Today is Veteran’s Day, a holiday customarily filled with gratitude, remembrance, and, unfortunately, exorbitant amounts of political pandering. Every American politician who’s ever served has done so promising to do right by veterans. At least on the surface, it is an issue that everyone should be able to agree on. If that is really the case, then why do we still hear so much about widespread waste and mismanagement? Why do we still read about scandals like the 2014 Phoenix VA scandal where more than forty veterans died while waiting to receive the medical care they had earned?
In the free market system, those that do not provide good service naturally go out of business as consumers make choices each day. In this way, consumers can provide oversight without ever realizing it. However, in a bureaucratic system like the VA, more intentional oversight is necessary. Make no mistake about it: oversight is a lot of work. That is why conservatives fight so hard to reduce the bureaucracy inherent in our governmental system.
The solution is not to get rid of the VA. In fact, the VA is one of very few federal agencies which is well-grounded in the authority given to Congress in the U.S. Constitution. If the federal government has the power “to raise and support Armies,” it becomes imperative for our nation to also honor those who sacrificed through their service. However, the need for the Department of Veterans Affairs does not negate the fact that we must guard against the natural tendencies of the bureaucratic state. Only oversight will provide adequate care for the needs of our veterans.
Perhaps you are wondering how to provide this oversight. You can do your part by holding your newly elected Member of Congress to account for his pledge to care for veterans. Reach out and ask what he is doing to fulfill that promise. Vigilantly watch for reports of veterans being mistreated in your area. Talk to veterans and learn their concerns with the service at the VA. You can honor those who have served by taking action on this Veterans Day.
