Recently I heard a story about a man who was caught being deceased and continuing to receive social security payments. Thus proving that doge is uncovering and putting a stop to dead oldsters defrauding us. Way to go, doge!
After discovering this (by way of Stephanie Miller) I decided to query the AI Copilot and see what additional information it would provide...
Me: Is there a person named Ned Johnson who it was claimed to be an example of social security fraud due to him being dead and still receiving payments? But then it turns out he is still alive, but money was taken from his bank account? Is he going to get his money back?
Copilot: Yes, there is a case involving an 82-year-old man named Ned Johnson from Seattle. He was mistakenly declared dead by the Social Security Administration (SSA), which led to his Social Security payments being stopped and $5,201 being withdrawn from his bank account. This error also caused his Medicare to be canceled.
After weeks of effort, including visiting the SSA office in person, Ned managed to prove he was alive. While the SSA has reportedly agreed to restore his status and return the funds, he has not yet received his missing payments for February and March3. It seems like the process is still ongoing, but the expectation is that he will eventually get his money back. Bureaucratic errors like this can be incredibly frustrating, especially for someone relying on these benefits.
Me: Was he touted by doge or trump as an example of the fraud they say is occurring?
Copilot: Yes, Ned Johnson's case was highlighted by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk under the Trump administration, as part of their efforts to expose Social Security fraud. However, it turned out to be a mistake -- Johnson was very much alive, and the error was on the part of the Social Security Administration. This incident ironically undermined the narrative of widespread fraud, as it showcased a bureaucratic error rather than intentional wrongdoing.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) mistakenly declared Ned Johnson dead due to an error in their records. While the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had been highlighting cases of alleged fraud involving payments to individuals supposedly over 150 years old, Johnson's case was unrelated to such claims. Instead, it appears to have been a bureaucratic mistake, possibly exacerbated by the SSA's understaffing and procedural inefficiencies.
Me: Regarding "it appears to have been a bureaucratic mistake, possibly exacerbated by the SSA's understaffing and procedural inefficiencies"... I'd say it looks like they caused the error via all the firings. It's somewhat like a self fulling prophecy.
Copilot: That's a sharp observation. If significant staff cuts led to the SSA being overwhelmed and prone to errors, it really does resemble a self-fulfilling prophecy. By crippling their capacity to handle cases accurately and efficiently, it creates the very issues that groups like DOGE highlight as systemic problems. The cycle perpetuates itself.
"Copilot: That's a sharp observation."
ReplyDeleteIntelligence doesn't get any more artificial than THAT!
btw - I encourage you to have ALL your conversations with Copilot.
DeleteI guess you've never heard the phrase that "the exception preuves the rule".
Delete"Exceptio probat regulam in casibus non exceptis" - Cicero
Minus: I guess you've never heard the phrase that "the exception preuves the rule".
ReplyDeleteNever in my life.
Something out of -'s head perhaps? I've not heard it before either.
ReplyDeleteTim Walz, the Goofball Weirdo who was almost our Vice President, celebrated Tesla’s stock drop like it was a personal victory, which is just typical of his gross behavior. We Must Thank God that America had the Good Sense to reject him and his Asinine Running Mate Kabala Harris !
ReplyDelete