While the VA is spending money for bells and whistles, their message is clear: Enjoy your Whistleblower Day, but if you want changes you can whistle for it
On July, 30, 2016 the VA Office of Inspector General announced "Today is National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. We as a Nation must recognize the important role whistleblowers play in exposing serious problems and deficiencies in Government programs and operations."
What does VA mean by serious problems? Millions spent on "art" while our homeless Veterans dine "Chez Garbage"? Are rampant corruption, lies and despicable treatment of "VA VIP Customers " serious and blatant enough?
The wrongdoing is shamelessly self-explanatory, and so is Obama's endorsement of VA secretary's pseudo transformation of the decaying department. While performing on Disabled Veterans Convention in Atlanta (August 1, 2016), Obama gushed: "Thank you, Bob, for the great work you are doing."
As for VA Secretary Robert McDonald, he seems perfectly contented with the pat on the back and grandiose sound of his own voice: "Excellence is what we're after. So the right dialogue is about forward-looking leadership and sustainable accountability."
Hey, homeless "folks", if you are hungry eat a project: "You should know there are more than 100 legislative proposals for Veterans in the President's 2017 Budget."McDonald seems optimistically hopeful that after elections he will receive more money to burn and no "sustainable accountability" for loss of human lives and potential.
Obama said "As Commander-in-Chief, I'm pretty tired of some folks trash-talking America's military and troops" but it was not about refusing to salute the American Flag , sending our soldiers to Leavenworth or inhuman treatment of homeless Veterans; just one more boring attack against Donald Trump.
On the Website of U.S Department of Defense : " Washington, July, 2014 – Leaders at the Veterans Affairs Department are deeply concerned and distressed about allegations that whistleblowers are routinely retaliated against". In 2016 VA whistleblowers still claim retaliation for complaints against the "distraught" leaders and Secretary McDonald still considers that "You can't fire your way to excellence".
On their website House Committee on Veterans' Affairs presents the goal of "VA Honesty Project": to highlight the Department of Veteran Affairs' lack of transparency with the press and the public about its operations and activities." What follows is an interminable list of "the VA didn't respond…"and "The VA Office of Inspector General declined to comment or divulge documents…"
The VA has already been known for 10 million landscaping schemes and such essentials as a "zigzag wall to block the sun", and it looks like both the artistic and artful appetite grows by what it feeds on –the tax payers’ money and lack of accountability for neglecting the areas of the greatest concern.
Just three days before the "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day" Senator Mark Kirk stated: "Spending money on decorative art while Veterans wait for care is unacceptable". As reported by Daily Caller (July 27, 2016) it is estimated that the VA is not the only government department spending taxpayer money on luxury art, but "they appear to be spending the most".
While the VA is spending money for bells and whistles, their message is clear: Enjoy your Whistleblower Day, but if you want changes you can whistle for it.
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.
