Why Scare the Elderly?

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In this piece, the author argues that fearmongers overlook the harmful unintended consequences of their actions, particularly for the elderly. Physical and psychological health can suffer from stress caused by alarming fabrications. Hypertension, heart attack, stroke and negative psychological feelings just to name a few. The author shares a personal example: their mother-in-law, upset by a supposed Trump claim about cutting Social Security, despite his repeated assurances to protect it, as confirmed by Grok. This misconception likely stems from misattribution, a common issue where 20-30% of people distort memories due to biases like dislike, a phenomenon the author experienced when a prejudiced co-worker falsely accused them of a statement, later disproven by a recording. The post cautions against believing or spreading distorted narratives, especially amid AI-manipulated media, and recommends verifying facts with tools like Grok. Additional facts clarify that while Trump and Elon Musk oppose cutting Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, they target waste and fraud, which costs taxpayers billions annually—$521 billion per the U.S. Government Accountability Office, including significant improper payments in entitlement programs.

I’m writing about this because those who spread fear often overlook its unintended consequences. For the elderly especially, hearing alarming statements—whether misheard or exaggerated—can spark stress that harms their health, worsening conditions like hypertension. Fearmongers may gain attention, but they risk causing lasting physical and psychological damage.

As an example, I was on the phone today with my mother-in-law. We seldom, if ever, talk politics. However, she did mention that she heard Trump say he was going to cut Social Security benefits. I could tell she was scared or at the very least upset at the thought of losing Social Security and rightly so, if it was true. Since I’m on Social Security at 67 but also a person who watches news and politics closely, I was stunned. I mean, I cannot count the number of times Trump has said he would not touch Social Security or Medicare.

So, I asked Grok. Notice in my questions I say “Keep it brief and factual” otherwise it goes into lengthy responses that might include opinions.

Question: Did President Trump ever say he would cut social security benefits while running for President or as President? Keep it brief and factual.

Answer:

No, President Trump did not say he would cut Social Security benefits during his campaign or presidency. He repeatedly pledged to protect Social Security and Medicare.

Link

So, where did this idea come from? I asked and she said it came from Trump himself as she does not listen to opinions on TV, Radio, Podcasts or the web. I knew he did not say anything like this as a candidate for President or President. I asked Grok the question below:

Question: How common is it for people to believe they heard someone they dislike say something they did not say? Keep it brief and factual.

Answer: This phenomenon, known as misattribution or false memory, is relatively common. Studies suggest that about 20-30% of people may experience distorted recollections of events or statements, influenced by biases like disliking someone, though exact rates vary depending on context and individual factors.

Link

Having experienced this personally I was not surprised. Years ago, a co-worker who disliked me claimed he heard me say something on a radio talk show that I never said. Fortunately, a friend had recorded the live broadcast and defended me the next day. Emotions can distort perception, and I’m certain he genuinely believed his version of events. Still, his prejudice against me warped the truth.

There are several things I caution myself and others in this post. Be careful what you say and believe. Be careful to not misrepresent what someone else says, especially if you strongly dislike the other person. Understand that video’s and quotes are often taken out of context. Today, many videos are dubbed using Artificial Intelligence. When you think you know something check yourself. A good tool for that is Grok.com.

Below are some additional facts about the Trump Administration related to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid:

The Trump Administration will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. President Trump himself has said it (over and over and over again).

Elon Musk didn’t say that, either. The press is lying again.

Here is Musk’s direct quote: “The waste and fraud in entitlement spending — which is most of the federal spending is entitlements — so, that’s, like, the big one to eliminate. That’s the, sort of half-trillion, maybe $6-700 billion a year.”

And he’s exactly right.

FACT: The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates taxpayers lose as much as $521 billion annually to fraud — and most of that is within entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
FACT: Over the past two decades, the federal government has made an estimated $2.7 trillion in “improper payments” — the majority of which come in the form of “payments to deceased individuals or those who no longer [are] eligible for government programs.”
FACT: The Social Security Administration made an estimated $72 billion in improper payments between 2015 and 2022.
FACT: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimated it made $140+ billion in improper payments in 2024 alone.