It didn’t take long for the many veterans who attended the recent town meeting at the Hefner VA Medical Center to realize that the outcome had already been decided. Congressman Mel Watt told us so.

The first 35 minutes of the rigged event featured Watt telling us his problems and giving us reasons he was the big dog in his district.

Timothy May, the administrator of the hospital, sat on a highlighted stage while veterans sat in a darkened theater. Several veterans were given three minutes to voice their problems. Watt kept time and was quick to say “time’s up” when the words touched a sore spot. It was hard to hear and see the veterans who spoke, but they all spoke with dignity and control. Although many voiced the need for the heated therapy pools to reopen, others were in agreement as a loud applause followed.

One veteran related the many weeks he had been trying to contact May. We are abused and denied audience for our problems. Once, the veterans hospital had patient representatives. Now, they are called advocates and their powers are nil. They must answer to the arrogant Mr. May.

If we had any hopes of our voiced problems being acted upon, Watt made it very clear in his final closing speech that he does not see any reason to interfere with the way May is running the veterans hospital.

That leaves us with no court of appeals. Right or wrong, our medical problems are left to God and Timothy May.

— Hal Thompson

East Spencer