"The answer is that the VA system, where the government owns the hospitals, clinics, and labs, and employs the doctors and nurses….. is socialized medicine."

Obviously, someone is lying. I remember George Bush saying that the reason the VA could not give speedy care to veterans injured in the war (this was around 2002, 2003) was that the computer systems with the other agencies of the Gov't, those with health care systems, and those at the VA were incompatable to communicate with each other. In other words there was a hodge, bodge of different computer platforms that could not communicate with each other. So something obviously had to change in that regard. It has more to do with efficiency, than political philosophy. I certainly hope, and expect no political debates to go on while our solidiers are hurt and in need care. Someone is always pushing an agenda. Not necessarily addressing that at you as much as the author.