What about a bill that made the Veterans health system

[pnwmom]

available to the 911 responders? Do you think that would have a chance of passing? What would veterans think about that?

[Drale]

1. You know non of this would be nessarssy if

we had socialize medicine. Everyone would get the same health care (hopefull really good health care) and we wouldn't have like 6 different systems of health care for everyone.

[pnwmom]

4. These 911 responders need care now. They don't have time to wait

for socialized medicine to happen here.

[bobbolink]

13. Others need health care RIGHT NOW, also. But I guess nobody else matters.

[pnwmom]

15. They risked their lives to help in the attack. It seems to me

that we all owe something to them.

[bobbolink]

16. There are a LOT of people who have risked their lives in all sorts of pursuits for this nation.

Discounting all of us is not only inhuman, it is giving in to the Divide And Conquer mentality, which the RW thrives on.

[DrDan]

2. how about the Veterans health system being made available to all veterans?

[pnwmom]

3. Is it not? n/t

[DrDan]

5. no - only those that retire from the military - that is, serve 20 years or more

and those injured in the line of duty

[pnwmom]

6. Weren't these responders injured in the line of duty? Isn't that the point? n/t

[DrDan]

10. they are not military

[pnwmom]

14. Obviously. But they risked their lives helping during the 911 attack.

Why would veterans object to them getting medical treatment for their injuries?

[DrDan]

18. where did I object

[HereSince1628]

8. That is NOT true. Please follow the link to the truth

about eligibility.

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/PriorityGroupsAll.asp

[HereSince1628]

9. In particular I refer you to Priority Groups 5, 7 and 8

which are NEEDS based.

[DrDan]

11. ok - so there are a few more - my point was that simply being a veteran

does not qualify one for medical benefits

[HereSince1628]

17. The needs tests make access available to a very large number

of low income vets.

One of the great fears of the thousands of vets in those three priorities is that Congress's VA funding could revert to something like you thought it was. Those priorities are the spending priorities. If the R's decide to get cheap the higher priorities willl go without VA care.

[DrDan]

19. again, my point was that not all vets get this care

I have 4 years of Viet Nam era active duty, 12 years or so of active reserves, and I am not eligible. I do not begrudge anyone qualified their access to this care. Just pointing out that there are many many vets who do not have that access.

[HereSince1628]

20. I get that, and I'm just saying that there are thousands upon thousands

of low income and medicaid eligible vets that are using the VA for their care.

I'm not trying to be disagreeable. I am trying to get out the correct information.

If ONE low income vet with no other healthcare gets into the VA for treatment for TB, diabetes, a heart, cancer, etc. because someone on DU reads the -correct- information and puts down misunderstanding, then that's one life that isn't left to suffer to death in silent poverty.

[DrDan]

12. dupe

[spanone]

7. the thugs are truly heartless bastards.....heartless