Three of us held the line at the Tucson VA’s Ajo gate from 6:30-8:00am for the morning shift change. The responses were similar to last week’s, 75%-85%, from what I could see… Some people’s car windows are tinted so dark it’s impossible to see the response or lack thereof through them, especially with the rising sun glaring off them…
Predictably, the same negatives from the same individuals going in, as the last few times… Oh well… As the old saying goes… ‘You can take someone to school, but you can’t make him think…’ Yes, I updated it, paraphrased it … just a bit…; -)
CynOp 
7 responses to “Save Our VA Tucson Protest – 4/24/26”
Lovely pictures, Liam.
Would you like to have a rational discussion with the people who give negative responses to see why they feel the way they do? I know I would. Perhaps there are reasons there, not just ignorance. One never knows unless they can converse.
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Actually, I have spoken with quite a few, whose views are what I consider negative. Of those I’ve spoken to, the main complaints seem to be VA wait times, inability to get the treatments or services they need because of lack of interdepartmental communications or lack of properly trained staff. Some who work there complain of inability to advance in their careers, and the out of hand regection of any and all recomendations for improvement. Which has been the directed intention of those who have been seeking to privatize the VA for many years now… slowly defunding and outsourcing, what used to be internal, federal functions. So, no, it’s not that everyone who disagrees with our protests are ‘ignorant’, but they are playing into the hands of those purposely pushing for the demise and privatization of, not just the VA, but of all federally funded programs… to profit their crooked cronies on Wall Street… Unfortunately, that’s not just my opinion. It’s documented fact…; -)
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I’m not familiar with the internal politics within the VA, just my brother’s (a Vietnam vet) dealings with them, and a fellow blogger I used to converse with who lived in rural Oregon (also a Vietnam vet), so I have no grounds to dispute what you say. They had different experiences with the VA. The friend in Oregon had trouble receiving timely and proper medical care, while my brother got good care. I don’t know why the difference in care…maybe because they live(d) in different states, who knows? The friend who lived in Oregon died from Covid in 2021, and I sometimes wonder if part of the blame for his death was because of inadequate care.
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Unfortunately, it’s not just the internal ‘politics’ of the VA, but the national, political strategy of those who’ve been in power for decades now, to privatize any and all federal programs they can gaslight the public into accepting… As I said, it’s both parties, but in recent times, particularly Republicans…
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Republican are tightfisted with social programs, and Democrats want to make everything free for everyone, which would cost some serious money. Either way, it’s the taxpayers who pay the price. IMHO.
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While I understand your position, I think that definition may be a little over-simplified. Both parties are beholden to the same monied interests and cater to those doners. In the basics of economic policy, they have been pretty much in lockstep for decades, basically since Reagan. Certainly, the Dems have been slightly more liberal with social policy, but when it comes to helping the working poor and so-called middle-class, they’ve been deaf to the plight of the masses… IMHO. …; -)
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