There is a reason the VFW gave Senator Sanders its Congressional Award. (Disclosure: I am a member of the VFW and the DAV.)

Senator Sanders is correct: the GOP is good at the flag-waving part, not so much on the support veterans part.

As for privatising the VA, the GOP can take a flying leap. The VA’s specialised medical system deals with many unique problems we veterans face. Moreover, Business Week magazine a couple years ago rated the VA as the best available medical system in the USA (public or private). Government working as it should goes against the GOP narrative (so apply the Shock Doctrine to us).