The national news media since Sunday has been abuzz with the news of the appointment of General Eric K. Shinseki (RET) to head the Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA) in the Obama administration. But despite the many positive things I've read about Shinseki and his appointment, I have yet to really get a clear impression of WHY he will be great for veterans. He IS one; that's a good thing. And he's a wounded veteran (another good thing). And one who stood up to the powers that be and seems to have integrity, a good head for strategy, and a reluctance to showboat and hog the spotlight. Great. All good things.
But what I haven't read is anything compelling about Shinseki's concern for veterans and their families. Just who he is as a person and how he estimated troop strength better than others. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs is so obviously the main conduit for delivering health care and benefits to veterans and their families, I'm a little nonplussed as to why he was the perfect choice for that, say, versus a Patty Murray (D-WA), a Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), or a Max Cleland (who headed the VA successfully in the Carter Administration and beyond). All three (and probably others) were strong candidates: Was Shinseki that much stronger? He's very reserved (not necessarily a bad thing, but...it means we don't know much about what he really thinks about various issues relating to veterans and their care.)
Don't forget the Abraham Lincoln quote, enshrined as the motto of the VA, that says in part:
"let us strive on to finish the work we are in,
to bind up the nation’s wounds,
to care for him who shall have borne the battle
and for his widow, and his orphan..."
When I think about the VA, I wonder who in particular can stay on message with THAT mission. Will Shinseki be able to? Let's hope so. It's vitally important that someone does...
Again -- great if it turns out he does a great job, and really cares for veterans and their families, and their significant plight and peril. But otherwise, why not someone who's already got a track record caring for veterans? Sometimes it's hard to understand how and why these decisions get made. Seems like we need Shinseki's leadership in the Pentagon more than in the VA. But ideally he will turn out to be a great appointee, if we can further define what would make a great appointee. Someone who makes sure that veterans get the care they need; that their families are included in the process; and that strides are made to both simplify the process and to reach out to deliver health care to veterans in outlying, rural areas. Maybe Shinseki's strategic side will help here. We certainly hope so. Fingers tentatively crossed, but without the gushing that seems to be abounding these days re: this particular appointment...The need is just so great, and it's not going to go away, but rather, continue to grow.
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Editor's note: There's also this great quote, allegedly from another fave former president, George Washington, which Friend of Veterans Kathie Costos uses as her email signature:
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." -- George Washington.
Just another reason why leading the VA is such an important charge...
