[CholeraJoe]

First of all, I'd close down the VA hospitals.

That would break a 146 year old promise. "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and his widow and orphan." Abraham Lincoln March 4, 1865.

Or does that promise only apply to Civil War Veterans? The other 30 million of us are on our own according to you?

[Stat-boy]

Here is an idea:

The Gov could spec out and solicit bids for private health care plans, and each Vet would be the beneficiary. Vets then would have the right to chose the best health care they can find, outside of government hospitals.

[upsdriver]

We don’t need VA hospitals to fulfill that promise. They can be cared for at the same hospitals you and I go to with Uncle Sam picking up the check for their care. It would be far cheaper and they would get better care. Outsourcing is something we need to be looking at in all areas of government. The private sector runs circles around government run entities.