American Morning

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May 13th, 2009
04:00 PM ET

We Listen!

Wednesday’s American Morning "robocall" segment piqued viewers’ attention, as many reported their own experiences with the irritating scams.

  • James: Good morning JOHN I was watching CNN this morning when you guys spoke about the ROBO CALLS. a friend on mind got a call two weeks ago about car warranty. The situation is that we are not living in the United States. We live in the Bahamas. I did not suspect anything wrong at first until i watch CNN this morning. It’s a good thing she didn't call back to give out her visa or master card number. Thanks to CNN I now can warn family and friends.
  • James C: I found your story on the scams associated with the auto warranty programs now being sold via phone solicitations to be very informative and accurate. I found it very amusing that you ran an ad promoting one of those companies under investigation immediately following the story.

Have you been the victim of a robocall? Do you listen to the pitch or simply hang up? Has your cell phone bill increased because of these calls? Tell us about your experiences with robocalls.

Social security and Medicare were considered “old” issues that have remained on the “back burner” too long and simply needs to be fixed.

  • Lorraine: i have been hearing this by government and the media for as long as i can remember. this [Medicare and Social Security] is no new problem but it is one that has continuously been placed on the back burner. i'm sick of hearing about it. when is the government going to do something about it?
  • Sannerae22: Is anyone truly surprised that these funds are in trouble? Who has always paid into these funds? The middle class. Once again it is middle class being raped. The wealthy have loopholes protecting them from paying into the system and they funnel their money elsewhere. The lower class doesn't pay into the programs but draw from it. Congress steals from it to fund other projects. In the mid to late 1970's, my husband and I had many discussions with my grandfather about social security and Medicare being gone by the time we were eligible to draw on it and how we wished we could have the hefty sum of money taken out of our checks so that we could use it as we saw fit but it was money lost to us forever.

How do you feel about the current situation with Social Security and Medicare? Will universal health coverage help to solve many of these problems?  Is there a better solution?

Bankruptcy was not believed to be “beneficial” nor “chic,” but “disgraceful.”

  • Aly: I am at a loss how anyone could benefit with the new bankruptcy laws. In 2008 my husband and I had a devastating year. We had a car drive through our living room in January (the driver charge had no insurance), our care with business tools and laptop stolen, the big rig for my husbands business hit in the docks by a crane and virtually totaled and finally a son who ended up in ICU twice in 3 months. According to law we did not qualify for bankruptcy relief. As a matter of fact we were told based on new laws by Bush administration we would end up having to pay more. Needless to say we went from high credit to being harassed etc. So how can this be helpful or chic? I believe the 3rd grade teacher on you tube has it right – the government is cowing down to corporate America and is no longer in charge.
  • Clem: Your story regarding bankruptcy as anything other than dishonorable is sickening. The reason that bankruptcy has always been shameful is that it truly is. What it means is that a person took something from someone else, gave their word and honor that they would pay it back and now is telling the world that they lied and have no honor whatsoever because it is no longer convenient for them to pay. It is symptomatic of what ails our country. We simply are blameless for what we do and it must be someone else's fault and there is zero consideration for the person or entity that was lied to and the financial burden which we have placed on them for our dishonorable and shameful actions. Shame, shame, shame.

What do you think of bankruptcy? Is it shameful? Should those who really need help get the assistance through such laws, or is it simply a “get-out-of-debt-free” card for those who have foolishly overspent?


Filed under: We Listen
soundoff (8 Responses)
  1. Lisa Staples

    I would propose a question that is quite tactile, who will we say no to? Is a 70 y/o male with cardiomyopathy in need of a heart transplant needs a LVAD to survive the wait ( costs around 100K )? Or how about the 70 female with recurrent breast cancer with mets to her lungs?? Then there are the new borns who are 28 week gestation with multiple birth defects requiring many stagging procedures for them to survive but in the end they are limited both mentally and physically. The system will be saying no, and does that mean there will no longer malpractice payouts?? Malpractice litigation is 1/3 of all medical costs, how do we save in this area, lastly would our elected officials participate in the sam e plan as the rest of us including the president?

    May 15, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
  2. Pat Johnson

    Shame, Shame, Shame, Clem: We are spending millions of dollars a day in Iraq, all because of a "Big Lie" Do you think that any Business person in these troubling times can even tred water without help... how shallow can you be. I know we need to stop blaming the last administration, what's done is done, The Bush Administration has stirred up the hornets nest, and we need to deal with it now, but it's going to take a decade to fix that mentality that got us here!

    May 15, 2009 at 7:35 am |
  3. Guillermo

    Guillermo Hernandez Get what you pay for!Don’t stop buying CITGO, one important thing to remember is CITGO is an American company and we should buy CITGO gas not fight against CITGO.Chavez is arming himself with Russian planes I think you know why. He wants to fight the Yankees the donkeys. "He’s got himself a donkey now is called OBAMA"Guillermo Hernandez, meaning democrat or democracy. But see he is not a drunk but a man of GOD in whatever religion he believes in that is his freedom as an American citizen too.Is flying safe in Venezuela?The answer is no not with Venezuelan aircraft, Venezuela or "La Republica Bolivarina" does not care for it's commercial fleet since the few anti Chavez followers fly. I would consider and warn the American public to not fly to the interior of the country unless you know who your flying with and last the pot. Why or Why not is the question our President OBAMA will decide.

    May 15, 2009 at 6:20 am |
  4. jenna

    I can't get "shameless" outta my head.

    "Shame on you for wanting the American Dream that everyone strives for" is what i got from you CLEM.. so thanks... Hey, are you by any chance a republican?!

    May 14, 2009 at 12:32 pm |
  5. jenna

    this is to CLEM.. bankruptcy is shameful? so are you saying people shouldn't ask to borrow money to create a life or dream for themselves merely because they MIGHT not be able to pay it back one day? even though they give their word that they can? So it's better to sit around and do nothing or be homeless or work that 9-5 that you hate even though you could get laid off any day and end up like all the people that blindly borrowed money? Things happen in life that you can't plan for, the state of our economy is one of them and BUSH did nothing but make it worse. So that leaves us exactly where we are now. One more thing, why should one think they are anything but blameless when such wonderful examples are being set by financial scams popping up everywhere? These people with millions seem to be blameless and if they do get in trouble, they pay their way out.

    May 14, 2009 at 12:28 pm |
  6. jason

    I have to take issue with the comment that the "lower class" don't pay into Social Security and Medicare, that is a completely ignorant comment. I happen to know plenty of poor people who work two jobs, are considered lower class or poor, who don't benefit from the government at all. These types of ignorant attitudes and views also need to be cleaned up.

    May 14, 2009 at 9:06 am |
  7. Terry Marvin, Dallas, Texas

    Thursday, May 14, 2009–6:04 am CST

    Morning AM,

    I just saw the pictures of tornandos. They really looked realy bad.
    I hope none of tornandoes to come to Dallas, Texas

    May 14, 2009 at 7:06 am |
  8. Sachmo Martinez

    Yes my cellphone bill has increased due to robocalls. I get unsolicited calls about a warranty running out on my car. I dont have a car. I dont even drive. I also get calls from some guy from different numbers who always starts his pitch with "Hi Guys!....." I have never answered that call but just checking it on my voicemail costs money.

    Just like the big corperations, the little man makes mistakes too and need help. Bankruptcy isnt shameful. Just a way to maybe hit the reset button or vertical hold so that the person can readjust the situation that forced the bankruptcy in the first place.

    May 13, 2009 at 4:39 pm |