Department of Veteran Affairs has for its mission statement: To fulfill President Lincoln´s promise:
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America´s Veterans.
Naturally, funds are needed to serve the purpose, but how come it is that the VA goes on an art shopping spree while our Veterans' life span is dramatically reduced by inhuman living conditions and lack of medical care? While the department worries about overpayments to ex-soldiers and scrupulously “saves” millions of dollars on benefits it seems that blowing six zero figures on “artwork” can do no harm.
This VA Santa forgot about gifts such as food and shelter, yet splurged on a 27 foot artificial Christmas tree ($21,000 only) for our homeless Veterans to admire al fresco… More than half a million dollars worth of rock sculptures are somehow necessary in a facility for blind Veterans and an army of ´´art consultants´´ is allegedly vital for VA´s transformation.
The $ 1 billion over budget Aurora facility, for example simply could not do without Brazilian wood and “a glass concourse the size of a football field” goo.gl/0Vye1n, not to mention the indispensable 70-foot-high glass walls…
The enormous budget and lack of accountability have certainly helped Secretary McDonald to hone his decoration skills. The VA´s Martha Stewart wannabe creative freedom and aesthetic appetite have clearly increased from his P&G days when he was reduced to boasting about empty drawers in his office and horsing around with a weird Japanese stick…
Secretary McDonald seemed unfazed by the September 28th subpoena and artfully skipped topic of the Denver Titanic and art expenditures, craftily turning over 18 of 71 required items of evidence.
Rightly angered, Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman, House Committee on Veterans´ Affairs demanded answers and stated: “We simply will not tolerate VA’s attempts to keep information related to its wasteful art expenditures and the biggest construction failure in VA history shrouded in secrecy. Sec. McDonald must immediately comply with the terms of this subpoena.”
Well, it would be about time to stop pampering Secretary McDonald with Hillary Clinton-like legal privileges; until now there are not only answers but questions which are missing.
How come that the VA could afford Blue Eclipse $250 000 hanging bubbles- Bravo Sierra- piece of art, while neglecting burials and leaving bodies of our Veterans to decompose?
How is it possible that the Los Angeles Homeless Veterans Leasing Act was signed into Law? Our homeless defenders are “outdoors” while the VA brazenly shares property inherited by Veterans with local elite members in overt violation of the most basic human rights such as Article 17 .2 : “ No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property”.
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Who gave orders to VA police to harass, brutalize and charge our elderly Veterans with displaying a “ placard”? Who decided that our much loved American flag is a placard?
Why are crimes against our Veterans being tolerated, the wrongdoers promoted and whistleblowers persecuted?
When we will see arrests for rampant corruption, fraud and despicable treatment of our Veterans?
The last, but not the least - House Committee on Veterans´ Affairs should issue an official statement “Whenever Secretary McDonald says something, he means the contrary”.
Recently, VA Secretary said: “We’ve got to stop using veterans as political pawns”.
Joanna Rosamond is a Coach for high stress jobs, a consultant on PTSD and burnout. Joanna has 16 years of professional experience. Unconditional support for our soldiers and veterans.
