CAN MONEY ALONE SAVE THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION ?

A recent Wall Street Journal article was headlined " Money Can't Cure What Ails Veteran Affairs " and it is sadly true. According to the article the VA employee roster of 365,000 employees and new budget request of 180 billion isn't providing timely and efficient medical services for our veterans.

In his article, Mr. Anthony Principi, former secretary of Veterans Affairs, cites the incredible growth in staffing and budget outlays for the Veterans Administration over the last few years. Since 2004 he reports a 55% increase in VA staffing, and since 2009 an 86% increase in funding. These numbers are alarming considering the continued mission failures and scandals within the organization. Despite the natural inclination of many politicians and federal bureaucrats, it is apparent that more money and staffing does not necessarily improve things managed by the government.

Mr. Principi lists four initiatives that he feels will improve the Veterans Administration and there may be some merit in his recommendations. However, I find it curious that after his four year stint as the leader of the VA he becomes the "man with a plan" to fix the organization he once headed. Why didn't he implement these reforms while he was the VA secretary ? Mr. Principi is now with a cushy "government relations" firm and magically becomes the expert on VA reform ? While I'm sure Mr. Principi is a person of good intentions, his declarations bear the hollow sound we hear from so many ex government big wigs turned experts.

The VA is an organization with a noble mission populated by thousands of dedicated people, but something remains fundamentally wrong. I believe the problem is one of leadership and too much government. Everything in Washington DC is political and the Veterans Administration is above all a political bureaucracy. It is not an efficient organization in the business of delivering health care services. In my opinion, the best and most innovative health care in the United States has always been and will remain profit motivated organizations.

For too long political leaders have duped Americans into believing that the simple commodities of money and manpower lead by some political appointee could fix any problem. The combination of resources without the special  leadership inspired by the profit motive consistently fail to deliver desired goals. The legendary icons of successful invention and innovation are rarely borne from the self serving bureaucrats that occupy so much power in the federal government.

Despite unlimited resources has the federal government reduced or eliminated poverty ? How does our government subsidized AMTRAK compare with the trains of Japan or Europe ? Is the Obama inspired national health care scheme better than the traditional system we have been forced to abandon ? Why are our federally mandated systems of public education producing test scores well below world standards ?

In my opinion, the bottom line to what ails the VA is the same disease that frustrates the progress of our nation and it's citizens. Simply stated, we have too much federal government and politicians that proclaim more government to solve the problems of too much government !  The capitalist for profit sector or at least local government could easily do a better job. Washington DC legislative gridlock, mind boggling legions of government bureaucrats, and the incredible maze of federal laws must be curtailed if the VA or USA is to survive.

I am a disabled veteran and the son of a dearly departed 100% disabled veteran. I have seen the VA degenerate over the years because of politicians and federal employees more interested in their reelection or job advancement than veterans. In my opinion, the solution to reforming the VA and so many functions of our government is less government and more private sector involvement. Capitalism and personal liberty made America great and a resurgence and renewed reliance in this dynamic duo will cure "what ails" the Veterans Administration.

                

ICELAND - NATURES NORTHERN WONDERLAND.

Recently I checked off an item on my bucket list with an eight day journey to Iceland. To share my adventure I guested Corbin, my twenty one year old grandson.

We explored the geysers, waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, caves, countryside, and black volcanic sand beaches of Vik during our stay. Remarkably, Iceland is where the moving continental plates which divide North America and Europe exist. It also has Europe's tallest waterfall, largest glacier and desert. While the temps remained in the 5-9 C degree range, it was far from a wasteland of ice. The people were warm, the Icelandic ponies friendly, and while the land was sparse of trees, evergreens and some hardy flowers were in early May bloom.

We ate lamb soup, cod, lobster, monk fish, lamb chops, and the unique hot dog of Iceland made of lamb. We did not dare sample the fermented shark, horse meat, whale, or puffin dishes. We enjoyed the local brews of Gull and Viking beer. We took boat excursions to see humpbacks, dolphins, minke whales, seals, and a wondrous variety of airborne creatures including the curious puffins. We soaked in the Blue Lagoon and shivered when we had to exit the volcanically warmed pools. We enjoyed the 18-19 hours of May daylight and motored many kilometers through the hills and valleys encountering sparse traffic. Combined, Corbin and I snapped nearly 3000 photos of the countryside, seaside villages, and Reykjavik. Around every corner, mile after mile,  photo opportunities popped up like huge colorful postcards. Much of the landscape looked like an alien moonscape or sets from a Hobbit or Game of Thrones production.

In Reykjavik we visited museums, pubs, and the working waterfront crammed with fishing vessels and pleasure craft. We enjoyed a satirical performance of the Viking Sagas at the magnificent Harp Performing Arts Center. Two incredibly talented players gave an irreverent review of seventy five Sagas in seventy five minutes with audience participation from Corbin and others. We browsed the capital city's premier thrift store and walked blocks and blocks along the colorful harbor. We found Kringlan Mall with it's 150 stores which was a pleasant flashback to our enclosed shopping malls of a few years ago. Iceland has a total population of three hundred thousand with two thirds of it's population living in Reykjavik and it's suburbs. Tourism is a booming business with nearly a million visitors in 2014 up from only eighty thousand in 1980. However, commercial fishing remains the island nations number one industry. The best travel deals are during their fall/winter and shoulder seasons. Peak tourist time occurs between June and September. Their route #1 is an 800 mile circuit around the entire island, but we barely trekked more than 100 miles to the east, west, and north in our travels.

Most Icelanders speak English. We mingled easily with the locals and vacationing folks from Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Caribbean. While I never quite mastered the five speed manual transmission of our rental, the metric system, the krona conversion rate or endless roundabouts, we got along just fine in our explorations. Iceland Air provided a smooth five and a half hour nonstop flight out of Dulles and return flight from Keflavik .

An outstanding May adventure I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys dressing in layers, hiking a bit, and having a good supply of krona coins and bills.

TRUMP WILL WIN AGAIN

Donald Trump or someone with his principles and charisma will win the White House in 2024. 

First, he adopted the politically incorrect phrase, "Make America Great Again." This catch line has aroused the sleepy silent majority, and echoed the populist and nationalist appeal of Ronald Reagan. "Make America Great Again" reminds many that while Biden is not a world class economic and military leader, we can return to this leadership to the USA with our votes in 2024. Also, the tag line suggests we need not be a follower and have the energy for new greatness as a people and union of states. Trump has reminds Americans the USA can again be the world's beacon of personal liberty and economic freedom and maintain a strong military presence.

Trump was not a card carrying republican, democrat, libertarian, or socialist. The majority of Americans are ready to re-elect someone not under the hypnotic influence of one political party. He is a political "pragmatist" and, has used and, will use highly politicized individuals and groups to meet his goals. The ongoing gridlock of the elephants and donkeys may finally be shattered by Donald Trump. He will continue to un clutter the bureaucracy and deliver more efficient domestic and diplomatic initiatives. This man has abundant energy, enthusiasm and business sense. As an incredibly successful entrepreneur he will continue to wisely and boldly negotiate with any domestic or foreign entity to reach the goals of his America First agenda.

Finally, Trump has a non political background and is a true independent. In campaigning he uses much of his own money and will continue to donate his federal salary to worthy causes. He has no political favors to repay supporters. He often speaks without a tele promoter and often from the heart. Biden, on the other hand, is probably at some stage of dementia. While he sometimes displays a crudeness and toughness which many find unattractive, his speech and manner sends a message of passion and love for his country. Also, he is unafraid of the media, political intelligentsia, foreign potentates, Hollywood, and all their opinions. As a very rich and highly educated person, his drive is surely to reach a personal goal, but also to re establish the economic and political greatness of our republic.

At this juncture, despite a Joe Biden presidency, left murder/mayhem in the streets, the China virus, and a thin democrat edge in Congress, I believe Trump or his protegee will soundly defeat any Biden, Obama, Soros appointed and paid for far left candidate.

America again someone who isn't a career politician. Someone ornery and tough as a "junkyard dog" who has been highly successful. Someone with balls to shake things up in Washington. Beware establishment slugs, bureaucrats, democrat/socialist politicians and lobbyists. Trump or Trump II will be around in 2024 !

    

REDOS - ONE

Since turning seventy, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the past twenty five thousand days of my life. As the decades pile up and fewer decades are on the horizon is it a normal older person activity to ponder the past ?  At any rate, I would be less than honest if I didn't admit some errors and regrets in my many years. Most of the errors and regrets will remain my own damn business, however in my final lap there is one haunting item I will share.

Since my boyhood times I have loved to read and attempt the magic of placing words into coherent messages and stories. As a little kid after lights out, I enjoyed reading encyclopedias with a flashlight underneath the blanket in bed. This curosity was heightened when my grandmother introduced me to stamp collecting. So much history and geography on tiny bit s of paper. I marveled at how words revealed the story of faraway places, famous people, and history. As a schoolboy, I found the downtown Portsmouth Public Library a palace brimming with thousands of books of words and pictures. I considered all libraries gold mines of information and knowledge. As I got older, my dream envisioned me as a coming great American writer. I was confident that I would someday amaze the world with volumes of meaningful literature.

Unfortunately, despite many sparks of imagination and a decent vocabulary, I was a very poor student. My interest in the mechanics of writing always lagged behind my excitement to plunge into writing projects. My working knowledge and execution of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure was terrible. My mailbox overflowed with rejection notes for my crappy work. My enthusiasm and dreams waned as I got older. The basic needs of life and a boomer's scramble to get lots of things pushed my literary aspirations into the sunset. Eventually, my writing fizzled to self centered poetry and political letters to the editor. At mid life, I participated in a number of university literature and writing courses, but never quite got the knack of framing my stories into readable things. 

I still admire and read a wide spectrum of writing from the likes of Chaucer, Shakespeare to E.E. Cumming and Hemingway. However, I realize my opportunity at writing success and recognition have passed. While I continue to write, it is increasingly difficult since I am easily distracted.  Haunting is the realization that my shortcomings are my own damn fault. I sometimes imagine the scene from "On The Waterfront" when Marlon Brando pleads with his brother, "... I could've been somebody .. I could've been a champion...". I'm that Brando, but my pleading isn't to a brother in the backseat, it's to a mirror with me looking back.

While I did pen a book, Humble Hero (Amazon 2018) and participate in daily twitter and blog forums, I could've been a much better wordsmith. So, if I had a life redo, it would've been being a  more serious student of writing mechanics when my young mind was most receptive to learning.  While I enjoy the art of music, sculpture, and painting my greatest admiration will always be for the effective writer. Those capable of successfully communicating ideas, emotions, and stories will always be my artistic champions.   

      

ALWAYS DOUBLE CHECK THE TALKING HEADS...

Freedom of the press to many means lying and that coupled with gullible readers has lead, and will lead, to many falsehoods and misunderstandings about what DJT is actually saying or thinking. The "gotcha", tricky and entrapment questions are standard practices for many in the left wing of the press corps.

The slightest misstatement or incorrectly turned phrase by Trump is often used in the media business to cause controversy. Headlines with blaring accusations and unnamed sources help sell more print and television ads. It's a common ploy to reach shocking conclusions while ginning up more media revenue. No matter the real story, facts or truth, many in the mainstream media or political establishment are more interested in producing sizzling headlines. Sadly, the traditional and responsible practice of journalism is nearly dead.

Too many citizens gobble up headlines and allow unverified headlines to settle as truth without ever checking for critical evidence.  We have become attuned to believing instant news at first blush without checking sources or the full story. Dear readers, question everything, demand sources and verifiable statistics before accepting any of those "breaking news" reports.

Many in the media attempt 24/7 to make Trump a liar, fool, criminal or worse.  Voters and citizens who care about choosing the best candidate or uncovering the truth would be wise to check news sources, context, and full statements before jumping to an emotional conclusion.

Keep in mind that talking heads, nerdy political analysts, and pollster pundits often want to create sizzling "news" rather than report facts. Too many want to become the next Woodward, Bernstein or Uncle Walter and some won't let facts, fairness or truth stand in their way.

  

CHOOSE OR LOSE

The votes are in. Trump will likely be the republican nominee for president and Hillary will stumble into the democratic nomination unless she is sent to jail.

Americans of all political inclinations will have a choice in November; vote another four years of democratic party progressive socialism or choose a pragmatist who wears a republican party badge. Clinton will surely defend and promote the Obama agenda and more since Sanders forced her to  move farther to the left. Trump who has a habit of using both major political parties and the media to forge his record of business successes will "Make America Great Again" by all legal means and his remarkable deal making acumen.

In my opinion,  Americans are weary of both "established" political parties which are perpetually fat on promises, but skinny on getting things done. It is finally dawning on most citizens that the number one priority of politicians is to get enough money and influence to be re elected over and over again. The "established" parties have built fiefdoms and complicated rules that negate the popular votes of  people and replace their interests with the best interests of the "party."

Career politicians, brainy political analysts, pollsters, and media executives are scared of Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Ted Cruz because their visions of America lie outside the box of conventional politics. Until election day we should expect faux polls, scary predictions, and every manner of mischief heaped upon the head of any candidate other than the choice of the "establishment." Any of the three as President would upset the apple cart and power structure of the "establishments" which have controlled America for decades.

Hopefully, this presidential election will destroy the two "party" system in favor of candidate Trump who is a pragmatist bent on getting things done to get "America First." Perhaps the new direction for American politics will be individuals with positive plans for the nation rather than blind devotion to a political party. I believe beyond his blemishes, Donald Trump's nationalism, populism, and genuine devotion to America represents a sorely needed fresh wind of change which will re energize all citizens. Also, Trump will remind our foreign neighbor nations of our military, moral, and economic power. Patriotism, populism, and love of country are admirable traits for anyone assuming the presidency. Voters embracing these ideals are not knuckle dragging, un educated, gun toting boobs as liberal politicians and left leaning media big wigs would have you believe.

In November voting citizens must choose between a vote for the ho hum status quo of the last eight years or vote for something different and slightly apolitical. The incredible deal making abilities, strength of character, and impressive career of success should make Trump a good choice. He could become the first president in a very long time entering the White House without a pocketful of IOU's from money donors and lobbyists. With superior negotiating skills he has an excellent chance of  bringing domestic and international parties to common goals.

Those with a visceral dislike of the Donald must realize their "stay at home" or no vote adds a vote for Hillary Clinton. Now is the time for all republicans and the millions of disaffected democrats to change the political landscape of our fine nation and shake up the political "establishment."