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On O'Reilly, Stossel repeats claim that Medicare is "like a Ponzi scheme"

October 27, 2009 9:00 pm ET

From the October 27 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

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Previously:

O'Reilly, Stossel agree that Medicare is a "ponzi scheme"

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    • Author by mk3872 (October 27, 2009 9:11 pm ET)
      2 2
      This is one of the most ridiculous things that I have ever heard.

      For tax $$ that go into Medicare, seniors get EXCELLENT health care that they LOVE.

      Since a ponzi scheme is actually based on a fraud with no actual service provided, and Stossel & O'Reilly are smart enough to know that, that means they are LYING.
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      • Author by carlileb5935 (October 28, 2009 4:34 am ET)
        1  
        No, they are stupid. They are confusing Medicare with how they think Social Security works. They got the two mixed up.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by fairliberal (October 28, 2009 11:01 am ET)
          1
        Actually what is even stupider than anything said in that report is someone who avoids the broad point made, ie, medicare is woefully underfunded just like a ponzi scheme, and then uses the metaphorical comparison to call someone a liar.

        Good boy, MMFa is proud of you, that is exactly the response that they were hoping for.

        Are you smart enough to realize that is the point Stossel is making? I wonder. And if you are , I guess that would make you a liar too.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by mk3872 (October 28, 2009 11:45 am ET)
          1  
          Thanks, FL, you are my savior for pointing that out to me!

          Yup,I see it now ... Medicare is EXACTLY like a ponzi scheme! (only in funding terms, though, so be sure to ignore the large implications of the conservative talking points uttered by Stossel & O'Reilly)

          You're the best, FL, thank you, thank you!
          Report Abuse
          • Author by fairliberal (October 28, 2009 12:08 pm ET)
              1
            Ignored the issue again, I guess you feel that Medicare is just fine the way it is. Was Stossel also lying when he stated that Obama is right, that the system is unsustainable as it is? Or just lying about the ponzi comparison? Why not elaborate rather than just name call.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by mk3872 (October 28, 2009 1:22 pm ET)
              1  
              Well, since my reply said Medicare=ponzi schema=incorrect, i thought that was pretty clear. To me, anyway.
              Report Abuse
    • Author by worrierking (October 27, 2009 9:30 pm ET)
      2 2
      And since Bill's viewers are older and taking advantage of Medicare, maybe they'll be talked into giving it up.

      After all, Bill is quite influential among the elderly.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by usp (October 27, 2009 9:44 pm ET)
      2  
      my dad digs his. he was paying $1200 a month for his health insurance. now? he doesn't. he is way stoked.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by DAWUSS (October 27, 2009 10:06 pm ET)
      2  
      Nice fade in caption.

      Who turned out the lights? Bill-O's left in the dark!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Virgil_Kane (October 27, 2009 10:07 pm ET)
        1
      Medicare and Social Security are a bigger ponzi scheme and a bigger fraud than Madoff ever dreamed of and they are both broke. As Stossel mentioned in the clip, Medicare has a $34 trillion unfunded liability.

      I am 27 years old. I am paying social security and medicare taxes, but I will not be able to get those services when I am older. Is that fair? You are dreaming if you think the current system is sustainable. At least with single payer everyone is covered and everyone would pay into it.

      As far as the clip is concerned, Stossel is accurate in portraying Medicare as a ponzi scheme. Bottom line, you pay medicare taxes now, seniors use your money for Viagra, etc. You get no health care service for that investment when you are a senior. Sounds like a fraud to me.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by fairliberal (October 28, 2009 12:05 pm ET)
          1
        Shhhhh, they don't like to discuss the types of facts that you lay out in your comment. They would rather call people a liar based on medicare not being EXACTLY the same as a ponzi scheme.

        They would rather take the opportunity to call Stossel and O'Reilly liars and ignore the real issue. It is the progressive way. Their method is the ame as the Obamanation Administration, who would rather vilify Fox to draw attention away from other issues. Issues they are botching up. After watching Obama bow to the Saudis , I wonder how soon it will be that he adopts their methods of flogging journalists that say things they don't approve of. They have already taken the first step, a co-ordinated attack on a media organization. They would much rather be associated with a news network like CNN who fact checks comedy skits for them. No wonder CNN's rating have tanked.
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    • Author by Limit Corp. Ownership (October 27, 2009 11:48 pm ET)
      2 1
      "People who are truly desperate need some government help," says John Stossel.

      Why not set up a clinic? Brilliant!! When you get sick and the Wall Street health providers have to kick you off the rolls, you just go over to the clinic. What a giant this man is. He's obviously an expert on health care. Why didn't the democrats think of this? If you get cancer, just go to the clinic at WalMart and get some discount vitamins?

      Stossel care.
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      • Author by robyn20094113 (October 28, 2009 8:36 am ET)
        1  
        They completely ignore how Mafia like, the health insurance companies operate.

        I get so sick of them saying, there is Medicaid for the indigent. If they only knew, how many people are dead, by the time they get the notice, that their claim for Medicaid has been denied. Because the government, is so afraid of cons taking advantage of it. Those, that finally do get Medicaid, even when Doctors, insisted they qualified for medicaid, had to spend a fortune on an attorney, to prove it. In the mean time, their medical bills, attorney fees mount, their health deteriorates further, they are forced to file bankruptcy and end up homeless. It often takes years. It is a joke to say, "there is always medicaid for those that need it."

        The majority, of these know it alls, on the air, are clueless.
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    • Author by Dem02020 (October 28, 2009 12:37 am ET)
      1 1
      This is the whole point behind this "ponzi scheme" rhetoric, to try and make Public Health Insurance, or Medicare, look like a con game of some sorts... true.

      I bet you already knew this, or at least suspected it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by teabaggers ♥ [wing]NUTS (October 28, 2009 1:31 am ET)
      1 1
      once someone goes to fox news, the lies and talking points seem to begin on cue.

      and for pete sakes... hes a fox business anchor, NOT fox news.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by LK (October 28, 2009 2:41 am ET)
        1
      Actually, a Ponzi scheme pays very well for the first to get in and the first to get their money out. Just like Jeff Picower who made about $7 billion off the Madoff ponzi scheme.

      The point is, there aren't any investments there, just the incoming funds from people entering in the ponzi scheme on the front end, powering those big returns for the guys on the back end.

      Just like my generation (late 20's) is forced to pay into social sec. and medicare but we won't get anything. In 40 years those schemes will have gone bust.
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    • Author by bintx (October 28, 2009 9:25 am ET)
      1  
      My dad spent the entire summer in the hospital and nursing home. Medicare [and the Cadillac supplement my Mom insisted on having] took care of every dime. What could have been a disastrous summer was eased by Medicare. No problems . . . everything went very smoothly.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by fairliberal (October 28, 2009 1:09 pm ET)
          2
        And does that mean that medicare is fiscally sound and a self sustaining program?

        Report Abuse