LETTERS: Competition would do VA some good
To the editor:
Regarding Rep. Dina Titus’ op-ed (“Private sector lacks capacity, expertise to care for veterans,” July 29 Review-Journal), the congresswoman wrote: “First, the private sector does not have the expertise to provide care for the unique needs of veterans, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, prosthetics, conditions related to toxic exposure in war zones, or traumatic brain injury.”
Well, there is no evidence for that. There is not a single item in that list that private hospitals do not deal with. Is Rep. Titus so ignorant that she thinks that people do not experience traumatic brain injury in civilian life, or that fires in chemical plants do not expose civilians to toxic chemicals?
There are numerous differences between private and government-run hospitals. First, when a patient dies on your watch in a private hospital, you are much less likely to get a bonus. If dozens die, you might even get fired. How many VA administrators have been fired?
Second, if you kill or harm a patient through neglect or carelessness, you and/or your company will likely face a nasty lawsuit. I have heard of no such compensation for veterans mistreated by the VA, and certainly Rep. Titus did not propose any methods for such compensation. Of course, she does not need to, because her word is law, and the mere speaking should be enough to make things better.
Third, while both private and government hospitals are hierarchical in nature, if you do not like how things work in a private institution, you can go to another one. With the VA, you have only one other choice: go away and die, preferably quietly.
Hierarchies serve a single purpose: to perpetuate themselves and allow those at the top to feed off of those beneath them. Rep. Titus and the rulers of the VA are excellent examples of this. No matter what they claim, you can tell by their actions that they live only to enrich themselves. At this, they succeed.
Except for brief periods when the spotlight — the best antidote to roaches — shines upon it, the VA will never properly deal with veterans unless and until veterans have the absolute right to choose their physicians and hospitals.
Rep. Titus also cites the lack of physicians in Nevada. That problem exists because of people like her who have worked tirelessly, in the service of the gaming industry, to make Nevada one of the worst states in the union. Where do the wealthy in Las Vegas go for first-class health care? McCarran International Airport, to seek treatment elsewhere.
Veterans should have the choice to go anywhere, on Uncle Sam’s dime. I agree with Rep. Titus that privatizing the VA might not be the answer, but as the Review-Journal has so often pointed out with regard to education, competition would work.
DOUG NUSBAUM
LAS VEGAS
NV Energy rates
To the editor:
Surprise, surprise: NV Energy has changed its mind about asking for only a 0.9 percent rate increase for usage, and is also upping the monthly fee increase from $5.25 to $5.75 (“Proposed electricity rate hike may grow,” July 22 Review-Journal online). It comes as no shock that both changes have been “adjusted” to a higher rate. But wait, there’s more: The state Legislature passed a law mandating more energy efficiency for consumers in the future. This will result in consumers using less power and producing lower profits.
Does anyone think that NV Energy might consider passing on that revenue loss to those same consumers, so that the company can keep its bonuses, inflated salaries and huge profit margins intact? Oh, I forgot, only the top few percent of NV Energy brass would enjoy those perks. And that top few percent are the same ones who cozy up with the Public Utilities Commission, which would make the decision to grant requested rate increases.
Does anyone need a crystal ball at this point to see where this leads? It does not end well for consumers.
LOUIS YOUNG
NORTH LAS VEGAS
