DOGE v Social Security Fraud*
- Thread starter nycfan
- Start date
- Replies: 155
- Views: 3K
- Politics
- Messages
- 13,695
Honestly, you are giving Musk a lot of leeway for obvious implications of his posts when Trump and his press secretary seem to think Musk is clearly stating or implying that:
“… On Tuesday, Trump said at a press briefing in Florida that “we have millions and millions of people over 100 years old” receiving Social Security benefits. “They’re obviously fraudulent or incompetent,” Trump said.
“If you take all of those millions of people off Social Security, all of a sudden we have a very powerful Social Security with people that are 80 and 70 and 90, but not 200 years old,” he said. He also said that there’s one person in the system listed as 360 years old. …”
“… This isn't the first time Musk has spread false or misleading information. In the Oval Office last week, he backtracked on a claim spread prolifically by the Trump administration that USAID was sending $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza and Hamas. In fact, the condoms were sent to a province in Mozambique named Gaza as part of an HIV prevention measure.
"Well, first of all, some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected," Musk said. "Nobody's going to bat a thousand. We will make mistakes, but we'll act quickly to correct any mistakes." …”
superrific
Legend of ZZL
- Messages
- 5,121
"Maybe twilight is real and there are vampires collecting social security."
First, a minimum that says that "maybe" dead people are collecting social security. Second, the entire comment depends on the premise that there are benefits being paid. You wouldn't say, "maybe vampires are real and they are swishing three pointers from half court."
I'm not doing this with you anymore. It's another of your games where you try to pretend that words mean something other than what they mean. I'm not going to participate. I value language and precision in language, so I'm not going to indulge efforts to redefine words into idiosyncratic and highly personalized bundles of pseudo-semantics.
ZenMode
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 2,043
I'm not asking you to do anything. When Elon has "found" fraud, he's called it out a long with a dollar amount. Has he said he found fraud in SS? Has he called out a dollar amount or is he just pointing out the ridiculousness of their database info as a result of old technology?
ZenMode
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 2,043
Honestly, you are giving Musk a lot of leeway for obvious implications of his posts when Trump and his press secretary seem to think Musk is clearly stating or implying that:
“… On Tuesday, Trump said at a press briefing in Florida that “we have millions and millions of people over 100 years old” receiving Social Security benefits. “They’re obviously fraudulent or incompetent,” Trump said.
“If you take all of those millions of people off Social Security, all of a sudden we have a very powerful Social Security with people that are 80 and 70 and 90, but not 200 years old,” he said. He also said that there’s one person in the system listed as 360 years old. …”
“… This isn't the first time Musk has spread false or misleading information. In the Oval Office last week, he backtracked on a claim spread prolifically by the Trump administration that USAID was sending $50 million worth of condoms to Gaza and Hamas. In fact, the condoms were sent to a province in Mozambique named Gaza as part of an HIV prevention measure.
"Well, first of all, some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected," Musk said. "Nobody's going to bat a thousand. We will make mistakes, but we'll act quickly to correct any mistakes." …”
The top quotes, unless I'm misreading them, are from Trump, not Elon. I don't know what Trump has said, but we all know he's a liar.
If I'm wrong, and Elon has specifically claimed fraud in SS, I'm sure someone will find it and correct me.
Why would they bother? It's scarcely worth the time and effort. No matter what anyone finds, there'll be something about the wording that you'll object to. It's the petty little odious bullshit you always play.
ETA: The biggest issue for me is that you're just so bad at it.
Centerpiece
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 1,480
“We all know trump is a liar” but we’re gonna give the liar a pass on his hand-selected “advisor” or “acting director” - Elon - who was not elected, not confirmed and who lies all of the time himself.
Whatever.
Whatever.
Centerpiece
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 1,480
Exactly. Why old Zen isn’t on everyone’s super ignore list by now is a mystery.
ZenMode
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 2,043
Trump's behavior or judgement don't automatically translate to Elon or anyone else around him. Are you going to disparage Rubio because Trump selected him?
Elon acknowledge a mistake he made previously in regard to fraud. Nothing I've read is ELON saying there has been fraud found in Social Security. He HAS pointed out the ridiculousness of the software that runs SS and its impact on data. Is he wrong? Is it not ridiculous that a system that gives out money based largely on age doesn't track age correctly?
superrific
Legend of ZZL
- Messages
- 5,121
So when Elon says he's revealing the largest fraud in history, what is he referring to?
First, there is no evidence that it doesn't track age correctly, and lots of evidence that it does -- you know, everyone who starts collecting Social Security at a certain age and not when they are 53. It's just that you don't know how the database works, and neither does Elon. As I've said before, it is incredibly common for databases to have columns that are not filled out as one might think. In fact, I can't remember EVER working on a database that doesn't have unused columns. Obviously I haven't seen this database, but the mere fact of an underutilized column means absolutely nothing.
The "business logic" for paying benefits could be anywhere. It wouldn't have to be in the SS database. It could be in the payment system. It could be somewhere else. In fact, I'd be surprised if it's in a single COBOL-based data file.
HandsonFire
Exceptional Member
- Messages
- 226
I
Anyone subscribing to this line of thought is brain dead. Which is why it’s so popular with Maggots. Trump/Elon know the real issue is they aren’t following the law of the land/constitution, but they feed this bullshit to the rubes and they fall for it hook line and seeker. Feeds right into their qanon conspiracy theory worldview.
Mulberry Heel
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 1,487
I used to love watching King of the Hill, and MAGA is basically an army of Dale Gribbles. Convinced that there are weird dark conspiracies out there everywhere holding them back but failed to see that John Redcorn had been sleeping with his wife for years, and is the real father of his child. They keep seeing conspiracies against them in all the wrong places.
ColdBlueSteel
Exceptional Member
- Messages
- 231
I’d say you’re worked into a lather. What’s it that keeps getting batted around here about the accuser?
Agree with Zen. Seems the implication is that the data housekeeping is suspect, not that 300 year olds are cashing checks.
ChileG
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 1,086
He was strongly implying that there was fraud, is how I read it.
ChileG
Iconic Member
- Messages
- 1,086
There is nothing wrong with the database. That he has you convinced there is something wrong with the database is step one.
Trump is already to step two where he is declaring that there is massive fraud in social security.
Step three is massive cuts.
superrific
Legend of ZZL
- Messages
- 5,121
As someone who paid his way through law school as a professional database programmer, I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is normal.