John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight' • Hacker News Board

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#251

Post by vitd » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:24 PM UTC

ashitlerferad wrote: post #157

sethbannon wrote: post #18

I'm not aware of any other show that so seamlessly combines rip-roaringly funny comedy with essential insight into the way our society and system of government is deeply flawed. And on top of that, he even manages to direct action to fix the issues he draws attention to -- taking down the FCC website being one example[1]. [1] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jun/03/john-oliv...

It seems to me this show is all about native advertising.

Can you give an example? Thinking back to episodes I've liked, he's mostly been pretty awful to various brands.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#252

Post by _opc6 » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:30 PM UTC

Alphasite_ wrote: post #68

onion2k wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. John Oliver was on UK television a lot before moving to the US. He was doing the same sort of material back then - left-leaning, political, and insightful. He isn't pandering. He (and his team) is broadcasting what he actually believes.

The US is a lot more right in many regards than the UK, so it likely co Es across as more extreme there.

The US is not more conservative. Our conservatives are just louder. The right has lost on every major social issue since roe v wade, including gay marriage, marijauna legalization, and universal healthcare. And now they're being attacked on gun rights. The largest problem the right has is mass delusion.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#253

Post by scrollaway » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:30 PM UTC

lujim wrote: post #193

scrollaway wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're under the impression that all that matters is the final number. They're still spending that money, regardless of whether they make it all back. Let's say I win some lottery and I MAKE $100k. I decide to SPEND $90k of that by giving it to charity. My gesture doesn't count because I'm still in the net positive by your logic. Yes, he runs a profitable show. Nobody said he's a career humanitarian. But you said, qu…

So you don't question the motivations of a televangelist minister with private jets as long as he spends some money on what appear to be altruistic purposes? If I said that guy is just using peoples emotions and beliefs to generate revenue would that be "offensive to just about everybody".

What is it in your mind that equates a "giveaway" as part of a larger program, to the abuse of impressionable people's donations to purchase expensive leisure items?

Seriously, what the hell?

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#254

Post by bayesian_horse » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:34 PM UTC

bko wrote: post #109

bayesian_horse wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But because these cases aren't reviewed, debt is often created out of nothing. For example if the debt has expired or was even paid, the debt changes hands, and they file a law suit somewhere, there is the real chance the debt is brought back to life in full. And if it doesn't work that time, the debt is just sold off to the next collector to try it again.

Yes, he spoke about "zombie debt" in his segment. "Brought back from the dead" is true only if it was dismissed or past the statute of limitations for collection. It's not "brought back from the dead" if you had collectors calling and then they stopped calling and now they continue calling. You still owe that money and you're responsible. Do you ever wonder why somebody would extend you a 30 day unsecured 0% interest…

Debt should be resellable, but only with clear protection of both parties. That's impossible for "cents on the dollar" on a spreadsheet. At that point it's hardly even a benefit for the original creditor.

In many cases, creditors should be more picky about whom they lend money too. Especially if they can't afford ethical collection the question becomes: Should this company even be giving credit?

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#255

Post by bayesian_horse » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:36 PM UTC

ThomPete wrote: post #128

bayesian_horse wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can you interpret things like "the Trump University fraud case" as anything but a problem for a Trump administration? Even the parts where Olliver makes fun of Trump, for example the epic sagas about his hands or how he impersonated his own press secretary, are very clear signs whom I don't want to see in possession of nuclear launch codes. Or drones for that matter.

Trump in possession of launch codes is not more dangerous than Obama in possession of launch codes. Thats not how the US system works. And I am not saying that everything he says is always like that. It's just too much for my taste.

Well, let's hope Trump wouldn't nuke anybody for saying his hands are small. But his incredible thin skin and demonstrated vulnerable ego is hardly an asset in diplomatic or military matters...

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#256

Post by throwaway745234 » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:40 PM UTC

Time to start a benevolent/not-for-profit dept collection company that buys dept and then requests their clients in dept repay 0.5% of the original amount they owed just to cover the costs.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#257

Post by ThomPete » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:42 PM UTC

bayesian_horse wrote: post #255

ThomPete wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trump in possession of launch codes is not more dangerous than Obama in possession of launch codes. Thats not how the US system works. And I am not saying that everything he says is always like that. It's just too much for my taste.

Well, let's hope Trump wouldn't nuke anybody for saying his hands are small. But his incredible thin skin and demonstrated vulnerable ego is hardly an asset in diplomatic or military matters...

Again.

The US system is not that fragile. It's made to be able to deal with presidents smart or dumb.

I see no evidence that Trump should be any more dangerous than Bush or Clinton. He might say more outrageous things than even Bush to the international community but his rhetorics isn's his politics and he can't just send nuclear bombs at whomever he wants.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#258

Post by lujim » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:55 PM UTC

marxidad wrote: post #202

lujim wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you don't question the motivations of a televangelist minister with private jets as long as he spends some money on what appear to be altruistic purposes? If I said that guy is just using peoples emotions and beliefs to generate revenue would that be "offensive to just about everybody".

I don't think it's fair to compare John Oliver to a televangelist minister with private jets.

Well to be fair you're stripping away the context of the discussion I was having. An internet enthusiast believed that I was minimizing John Oliver's work by calling him a slacktivist. I felt like pandering to beliefs and emotions of your target demo without taking any real meaningful action other than talk and throwing around token amounts of money is insincere. Then he said John Oliver and HBO spend thousands of dollars to produce this show and report these stories. I countered that they make many more thousands in return for their effort. The internet enthusiast claimed that no matter how much gross revenue was made that any amount of charitable donation was good enough to be considered a full fledged caring activist. I questioned whether preachers flying in jets where admirable if they spend some small quantity of money on worthwhile causes. In the end neither I nor the internet enthusiast found common ground.

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#259

Post by lujim » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 5:57 PM UTC

scrollaway wrote: post #253

lujim wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you don't question the motivations of a televangelist minister with private jets as long as he spends some money on what appear to be altruistic purposes? If I said that guy is just using peoples emotions and beliefs to generate revenue would that be "offensive to just about everybody".

What is it in your mind that equates a "giveaway" as part of a larger program, to the abuse of impressionable people's donations to purchase expensive leisure items? Seriously, what the hell?

What's with the swearing and lords name in vaining? Relax. How would you feel if I used John Olivers name in vain?

Re: John Oliver buys $15M in debt and forgives all of it on 'Last Week Tonight'

#260

Post by Agustus » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 6:02 PM UTC

marxidad wrote: post #200

Agustus wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

His interpretation of the Venezuelan crisis. He pointed to the price of oil driving the issue. Nowhere did he mention the crazy socialist/populist programs that Chavez and his successor Maduro. The main problem in Venezuela is the erosion of property rights. Nowhere in the report was this mentioned.

What makes it a fact that the erosion of property rights is more so a driving issue that the price of oil?

I John Oliver'ed my response to avoid delving into this more, but here is the cause and effects of the Venezuela issue.

1. Chavez was elected in 1999 and utilized the OPEC cartel to decrease production and drive up the price. Utilizing the high prices, he gave away every socialist program that his increased oil prices could deliver.

2. When the socialist programs had to have more cash, Chavez muscled in on the oil producers and told them to find more revenue or else they would nationalize the oil rigs. Companies said there was no money unless operation and maintenance costs were foregone, and they would not undersign that so Chavez nationalized them (property right strike across the bow). This was done through the enabling law which ultimately what started the erosion of the rights.

3. As companies saw that profits could not be returned, they started to get the heck out of Dodge. Tariffs and other crazy price increasing measures were instituted until prices became very high. The government did the next property right erosion by controlling prices on goods. Black market took over to provide goods at real rates because the governments rates could not be met.

4. Any industry that was making a profit was derided in public speeches.

5. Foreign investors avoided investing in the housing market as they saw newly built properties nationalized. The government did not even pay the investors a compensatory fee!

The oil is price is an aside contributor, but when you do not respect property rights, say goodbye to anyone wanting to invest in you.