The VA: A Political Solution to a Societal Problem

Abstract

Thesis Abstract The thesis of this project is that the United States' Department of Veteran Affairs, the VA, is a political creation, since its foundations were not charitable, economic, faith-based, ethnic, etc. Its foundation was purely on the political wherewithal and expediency that the Federal Government in Washington, DC felt during the interwar years, and the threat to American society that many WWI veterans posed as a result of their being angry at not receiving advanced payments on their bonuses. This is the central thesis, albeit nuanced, that pre­ determined whether the VA had any chance at succeeding at its goals. Secondarily, this paper outlines why the VA has been able to become the relative success that it has been. With regards to the starting point at which many veterans enter into the VA health care system, the results have been nothing less than a minor miracle. This aspect is analyzed and outlined within the body of the paper, and specific examples are given in support. In addition, the VA's health care system is explained, and its organization is presented in the form of maps and charts to expedite the reader's knowledge acquisition. To fully understand the VA's outreach, its organization must be understood. It is important to understand the context in which the VA was created, and the...