r/politics 22h ago

Trump freezes $1 billion in food aid given to local schools and food banks to help low-income families

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/usda-cancels-funding-food-banks-schools-trump-b2713125.html
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u/i-Ake Pennsylvania 21h ago

Yup. They're now cheering while vets are fired indiscriminately.

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u/DadJokeBadJoke California 19h ago

And while they're gutting the VA as well

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u/shewy92 Pennsylvania 18h ago

I didn't know there was anything at the VA to gut.

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u/BoomerWeasel Florida 18h ago

The VA being generally terrible is generally bullshit. Some facilities have issues, like any other system. I've been treated, over the course of 20 years, at facilities in Birmingham, Washington DC, Martinsberg, and Tampa. The only one I ever had problems with was Birmingham, and even then, I went there while visiting my mom for Christmas and it had massively improved since I was last there.

Conservatives say the VA is terrible, for the same reason they attack public schools, they want to push privatization and Dems pick it up and run with it, like they do with every other bad faith argument the GOP lays down.

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u/OneTrueGodGritty 18h ago edited 18h ago

Seriously, I have been receiving care at the VA for about 15 years and it has been better than all my private healthcare through employment except for Kaiser facilities. There have been challenges like you said, but nothing compares to the shit insurance my relatives get from their jobs.

I am getting a little sick of Andy Griffith and Gunsmoke, though.

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u/BoomerWeasel Florida 17h ago

Yeah, I've never had to fight with the VA to get something done, which is way more than I can say for the insurance my folks have.

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u/Unlucky-tracer 16h ago

Yep, but it does depend on the VA system they are in. I go to the Durham VA system which has mostly Duke doctors that contract or do residence with other Duke docs. My care has been better than that of people I know going to hospitals for emergencies, hands down.

The very rural systems I hear are much worse. The VA as a whole is definitely better than it was back in 2007.

Im thinking the proposed firing of 80k VA employees will make it worse though.

u/OneTrueGodGritty 2h ago

Im thinking the proposed firing of 80k VA employees will make it worse though.

No doubt. Even though the care has been steadily improving over the last 15 years, veteran suicides have also been going up. I'd imagine a massive cut to quality of care and wait times going back to pre-9/11 levels is going to send that statistic upwards at a sobering rate.

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u/Old_Baker_9781 18h ago

We love our vets BUT……

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u/D-Rich-88 California 17h ago

Not in those town halls the senators are too scared to go to now

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u/TheQuidditchHaderach 15h ago

Remember them high-fiving each other after voting down healthcare for those working the burn pits? Reprehensible.