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Reagan Pals Plot V.A. Sale

By VVAW

Reagan's new-right friends are at it again. Not only is this group of war-mongering draft dodgers against raises for the VA budget but now they've come up with the idea of dismantling the VA altogether.

Despite attempts to quiet the legitimate fears of veterans and veterans groups, this pilot study follows right-wing think tank's positions on ending the VA. While some doubt the influence of these right-wing groups, look at their prior record: domestic use of the CIA; stopping the EPA from interfering with polluting companies; putting federal workers under social security; ending affirmative action programs in many places and cutting unemployment insurance. And that's just the beginning.

The committee consists of 150 executives from the largest and more powerful corporations and banks in the country. It's been named the Grace Committee after its head, J. Peter Grace. There are lots of suggestions from these corporate magnates: various VA programs should be assumed by the Defense Department, by the Department of Education and Housing and Urban Development and by Social Security (which seems to have plenty of problems already without grabbing anymore). And the VA staff will be cut; VA insurance programs will be turned over to private firms.

Corporations are apparently not satisfied with coining money off our blood in Vietnam when we were in the service; now they want to cut our benefits and make more money on our problems than they could on the wars they sent us to.

The Committee will be holding public meetings in mid April to discuss its proposals. Hopefully, Vietnam veterans will take appropriate notice of these turkeys in order to let them know how we feel.