I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018
You may recall Dr. Ronny as the White (Supremacist) House doctor who "examined" Cadet Bone Spurs and declared the obese, exercise- phobic lump to be in "excellent" condition; he reported Cadet Bone Spurs also took the Montreal Cognitive Mental Test and was able to identify drawings of a lion, a rhinoceros and a camel -- therefore, sane! Most importantly, he has zero experience running any operation anywhere near the size of the VA. A little ass- kissing of Cadet Bone Spurs, no matter how blatantly risible (or psychologically damaging - ewww), will do wonders for your career (until it doesn't).
Outgoing Administrator David Shulkin was quick with his explanation for the ouster:
... Unfortunately, the department has become entangled in a brutal power struggle, with some political appointees choosing to promote their agendas instead of what’s best for veterans. These individuals, who seek to privatize veteran health care as an alternative to government-run V.A. care, unfortunately fail to engage in realistic plans regarding who will care for the more than 9 million veterans who rely on the department for life-sustaining care.
The private sector, already struggling to provide adequate access to care in many communities, is ill-prepared to handle the number and complexity of patients that would come from closing or downsizing V.A. hospitals and clinics, particularly when it involves the mental health needs of people scarred by the horrors of war. Working with community providers to adequately ensure that veterans’ needs are met is a good practice. But privatization leading to the dismantling of the department’s extensive health care system is a terrible idea. The department’s understanding of service-related health problems, its groundbreaking research and its special ability to work with military veterans cannot be easily replicated in the private sector.
I have fought to stand up for this great department and all that it embodies. In recent months, though, the environment in Washington has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work that our veterans need and deserve. I can assure you that I will continue to speak out against those who seek to harm the V.A. by putting their personal agendas in front of the well-being of our veterans.
As many of you know, I am a physician, not a politician. I came to government with an understanding that Washington can be ugly, but I assumed that I could avoid all of the ugliness by staying true to my values. I have been falsely accused of things by people who wanted me out of the way. But despite these politically-based attacks on me and my family’s character, I am proud of my record and know that I acted with the utmost integrity. Unfortunately, none of that mattered.
As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country. (our emphasis)Now with Shulkin's departure, as with so many other Federal functions being scrutinized for privatization (i.e, profit centers for Cadet Bone Spurs' cronies), the VA is especially vulnerable to for- profit vultures like this. Having Dr. Ronny at the helm means there will be no one with the stature or guts to stand up to the grifters who see a privatized, scaled- down system of veterans care as a potential cash cow. No doubt Dr. Ronny's diagnosis, after a careful "examination," will be that a privatized VA will be "excellent."
