When Conservatives Hate the Troops

A fictitious conversation between a conservative politician and I over the issue of healthcare:

Paleo: Sir, do you support the troops?

CP: Of course I love the troops. They are some of the best and brightest America has to offer. These brave men and women embody what it means to be loyal, to sacrifice, and to love one’s country. They are fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, they are real American heroes.

Paleo: Alright. Now, you know as well as I do that many of these real American heroes end up in war, and war is a messy thing. Unfortunately, many making it through the fog do so with injuries, whether they be physical, psychological, or even emotional…

CP: Of course. I have been to Iraq. I have been to Afghanistan. I have been to medical facilities around the world where our troops are being cared for. I have listened to their stories, and as a congressman I have promised to honor their sacrifice and commitment to liberty and freedom, both here and abroad.

Paleo: Well, it is interesting that you mention that. It actually touches on what I wanted to talk to you about. As you are well aware, many of these troops incur physical injuries that leave them  temporarily or even permanently disabled. And if they aren’t coming home with physical wounds, many are returning with service connected psychological disability. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bi-polar, anxiety and panic disprders, you name it. These are rampant!

CP: I am very aware of this problem. It pains me to see the extent of these ailments This is one of the many reasons I fight so hard for increasing funding for the Veterans Affairs. Their services are invaluable to the men and women who have served this country.

Paleo: Do you believe that the VA is providing top-notch health care?

CP: Absolutely. But I think that we as a nation have an obligation to continue assuring them this care. I have a consistent voting record to increase funding to the VA.

Paleo: So it is your position that the VA is providing top of the line health care?

CP: Yes.

Paleo: Is it as good as the type of health care provided to men and women who haven’t joined the military?

CP: Yes. The technology is state of the art, and the care they receive from the staff is very good.

Paleo: So you think that a single-payer system of socialized medicine provides health care that is just as good or even better than the private for-profit system?

CP: Um, well no. America’s health system is the best in the world, and it is the best in the world because it is a private system that relies upon competition.

Paleo: But you just said that the taxpayer-funded, socialized health care system known as the VA is top of the line, that their technology was state of the art, and that they provide excellent patient care.

CP: Yes.

Paleo: Then why did you backpedal by immediately declaring that very same system and the care it provides to be inferior to privately owned, for-profit health care facilities?

CP: The VA provides great services for our brave men and women…

Paleo: Yeah, yeah, I got that part. But it is inferior to the kind of health care that civilians receive in private, for-profit facilities.

CP: I never said that.

Paleo: Sure you did. Now, given that you believe private, for-profit health care is superior to the taxpayer funded socialized medicine of the VA, will you now fight for the complete privatization or abolition of the VA?

CP: …

Paleo: Where is the answer to that in your playbook, sir?

Option 1:

• If you believe that socialized medicine in evil.
• If you believe that it provides inferior services over against private, for-profit providers.
• If you want veterans to get the best care possible.
• Then you will fight tooth-and-nail to completely privatize the VA.

Option 2:

• If you believe the VA is providing the best possible care for veterans.
• If you don’t wish civilians to be covered under a similar system.
• Then you don’t mind civilians receiving inferior care for no other reason that their not having decided to join the armed forces.