You’ve heard the story a thousand times: the mythical “welfare queen” — some made-up caricature of a poor person living large on government benefits. Ronald Reagan practically turned her into a bedtime monster for conservatives. But while the GOP fixates on the supposed $80 someone might misuse on an EBT card, real fraud is happening in broad daylight, and it’s being committed by their rich friends in tailored suits.
Let’s talk about actual fraud. The kind that steals billions — not from the government, but from you. From the nurses working 12-hour shifts, the retirees scraping by on fixed incomes, and the sick waiting on lifesaving treatments denied by a for-profit bureaucracy.
Enter: Paul Walczak — Trump’s Kind of Guy
Yesterday, Trump pardoned Paul Walczak, a Florida healthcare executive convicted of stealing nearly $11 million in payroll taxes from the paychecks of doctors and nurses. That’s right — the guy didn’t just defraud Medicare. He looted the people saving your life. And in return? Trump gave him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Because if there’s one thing the Trump administration stands for, it’s loyalty to criminal friends.
Rick Scott: From Felon to Senator
Need more? Let’s talk Rick Scott. Before he was Florida’s governor and then senator, he was the CEO of Columbia/HCA, a healthcare company that paid a record $1.7 billion in fines for defrauding Medicare. That’s billion with a B. And what did that little escapade earn him? A political career. Because apparently, in the Republican Party, stealing from the government is only a problem if you’re poor.
UnitedHealth: The Corporate Vampire of Medicare
Then there’s UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest healthcare companies in the country. Every year, they rake in billions from Medicare Part D — the prescription drug program for seniors. And what do they do with that money? Well, besides throwing cash at shareholders, they’ve been accused of:
Overbilling taxpayers by gaming risk adjustment formulas.
Denying legitimate claims to pad profits.
Funneling dark money to political action committees that keep the system rigged.
But hey — it’s not like seniors need those meds anyway, right?
And the Hits Keep Coming…
Purdue Pharma: Creators of the opioid crisis. Lied, marketed, and killed. Now “restructuring” in bankruptcy court so the rich Sackler family never faces real consequences.
Theranos: Elizabeth Holmes defrauded investors and endangered patients with fake blood testing technology. Her punishment? A slap on the wrist compared to what happens to someone who shoplifts from CVS.
Centene Corporation: Paid out over $215 million in settlements for allegedly overcharging Medicaid programs in multiple states.
Are you seeing a pattern here?
The Real Drain on the System
It’s not the immigrant working two jobs who doesn’t get benefits. It’s not the single mom trying to get SNAP so her kid can eat lunch. It’s not your grandma using Medicare to get her blood pressure pills.
It’s the giant corporations, the politically connected fraudsters, and the grifters in suits who are robbing you blind — and getting pardons from the President while they do it.
The Deadly Price of Greed
Innocent people are dying. People are going bankrupt trying to pay for insulin. Clinics are closing. Nurses are walking off the job because they’re exhausted, underpaid, and betrayed. And instead of fixing it, Trump is using the power of the presidency to reward the looters.
This isn’t just fraud. It’s sanctioned economic violence.
And guess what? You’re paying for it — with your tax dollars, your health, and your life.
The next time you hear a Republican talk about “entitlement reform” or “wasteful spending,” just remember: they’re not coming for the crooks. They are the crooks.
So don’t fall for the scam. Call it what it is: a massive heist, with a presidential pardon at the getaway car.
Wake up. Speak up. And fight back.
by Rob C.
Image – Andy Marlette