RE: [Marxism] [**] The VAMC is a Dangerous Place since George W Bush

["Craven, Jim" <JCraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

I am saddened to hear this news from Hank with whom I have corresponded.
He was once in signals intelligence at the highest levels during the
1950s (WHASA or White House Army Signals Agency 1956-63)in the U.S. Army
and took his acquired experiences and knowledge and put them to use to
struggle for peace, anti-racism and justice non-stop for fifty some
years and has been on the net for over 20 years (The Golem's Place).
http://pnews.org when the net was in its infancy.

For those of us who are veterans, and particularly those who have been
patients in VA hospitals (I have been three times) we do understand what
he is talking about. Many of the staff are salt-of-the-earth doing tough
jobs under tough conditions, mounting cutbacks and procedures that can
only produce lack of anything resembling quality care; there are others
who work at the VAMCs not being qualified elsewhere. The movie "Article
99" has it exactly right in terms of what is usual at the ol VA. 

A new generation of veterans will be coming back from this latest war
facing the usual injuries and being "cared for" under conditions and
facilities even more strained than before given Bush's ongoing cutbacks
of veteran's benefits and services. Perhaps they will form a new
anti-War/anti-Imperialist veteran's organization or join any existing
ones and make them even more effective.

Hank will be in my thoughts today as I pray for his successful surgery
and recovery.

Jim C.

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