a matter of priorities

Writing for the McClatchy Newspapers, David Goldstein reports:

The Department of Veterans Affairs failed to fully spend a promised $300 million since 2005 to fill critical gaps in mental health services for returning troops and others, congressional investigators said.

The money was supposed to be used to improve awareness of the VA's mental health programs and provide better access to them for troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, women and other veterans suffering from serious mental illnesses.

But a Government Accountability Office report released Thursday found that the agency underspent the money and that not all of what it did spend went to those programs.

More here.

Awareness of mental health programs? Better access? Who needs that kind of crap? No, the government has better things to do with your money. Like throw a victory party:

The military's top generals have warned that Iraq is on the cusp of a civil war and that US troops must remain in large numbers until at least next spring. But if the winds suddenly blow a different direction, Congress is ready to celebrate with a $20 million victory party.

Lawmakers included language in this year's defense spending bill, approved last week, allowing them to spend the money. The funds for "commemoration of success" in Iraq and Afghanistan were originally tucked into last year's defense measure, but went unspent amid an uptick in violence in both countries that forced the Pentagon to extend tours of duty for thousands of troops.

Priorities.

These stories certainly aren't amusing, but they do remind me of the joke about the guy who hung around the slot machines in Vegas, asking passersby for $10 so he could buy milk and bread for his children.

"Milk and bread, my ass," one passing gambler said to the first man. "How do I know you won't spend that money on the slots?"

The first man was offended by the suggestion, and looked the other man in the eye. "Sir, don't be ridiculous. I have gambling money."