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

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

#31

Post by bcruddy »

tyoma wrote: post #25

Wont the debtors have to report the forgiven debt as income on their taxes, potenially triggering a very difficult tax situation?

He mentions, without going into detail, that the forgiveness is structured in a way to avoid a tax burden for the debtor. I have no idea how this works but I think it's a safe assumption that people who know more about this than I do will comb through it and John Oliver and company have vetted their own process.

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

#32

Post by thegp »

coderdude wrote: post #27
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's a good show (he's funny and you learn stuff) but it's way too preachy. He gets just a little too excited about things that are basically impossible for anyone to get excited about. Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. I'm sure it makes some people feel very warm at night but it gives me a bad taste in my mouth after binge watching.

Which things do you mean? And excited as in happy or as in rage?

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

#34

Post by barbs »

tyoma wrote: post #25

Wont the debtors have to report the forgiven debt as income on their taxes, potenially triggering a very difficult tax situation?

He says he sent it to a non-profit organisation (looks like RIPx Medical Debt) which "specialises in forgiving medical debt with no tax consequences for the debtor".

I'd try and find some links but I'm currently on my phone.

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

#36

Post by ThomPete »

coderdude wrote: post #27
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's a good show (he's funny and you learn stuff) but it's way too preachy. He gets just a little too excited about things that are basically impossible for anyone to get excited about. Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. I'm sure it makes some people feel very warm at night but it gives me a bad taste in my mouth after binge watching.

Thats the reason why I stopped watching it too. No doubt it has something but it's just too one sided IMO. It's bashing from a very specific political angle. I.e. it always possible to know what side of critique he is going to fall down on, and that for me isn't interesting.

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

#37

Post by bedhead »

coderdude wrote: post #27
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's a good show (he's funny and you learn stuff) but it's way too preachy. He gets just a little too excited about things that are basically impossible for anyone to get excited about. Clearly pandering to the young, left crowd. I'm sure it makes some people feel very warm at night but it gives me a bad taste in my mouth after binge watching.

You took the words out of my mouth and I'm glad someone else feels the same. It's a difficult thing to articulate but I think he crosses a line into unbearable preachiness and pandering. It's a bummer because I think the guy is a riot, but I just can't take the lectures anymore, and yes, given that this is almost a Daily Show spinoff, it's not terribly surprising to see a heavy left-leaning slant to everything...that's how you get a built-in audience I guess.

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

#38

Post by orblivion »

There's a program called The Rolling Jubilee which has been doing this for a few years. I think the idea is that it encourages people to help pay off the next person's debt, since the amount they were forgiven is much more than it cost to buy it:

http://rollingjubilee.org/

I believe that this is an offshoot of the Occupy movement.

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

#39

Post by goda90 »

vittore wrote: post #33

Why there is no non-profit here that gets donations and spent them to wipe out medical and general debt that is the cheapest available on the market right now? Or are there ?

There are some. Like http://rollingjubilee.org/

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

#40

Post by waterphone »

sergiotapia wrote: post #24

I don't get how an insurance won't cover something. Isn't that the point of Obama forcing you to buy insurance these days?

Insurance still doesn't cover many things, and most of the low-cost plans have such high deductibles ($10,000 is common) they're practically useless for all but emergency room visits where $10,000 goes by in your first day.
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