Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald March 1, 2010

As time goes on the ridiculousness of the antics of what are supposed to be our representatives in the administration of our nation. These folks are supposed to be working in our best interests. Instead our Congressman cowers to the Congressperson from that bastion of “sensibility?” San Francisco. He votes for more spending that we don’t have money for, policies that enslave us even more and to take away what few choices we have left.
It is sad that I have to say that as I once had a high opinion of him and even contributed to his campaign. His staff, especially here in Brownsville, has always been more than courteous and helpful to the folks here, several of whom I have personal knowledge.
Most recently, I e-mailed the office to ask about firearms control and health care issues and did not even receive the perfunctory “I’ll get back to you” response. Then he voted for the government take over of health care. Further, the recent splash of veteran’s health care complaints, ‘poor care and lack of timely care for local vets in San Antonio center as well as inaction with regard of the VA determination that Navy veterans weren’t combat veterans during the Vietnam War.
Congress originally passed a law that would provide health care for Vietnam Vets in certain circumatances.
Who is a Vietnam Vet? The answer is vitally important to Navy personnel who served in Vietnam’s territorial waters. For now, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ definition of a Vietnam veteran does not include these men and women.
This was vitally important to me as I served there during my service from 1963 to 1969. I received the Vietnam Service Medal with three stars and was awarded combat pay, flight deck pay as well as other commendations.
I met the criteria that was in effect before 2002 when the VA changed its policy, saying that Navy personnel didn’t qualify. Previously, sailors with the Vietnam Service Medal — given to those who served in the theater of war on land or on a vessel automatically got benefits, whether they were assigned as ground troops or in the Navy. Seems like they don’t think sailors sometimes went ashore on unrecorded attempts to recover sensitive recon equipment and pilots from downed aircraft or patrolled the rivers and coast lines. The Navy was in the war as well!
I and many like me have the similar symptoms as the “real” Vets. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, followed shortly by kidney problems and strange and rare skin disease. I filed an application and did not even receive a receipt much less a response after more than six months. I have been later told by other Vets, responses often take many months. In the mean time hospital bills keep adding up.
Fortunately, I was blessed to find Dr. Pelly and the wound care folks at Valley Baptist Hospital in Brownsville. For the last year and a half, they have tolerated my shortness of temper when I hurt and helped me through the periodic infections in the wounds that once covered most of my legs.
Now the numbers of open wounds have diminished substantially and the very few that remain are less serious when one considers that at one time I was close to losing one leg. Several months wait while the VA considers the situation would surely have been more costly; I wonder how costly it would have been had I not had Blue Cross, and the nurse case worker they assigned for me to act as an advocate, due to the complexity. I cannot conceive trusting the government with final decisions like this.
In the meantime rather than to require the VA to comply with the intent of the law the Congress is trying to pass another one. Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, has introduced legislation to include Navy veterans and he has more than 40 co-sponsors. The likelihood of passage however is very unsure, so the Vets still suffer and perhaps die.
It seems that if the VA is the best example of what Government Health Care is like (they decide if you are worth treating and that it won’t cost too much) we are much better off as we are; especially if the agency entrusted doesn’t believe you fit all of the criteria for treatment.
It all makes me mad!
On Tuesday February 9, I watched the movie Network, a 1976 a satirical film that has continued to receive recognition, decades after its initial release.
In the movie, a long time Newscaster, Howard Beale, attracted the attention of the world and became the spokesman of the country. In one impassioned diatribe, Beale galvanizes the nation with his rant, “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” and persuades Americans to shout out their windows during a lightning storm.
We must remember from the movie when Howard asked, “who owns this country” when a group of Arab investors purchased controlling interest in the “Network”.
I ask; who owns us now?? The Chinese – the Europeans – or the Oil Potentates or others! Who holds our Trillions in debt?
It seems to me that the “Tea Party” groups are doing that in our time. They see the current government causing more problems and solving none. In past years the mix of various sentiments in Congress would at least stop bad things from being done. Now it seems that little short of a Political Revolution will save us. The “Tea Parties” articulate the needs now we need representatives that will follow this guidance and replace those that have not shown us the strength to do the job. Words will no longer work.
Every one eligible must vote or we will fall even deeper into slavery to the government.
Like in the movie; “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”
The Cameron County Libertarian Convention will be held on March 13 at 3pm at the Denney’s Restaurant on Paredes Line Rd. If you haven’t voted in a primary you can vote for a delegate to the conventions to elect a Congressman from the 27th and 15th Districts depending on where you live. I will be there!