  

Canandaigua is largely a mental hospital, where they
store old soldiers whose brains have been eaten out
doing as their trusted leaders told them.  And as in
the other VA's I've seen, the workers in Canandaigua,
most of whom are veterans themselves, are regularly
trounced as well as the patients. 

Millions of Americans do not know this is how our
government really "honors the brave men and women,"
etc.  If they did, would they give up their romantic
notions of war and all its alleged glory?  Or would
they just have to change their "support our troops"
slogans to add on "until they get home."

Letters to the editor, anyone?
Ricky


--- patton paul <ppatton at ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> wrote:
> From: patton paul <ppatton at ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
> To: <peace-action at lists.cu.groogroo.com>
> Subject: [Peace-action] Today's Voice:  Keep VA
> Hospitals Open! (fwd)
> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 20:05:32 -0500 (CDT)
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 00:33:17 -0700
> From: Voice4Change <info at voice4change.org>
> To: "ppatton at uiuc.edu" <ppatton at uiuc.edu>
> Subject: Today's Voice:  Keep VA Hospitals Open!
> 
> 
> 
> Voice4Change
> Uniting Our Voices
> http://www.voice4change.org
> 
> 
> 
> October 9, 2003
> 
> 
> Dear ppatton at uiuc.edu,
> 
> 
> Keep VA Hospitals Open!
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
> WE DESPERATLY NEED YOUR HELP!!
> 
> The Veterans Administration is proposing closure of
> the Canandaigua, NY VA
> Medical Hospital along with 18 (Eighteen) others in
> the US. This hospital
> and the other 18 are vital to our veterans and our
> hospital has been rated
> the best in the country. We have our state Senators
> and Representatives
> fighting to keep it open. BUT, We need the help of
> everyone to help start a
> letter drive and petition to help keep our VA
> hospitals open and increase
> the funding for our hospitals. We now ask for your
> help in this fight. I am
> a disabled veteran and this is my hospital. If it is
> closed, other vets and
> I will be forced to drive 80 or more miles for care.
> This is the same story
> for other VA hospitals slated for closure. Since we
> are disabled and many
> are elderly, it is unthinkable to ask those who have
> given so much to their
> country. They have protected our right to free
> speech and peacefully
> protest our government. Do not allow them to take
> away their healthcare or
> impede the care that they need so desperately. If we
> alow this we are
> putting these veterans lives at risk by Requiring
> them to travel so far for
> healthcare. Putting others at risk by asking
> veterans to drive far
> distances when many are on medications that impair
> driving ability. New
> York State Law recently passed, makes driving under
> the influence of
> medications which can make you drowsy a crime, the
> same as DWI.
> 
> Some Veterans pain is so severe that driving long
> distances would be
> extremely painful and debilitating.
> 
> Some Veterans have Life threatening illnesses that
> they recieve treatment
> for. Having a veteran driving 80 miles for care
> could possibly mean death.
> 
> At the moment our president has us involved in 2
> wars, and is pushing for a
> third and fourth. He is creating veterans at an
> alarming rate, yet he calls
> for reduced benefits and medical care. We need to
> get America to support
> their veterans. Americans have said that they
> support the troops. Now is
> the time to show it. We need every American to call,
> write and email their
> elected representatives and demand that this outrage
> be stopped. Now is the
> time for action. These veterans have little time
> left. So I beg of you to
> throw the full weight of the American people behind
> this fight and let's
> make a difference.
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Donald V. Hoyt III
> 
> We really could use your support to get this message
> out. Please forward
> this to your friends and family. THANKS
> 
> We, the veterans, families & friends of patients,
> and concerned citizens of
> the United States ask that you support our online
> petition. We need every
> signature possible and for every person to get
> involved and make their
> voice heard by contacting their elected officials
> and demanding that the VA
> hospitals remain open and receive increased funding
> for operation. The
> American people say that they support our troops,
> now is the time to show
> that support. Make sure a soldier returning from
> Iraq and Afghanistan has a
> hospital to come home to for care.
> 
> Sign the Petition:
> http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/951659085
> 
> After adding your name, go to the CARES Commission
> website and send them a
> comment on how you feel about this issue.
> 
> Please Comment at:
> CARESCommission at hq.med.va.gov
> 
> Forward this alert as widely as possible:
>
http://www.voice4change.org/stories/send2friends.asp?id=031009~v4c.asp
> 
> 
> Warm Regards,
> 
> Voice4Change.org
> http://www.voice4change.org
> 
> 
> 
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