Why "Craigslist Founder Joins Veterans Affairs Innovation Search Panel"

Yup, that's me, figuring I should practice what I preach, in addition to strongly supporting the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Craig Newmark, the founder of "craigslist" and a well-known technology visionary, has agreed to serve on the blue-ribbon panel of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that will review and evaluate ideas to improve disability claims processing times and provide greater transparency to Veterans.
The innovation competition solicited ideas from VA employees and members of Veterans Service Organizations who are on the front lines every day, working with Veterans to help deliver benefits they deserve and need.  VA officials from each of the 57 regional offices across the country have submitted promising ideas, which will be reviewed by Newmark and other panel members.  The panel will be chaired by Patrick W. Dunne, the VA Under Secretary for Benefits. 

Supporting the troops, that's just not words, and it means also doing something for veterans back home. Through most of human history, they rarely get the treatment they've earned. Now that we have an Administration that really supports the troops, we should be serious about that.

The deal here is in any large organization, the rank and file knows what's really going on and can do things a lot better. However, that doesn't get to top management normally.

However, social media spreads around vital information and suggestions in a manner wherein people can support each other, and get the message to the top.

I figure that's not only true of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but other agencies, like State, FCC, and Homeland Security. (Check that link out!)

So, the deal is to get a kind of internal discussion board, where people share information and ideas how to do things much better. I have the privilege of helping judge the whole deal.

Next? Well, there's lots more work to do.

 

Follow Craig Newmark on Twitter: www.twitter.com/craignewmark

Comments

[tompoe]

Veterans have legislation in place, to the effect:
1] If they're 65 or older, they can enroll in the VA Pension program
2] If they're 100% Disabled, they can enroll in the VA Pension program
3] If they're on the VA Pension, and earn even $1, they lose their VA Pension (in other words, they must periodically be reviewed)
4] If they're homeless and unemployed, they can enroll in the VA Pension program (subject to periodic review)

There is a form VA21-8940 to fill out. There is Title 38 Section 340 that spells out the Total Disability Based On Individual Unemployability, or TDIU.

My question is, why isn't every one of the 250,000 homeless veterans sleeping on our nation's streets on any given night, automatically enrolled in the TDIU VA Pension program, and given the help they need? It's one way for homeless veterans to "pay their way", and when they're back to working and being productive, the VA Pension is interrupted until they need it again.

Simple to implement. Difficult for bureaucrats to grasp. What a shame!