To the Editor:
Re “Chaos as Ripple Effects From V.A. Cuts Spread” (information article, March 11):
Nothing might have been extra predictable: Elon Musk and his associates rampage by way of the Division of Veterans Affairs. The Division of Authorities Effectivity amateurs fail to differentiate important providers from waste, fraud and abuse. And the result’s chaos, harming actual individuals.
This can be a case examine in poor coverage judgment. The V.A. is way from excellent, however a lot of its applications serve People with severe wants, demonstrating that authorities typically works. The states can not present veterans with all of the providers they want, in order that should be executed by a big, costly federal company, one definitely past the comprehension of the founders.
The inhabitants of the US in 1789 was almost 4 million. The V.A. now supplies medical look after greater than 9 million veterans.
Authorities may be greatest when it governs least, however compassion and customary sense should prevail.
President Trump doesn’t perceive that disruption is a method, by no means an finish. If ruthless cost-cutting imposed with a series noticed on the chief departments will produce a greater authorities, Mr. Trump may should be honored as an excellent president, an accolade for which he ceaselessly thirsts. However historical past will likely be unkind to him if he merely produces a society that’s extra fragmented and unequal.
Steven S. Berizzi
Norwalk, Conn.
The author is an emeritus professor of historical past and political science at Connecticut State Neighborhood Faculty, Norwalk.
To the Editor:
Re “Veterans Affairs Department Plans to Eliminate More Than 80,000 Workers” (information article, nytimes.com, March 5):
Our household is filled with navy service members, courting again to the Revolutionary Conflict. (We have now the paperwork!) Each my mom and sister have been nurses in Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics. Nothing appalls me fairly as a lot as macho, jingoistic males in authorities doing every little thing they will, within the absence of navy service or despite it, to scale back or cancel providers to veterans.
There have been reports about contract terminations on the V.A. that finish compounding pharmacies for chemotherapy, inspections of radiological devices that diagnose and observe illness, and follow-up most cancers therapy.
These instantly have an effect on individuals like my brother-in-law, who has Agent Orange-related most cancers from his excursions in Vietnam. It’s not possible to have faith that veterans’ providers will thrive, a lot much less survive, within the face of the drastic cuts to personnel.
How can “thanks on your service” be something however a glib, computerized response when that is the fact for our veterans?
Kim Maphis
Early Nashville
To the Editor:
I’m an 82-year-old blind Vietnam Conflict veteran who is aware of that funds cuts are slowing down or taking out the advantages I have to survive.
Are there no leaders keen to cease the White Home and Elon Musk’s group from dismantling our democracy?
Bruce W. Rider
Floresville, Texas
Cuts at U.S. Embassies and Consulates
To the Editor:
Re “State Dept. Looking to Close Missions and Thin Its Ranks” (information article, March 7):
Enormous cuts to U.S. embassies and consulates could have disastrous penalties for our nation.
As a profession diplomat, now retired, I noticed how our abroad missions responded to Americans in misery. When one among them misplaced a passport, was robbed or grew to become sick, a consular officer was instantly obtainable to assist.
And such emergencies don’t happen simply in capital cities, but in addition in locations fashionable with American vacationers like Florence and Strasbourg, the place consulates could quickly be shuttered. If this occurs, help will likely be hours away.
Diplomats present advocacy for American companies in cities like Hamburg, the place there’s one other threatened consulate. In small U.S. embassies in Africa, the place I served as an envoy, Overseas Service officers work with native legislation enforcement to counter terrorism and worldwide crime, and to safeguard important maritime transport lanes.
Closing diplomatic missions and decreasing the employees will undermine our nationwide safety and endanger Americans. It’s time to talk out towards these unwise plans earlier than they develop into dangerous realities.
Mark L. Asquino
Santa Fe, N.M.
The author had a 37-year profession within the Overseas Service. His last task was because the U.S. ambassador to Equatorial Guinea from 2012 to 2015.
