Larry Scott (former E-5) served four-plus years in the U.S. Army with overseas tours as a Broadcast Journalist at AFKN HQ, Seoul, Korea and AFN Lajes Field, The Azores, Portugal and a stateside tour as a Broadcast Journalism Instructor at the Defense Information School (DINFOS). Larry was decorated four times including the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He was awarded DOD's First Place Thomas Jefferson Award for Excellence in Journalism. After the Army, Larry went back to radio news, working in Indianapolis as a News Anchor on WIFE Radio and then in New York City as a News Anchor on WNBC Radio. He receives VA compensation for a service-connected disability and uses the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington VA facilities for healthcare. Today, Larry resides in Southwest Washington and operates the veteran's help website YourVABenefits.org. To contact Larry Scott email larry@yourvabenefits.org.
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DIVIDE. Pitting veteran against veteran is a well-used political strategy. As we argue among ourselves, a public picture of disunity within the veteran community is painted. The latest example of this is the so-called "equity issue," which is used as an excuse to charge enrollment fees at the VA. The argument is that retired vets must pay a fee to be covered by the TRICARE health system. So why shouldn't vets (non-retirees) who use the VA healthcare system have to do the same? Because they are NOT the same system. It's a case of apples and oranges. Also, military retirees in general have higher than average incomes. Maryland statistics are a perfect example of this, showing that the median family income for a military retiree is over $71,000, compared to $42,000 in the general population. Many retired vets that I know feel the idea of a VA enrollment fee is "only fair." They do not consider these income differences meaningful. Divide and conquer is clearly alive and well in Washington, D.C.
DIVIDE (part two). The great "veteran divide" is exacerbated by many of our veterans' service organizations. I can't join one organization because I didn't serve in what they term a "time of combat." I can't join another because my service-connected disability is not combat-related. This list goes on and on, and has the effect of barring millions of veterans from the rolls of major service organizations. This has created a caste system that places one veteran's service above the service of another. Isn't it time for our service organizations to welcome all through their doors and declare, "A veteran is a veteran?" I hope that day comes soon, because as the service organizations wage their petty turf wars, veterans lose.
All of the above only serves to dishonor veterans. But as political strategies, they work. A few days ago the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees acted on the 2006 VA budget proposals. There's good news and bad news. The good news is it appears the co-pay for non-service-connected prescriptions will stay at $7 for a 30-day supply and not go up to $15. The bad news is there will be an enrollment fee for Priority Group 7 and 8 veterans with a sliding scale of $230 to $500 a year, depending on income. This is not logical. It is not acceptable. It is not -- as has been touted -- fiscally prudent, because many vets will now find themselves in the Medicaid system. It is just another way of breaking the promises made to our veterans.
Why do we, as veterans, allow this to happen? Why do we allow this dishonor to be heaped upon us? Because we have become complacent, and even lazy. Because we have allowed our "dis"-service organizations to "mis"-represent us on Capital Hill. We allow this to happen as tens of thousands of new veterans, many of them disabled, need our help as they try to transition back to civilian life.
The perfect example of our inaction was the recent confirmation hearings of Jim Nicholson as VA Secretary. One major service organization spokesperson said (I paraphrase): "The old VA Secretary was a great guy and a true friend of all vets, and we will work with the new Secretary." No mention was made about the recent past, in which VA hospitals were closed, millions of vets were cut off from being allowed to register for VA healthcare, and veterans died while on waiting lists due to under-funding. No mention was made that the new Secretary has already indicated he will follow a similar path.
Where is the call to action? Where is the political pressure that could be put on the Senators and Representatives who consistently under-fund VA healthcare? Where are the service organizations when we really need them? My message to the service organizations: It's time to open your minds, open your hearts, and open your doors to all veterans. Because if you call what you are doing "service" to veterans, then it's time for a new definition.
