Guardianship: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

[@TheRealIronMan]

"Two doctors told me if I drink Dr Pepper I would die, but they died first." That first old lady was a gangster lol

[@youronlinegirlfriend5508]

Tony Stark OG. Original Granny

[@ashleyelizabeth6094]

Maybe she also killed the fake officers who tried to fool her into guardianship.

[@orbison]

George Burns had a famous joke. An interviewer asked him if it was true that in his 90's he smoked 10-15 cigars a day. He said it's true. Was it true that he drank 3-4 martinis a day? He said it's true. "What does your doctor have to say about this?" "He's dead"

[@navaryn2938]

everybody gangsta until granma pulls out the Dr Pepper

[@peterweller8583]

SPES MEA IN DEO EST anyone living will die so SPES MEA IN DEO EST

[@MegaChickenfish]

Lesson to be learned: *Pay attention to your elderly family members. Check up on them. Make sure nothing is amiss.* *And you know best case scenario everything's fine and they'll appreciate you stopping by.*

[@samellington8804]

Wrong. Lesson to be learned: Fuck hippos.

[@jameskevinheinle301]

MegaChickenfish no joke! and check on whereabouts of fostered and adopted children continuously tracking them for 100% guaranteed live status! people are so disbelieving of what can REALLY HAPPEN IT DOES

[@jameskevinheinle301]

MegaChickenfish beware cannibalistic GERIVORES.

[@jacksimpson8529]

This is why I make sure to call my Grandmas to check up on them, especially since my Mum's mum has started losing her memory a little bit... We still both moan about how mum makes us do things though, its one of our favourite past times. :)

[@willkoestner242]

I work in healthcare, exclusively elders. Fun fact, half of your children are untrustworthy. Don't inherently trust them. Sad but true

[@emilyroberts3832]

It's okay, I did some research and apparently April Parks was sentenced to 16-40 years in prison last November. I'm hoping she gets the full 40.

[@DebatingWombat]

Ironically, she might end up being so old she’ll need a guardian of her own when she gets out...

[@jessebananasaurus1526]

Unfortunately that doesn't retoractively give all of her victims back what she took from them, especially the dead ones (obviously -- at least their families should be compensated, though).

[@sadcloud4742]

Me too

[@Kino_Cartoon]

@@DebatingWombat hey let's call the elderlys grand children and prepared same nuclear revenge!

[@agentsheenx3551]

Holy balls, I had no idea that Mercury's sunrise-to-sunrise time was longer than it's rotation time. Took a bit of googling to get my head around that, but now I now that Mercury sometimes has two sunrises in a single day! COOOOOL!!

[@lordvoldemort8904]

That April Parks woman is a monster.

[@jameskevinheinle301]

Lord Voldemort how does GERIVORES grab you? do they make pizza and porn as well, Pooh!

[@Zzyzzyzzs]

I hate to play the deflection game, but it really does feel worth questioning how so many Americans are so wrapped up in demonising people like immigrants and the poor, worrying about the crimes they don't actually commit (as demonstrated by numerous studies), when there are so many supposed run-of-the-mill American citizens who're hideous monsters like this lady and numerous others running free, from the people who devise legal systems that force people into pleading guilty and going to jail for crimes they didn't commit by making the alternative even more expensive and worse, all the way to the Sackler family who own Purdue and are hugely responsible for the opioid abuse crisis. Every time I see clips of Fox News with graphics of giant hands bursting through the heart of America representing the "moochers" sponging off the welfare system, I think of April Parks, who sponged off the defenseless elderly, disabled and weak, and by American standards that constituted earning an honest living.

[@Luca-Nox]

She is in prison now I think she pled guilty. I don’t know the charge but she was found guilty

[@adamgarcia8684]

She lived 15 mins from me in Las Vegas, she was loaded off those poor people

[@Laurtew]

When even the Dark Lord thinks you are a monster, you know it's bad.

[@michperfect7745]

How is it legally possible for a stranger to petition to become a guardian? Wait, how is it even legally possible to be under guardianship without a) proving the person is legally incompetent, b) notice to person subject of the petition? Also, how can judges not be lawyers?? I am perplexed by the U.S. legal system.

[@mansamusa1743]

Michelle Lao the US has a tradition of electing completely unqualified people into the justice system,such as sheriffs and judges.Another holdover from the early days which retards can't seem to eat over,similarly to the senate and electoral college

[@lilacdoe7945]

zonescat Hopefully you take this the way I mean... I have a couple autistic friends, although they are socially awkward I don’t believe anyone considers them ‘retarded’. I believe that’s more of a slur for people with Down syndrome. Yet, I don’t suffer from either of these issues so I could be wrong.

[@victoriatube159]

As a student in a pre-law program in the US the more I learn the more I'm shocked the U.S. funtions.

[@m.h2247]

Midsummer Night's Dream I hear some black people say the same thing about the n word. Does that make it valid? “Yes, go ahead and use slurs directed against me, whether or not the general consensus of other people towards whom this slur is also directed disagree”. Maybe it doesn’t affect you, but it affects others. And this whole intent argument is BS. People do terrible things out of good intentions.

[@m.h2247]

Midsummer Night's Dream the fact that you have 16 likes and that other person has 2. How difficult is it for English speakers to learn enough vocabulary so that they do not have to resort to slurs whenever they are speaking?

[@RachelDavis705]

I'm surprised John Oliver didn't show any of the video footage of the judge granting April Parks guardianship over people - the court system enables the abuse of guardianships. The judge didn't even seem to look at any of the info or ask any questions - he was so used to seeing April Parks in court he'd make jokes with her and ask how she was. When people came to him and complained that she or other guardians were mistreating them or that they didn't need guardians, he brushed it off. His name is Jon Norheim, and since April Parks was arrested, he was re-assigned to dealing with cases of abused and neglected children. :-( I recommend everyone read the article "How The Elderly Lose Their Rights" in the New Yorker magazine.

[@marywhitten5491]

Yes, I think the judges get a kickback, and they like to claim they are overwhelmed with case loads, blah blah blah. They know exactly what is going on. Norheim belongs in jail in my opinion for life.

[@arresteddevelopment2158]

Rachel Dobbins this very disheartening

[@jmdenison]

I agree. These judges like Nordhim all need to be removed

[@sanjanagupta2458]

Thanks for letting us know this important information. Unfortunately, a lot of our judicial system seems to be a mess, mostly at the local level. I know immigration courts are overcrowded and few and far between. I also remember learning before about how public defenders are overworked, and poorer people who need them because they can't afford private lawyers end up with lesser quality representation as a result. Actually, I'm pretty sure Last Week Tonight covered all of these topics in their previous videos.

[@MsDanibone]

Ugh, YES! I Googled that April Parks person after watching this and ended up reading the same story. Absolutely horrifying! Those judges and career guardians were just shameless. I’ve tasked my husband with talking to his parents about it. (Mine live abroad and will be fine.) What a mess!

[@oneeco]

Oliver tries to joke with Neil. *Joke reverses*

[@Benjamin_Gilbert-Lif]

Cardinal I would have appreciated it if you said joke went retrograde...okay my nerd is showing

[@NJ-wb1cz]

Benjamin G.L., his joke went retarded, which is almost as good

those damn facts :)

[@Odinsday]

*Joke has gone counterclockwise*

[@jerrell1169]

Joken’t

[@VoxVocisCruora]

That old Dr. Pepper woman in the beginning isn't that uncommon, most of the old people I've met who have talked about outliving their doctors usually have an oddly giddy tone doing so. I think they're just so smug about proving those doctors wrong in the absolutely best, if a bit sadistic, way.

[@MissCaraMint]

Oddly enough my grandma has the same tone in her voice when talking about refusing to go out with the Germans who hit on her during the WWII occupation.

[@geministargazer9830]

See, it’s not the Dr Pepper keeping them alive, it’s the spite lol

[@properuser]

Bruh outliving doctor is not big thing in most countries including US Doctors live a shorter life than cops and soldiers.

[@TheLily97232]

They are happy about luck lol that's fun

[@CollinMcLean]

@@properuser It's the stress of the job...

[@Standurground10]

My stepdad was declared incompetent after a cardiac arrest left him with an anoxic brain injury. At the time he and my mom werent married but had been living together for years. His kids stuffed him away in an out of state place called QLI in Nebraska. It was HELL for him. He had memory issues but was functional as a person. We pleaded for a court appointed attourney to oversee his guardianship bc my mom was labeled a gold digger and was not allowed to. He had four of them over the course of three years of absolute hell on earth. My mom lived with my stepdad in a nursing home for over a year before they receieved the right to rent a house and receive therapy for his brain. He has lost lots of money, his stocks werent cared for, his children stole all of his stuff including cars, he lost two insurance policies that were paid in full because they lapsed on yearly fees and his credit was destroyed bc his guardians never paid any of the bills from his cardiac arrest onward. He finally gained his rights back. He was never allowed to represent himself (he is a lawyer) and the judge refused to speak to him. When finally asked by a doctor at the last hearing why the judge was so hesitant to give him back his rights to autonomy even with written letters from six different doctors, the judge said it was because she had never done it before and didnt know how.... all that time his life was stolen from him bc she didnt know how to undo the paperwork.

[@joshuajohnson7986]

Holy hell.

[@satsunada]

Wow... that's f'd up. I hope things are better now.

[@raava5648]

wtf...fucked up family. Not the dad of course.

[@Tibbles11]

Garbage, he should be allowed to represent himself, if a lawyer has brain problems most likely he is still better than a layman in a court setting

[@americansagainstabusivepro2349]

Sadly, your story Standurground10, is very typical of ones we hear daily at Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship. Very typical that assets carefully earned and nurtured over a lifetime are squandered in a very short time by the court-appointees, and also some family members, who take advantage of the chaotic administration to help themselves. What is NOT typical at all is that your father re-gained his rights. Stories like your fathers and the Norths of Las Vegas are very rare. 95%+ of all people, especially over the age of 60 when they enter guardianship, die in guardianship. Which means their estate is administered by the same attorneys and the same judge who held the Ward legally captive in their life through guardianship. From our perspective, the entire legal process would stop immediately, if the attorneys did not "egg on" the family fighting, that the attorneys then profit handsomely on, as the fighting unfolds over months, if not years, while judges allow attorneys to engage in meaningless litigation that doesn't advance any parties' legal arguments - for years - never reaching a decision until, like Charles Dickens in 1853 wrote in "Bleak House", there is no money left to pay the attorneys - it's all been drained through staged litigation - and the Judge declares the case is closed.

[@wbeth2469]

"You have less rights than being in prison" Getting old is dangerous in the U.S.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Not just getting old- any disabled adult is also at risk of this, and disabled included people with mental illness. The most famous example being Britney Spears, who is absolutely under a guardianship that’s shouldn’t still be there.

[@ynntari2775]

and disabled and mental illness here means any small slight thing that people can use as a pathetic excuse to prive you from the ownership over your life, body and finances.

[@themsuicjunkies]

@@katherinemorelle7115 it should never have been estabished in the first place. If having a mental breakdown is enough then hell... 6 % of people in America suffer from a major depressive disorder at some point in their lifes.

[@LillyLavine]

My aunt stole my grandmother's house and property from my mom and my inheritance when my grandmother died. Sometimes it's not strangers it's your own family.

[@maythesciencebewithyou]

The big brother of my grandfather beat up my grandfather, broke his jaw and made him and his other siblings sign over their inheritance all to him. Lots of Land. The ahole became a multimillionair. Not in the US. And it doesn't stop there. After my grandfather died he managed to trick my grandmother into giving him the land right which she got from her parents for a couple bucks. Luckily or not, my grandmother died before she could sign a contract, and he and his family had been bugging my mother for a couple years now. Then he died, and now his piece of shit children are fighting over his multi million inheritance, and even want the little Land my grandmother owned.

[@Tibbles11]

I feel you, I had a similar experience

[@andib5921]

That's terrible. What happened when my great-grandmother died wasn't as bad in intent, but essentially my great-aunt (who took care of her in her final years) had trouble moving on from the grief and 1. didn't let anyone see the will *and still hasn't* and 2. didn't let my grandma and great-uncle sell the house until like six years later, by which time it had depreciated in value from neglect, despite the fact that all three of them had worthy uses for the money (i.e. children/grandchildren's college)

[@jmdenison]

Using a crooked lawyer and a crooked court system. Probate is a cesspool

[@keto3883]

she was your grandmother's daugher too and you already claim it as your inheritance O_O. Fishy story with no information on what really happened only a strange result.

[@pappal7718]

I work at an assisted living facility and this is something that we have an entire orientation on looking out for. If there are any situations where someone is being taken advantage of or if we think someone is being taken advantage of, we have a whole legal team and such to take care of the seniors and to make sure that any abuse ceases immediately.

[@emmacat3202]

Unfortunately, this kind of thing happens to disabled adults against their will, too. Once some of us are 18, our parents take away our freedom and independence. I am glad my parents never did that to me, but I have two friends whose parents forced guardianship over them because of their disabilities instead of helping them find proper work that can help them support themselves, or help them get some more education and skills. It's awful. I am autistic, but I go to the university to pursue a STEM degree, and I work. Sadly, my friends' parents won't let them have that freedom. One of my friends was even taken advantage of at some shady place called Job Corps. At first I thought it was good for them, the Job Corps, but it seems like they don't know how to accommodate for people with different needs.

[@silverzdk]

Glad to hear it's going good for you, maybe there is someone you can contact to help your friends?, maybe post on reddit.com/r/legaladvice, they might be able to help :)

[@nicolebethkitsu]

someone talking about neurodivergent/disabled problems and getting some sound advice without slurs being used. This is a first, you have a random strangers respect, Peter Klint, for what it's worth

[@adafrost6276]

I have friends that went to Job Corps. Those places are essentially voluntary prison for young adults. They are in need of a serious overhaul and I can see why your friends would have a rough time at one.

[@MrGreenAKAguci00]

Emma Cat that's infuriating. Helping people become as independent as they can be, should always be the case. One can't predict what kind of stuff they will have to deal with throughout their life so giving people the ability to take care of themselves is best solution. Now this isn't always an easy nor is it simple solution. In fact it can be perceived as cruel at times but in these cases one shouldn't help people with things they can do for themselves. Unless you want to rob them from a sense of accomplishment and feeling like they are capable and valuable.

[@omerlavian5120]

That's terrible. I'm so sorry for those you know.

[@ourlordandsaviorgayspooder5404]

Let's see, get enough sleep for a 6am shift tomorrow or watch John Oliver..... *I can sleep when I'm dead.*

[@khansahb-o4e]

same here

[@arkwolfluis]

Can't argue against that.

[@buckethatboys3034]

Same same I’m pulling a all nighter

[@SharatS]

Exam tomorrow? John Oliver? I can study later. :D

[@Williebandz]

Gay Spooderman maaaaaaan same boat😂

[@jaykirby3601]

I was my grandmothers guardian for the last three years of her life, I am so glad I had that time with her. She was the one who raised me, and I got to return the favor.

[@jsaba3521]

Jay Kirby That sweet man.

[@GiveItWelly]

Brilliant. Well done. 👏👏

[@maryrosekent8223]

Jay Kirby I’m glad to hear from someone who had wonderful grandparents. My grandmother died very unexpectedly four days before her 80th birthday-that was 30 years ago and I still miss her so very much.

[@ellenoxman4182]

Same thing as in "I Care A Lot" a stranger showed up at my apartment door in MANHATTAN NY, "somehow" got past doorman, and pushed into my apartment with a "Warrant" for my elderly mother, from NJ! who was living with me after Hurricane Sandy. Said she was my mother's court lawyer/Guardian. Her name - Sylvia DiPxxx; a "professional" "Guardian" dead ringer for Rosamund Pike in "I Care a Lot". Had to call the NYPD to have her removed. I put her coat and bags on the elevator, told her that her things were going down to the lobby. She did not budge from my mother's side until the cops came and made her leave. But first she called the corrupt Manhattan Supreme Court judge who is part of the Guardianship Industry in NY. It's a hell on earth.

[@z.h.a.t8964]

that’s horrible; i hope you and your mother are alright now

[@AirQuotes]

That's insane glad she didn't get the best of you

[@kcbh24]

That movie is terrifying.

[@tessaleigh5078]

That is outrageous! So sorry that hapened to you and your mom.

[@mnschoen]

Why would you censor the name? If she did what you said you absolutely have the right to publish her full name so other people are warned about her.

[@furlyghost707]

OMG that Neil deGrasse Tyson joke was f******* great. Thank you for uploading to KZbin sorry I still can't afford HBO

[@gabrielbetenson9085]

Mike levit not all hero's wear capes

[@RachelDavis705]

There was a great article about this in the New Yorker. Really disturbing. The daughter of a couple taken into guardianship couldn't do anything - the so-called guardian took control over their finances and forced them to live in a home and had the legal right to do so. It's called "How The Elderly Lose Their Rights" - worth reading.

[@2Ten1Ryu]

This makes me so angry. Glad I'm not living in the U.S. I feel sorry for your elderly people.

[@mickymickle2764]

Thank you for posting that! I had read the article some months ago, when someone posted a link to it in a thread under AgingCare.com (also highly recommended for anyone with questions or concerns about the elderly, or really anyone who is possibly in need.) I just reread it, as I recalled that not only were the Norths and others "incarcerated", they were also drugged/doped up. There are many others who were taken advantage of referenced in the article. A MUST READ!!!

[@princesssookeh]

I remember that article. Time to circulate it again.

[@toxicpanda36]

Rachel Dobbins John Oliver actually references to that article in the video

[@madmac223]

Rachel Dobbins This is complete absolute f****** b******* have people no f****** shame they have to be vultures and pray off the elderly of all things. Seriously of all the awful things a person can do to a another human being. To pray on somebody who needs help and lived through so much. People in their Twilight Year's shouldn't have to worry about s*** like this. All I know for sure is this. when the day comes where I start to finally lose my marbles nobody's getting a God damn Penny out of me.

[@mypal1990]

Johnny joykiller back at it again with the silver tsunami jokes.

[@bobhill2892]

Yeah

[@VanVeniVidiVici]

Years from now, a golden tsunami shall be the new joke.

[@spiderbeef23]

He had to ruin hippos too?!

[@chevysuarez7306]

well at least johnny joykiller was owned by niel degrasse tyson

[@BognaZone]

Van Lyndel Tolentino golden tsunami is already the joke.

[@angeliqueoren2462]

Britney Spears is a perfect example of guardianship abuse.

[@collinkeyser6827]

If She Can't Get Out, What Chance Does Anyone Else Have?

[@emmawills4112]

Absolutely.

[@kityumcashcokityumcashco5740]

Abused by her own father.

[@johnoneill3953]

if shes free will she use her fellowers to help change laws on guardingship at least her owners let her have money my owner gets full control for life

[@bloodyneptune]

@john oneill I really want to know if you're aware of how unbelievably creepy that was. Conservator, guardian etc not..not ever 'owners' because, again, f*cking creepy. Thats so _so_ weird

It's supremely evil to take advantage of the elderly.

[@stevepittman3770]

It's pretty evil to take advantage of anyone who can't fend for themselves.

[@insanealpaca]

yes

[@wintermiller4845]

Hell, It's evil to take advantage of people. Full Stop.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

ブロンディブラック I would rather walk into a state park with a hatchet and live my end than be imprisoned for having lived too long

[@gethecked4446]

ブロンディブラック welcome to America.

[@danaflores497]

Johnny Joy-Killer is still my favorite Johnny of the world. 😍😂

[@MrJeonghah]

Dana Carrera What about Bravo ....or Sins :(

[@freddiekruger3339]

Hereeeeeeeee's Johnny!

[@TheStuport]

John Oliver Delivers The Goods......EVERY DAMN TIME

[@shane-o-matic]

The Stuport ...Freakin hilarious. That Missy line...even though I knew it was coming, it was still funny as hell.

[@mariaelisagarciahurtado7212]

He’s not funny at all.

[@SilliusBuns]

It's true, hippos are killing machines.

[@Masaru_kun]

No he really doesn't his episode on Venezuela was crap, unfortunately. I don't think he understood the bigger picture.

[@technologists]

and you have no sense of humour

[@TheEntity0]

Just watched 'I Care A Lot' on Netflix. Now I see where the idea came from.

[@retroblak]

This is the same for Britney Spears case of her father taking control of her life.

[@jayflach3408]

This should be the prologue for I care a lot.

[@charankol]

exactly

[@dorissaclaire]

I laughed so hard at that feckless --- joke that I woke up my whole family 😂😂😂

[@malutz1]

yes! I came down here to the comments to see if anyone else caught that. Nice little support for Sam Bee.

[@tysonlovelace3834]

malutz1 that’s why I’m in the comments too 😂

[@joelpierce1453]

malutz1 Do you think that's really support for her? I took it more as a "Yeah she probably shouldn't have said it, that's why I didn't."

[@dorissaclaire]

Joel Pearce lol it was a joke hun

[@dorissaclaire]

Joel Pearce also there's no way John Oliver doesn't support Sam B but ok

[@continuousself-improvement1879]

But who were the judges who signed the guardianship? Did they get anything out of it? They should've been held accountable, too.

[@DoctorUX]

Dr. pepper from now on

[@Juliett-A]

That's exactly what I thought. I love that lady.

[@HypermarketCommodity]

SpoKitON with vodka Dr. pepper taste like amaretto.

[@LilSirAxolotl]

Dr. Pepper was the only one of her doctors that's still alive 😂

[@Tokorai]

How do you get sore nipples? Doing nipple push ups?

[@ElrosWoodlandRealm]

it is the drink of intellectuals

[@annetteokwong]

I know this is about elderly folks but this is incredibly applicable to Britney's guardianship situation too

[@Songs-lr4wt]

Exactly, what I was going to comment. This is the exactly about her

[@cessaly100]

Absolutely Love 💕! Now you see the PREDATOR RIP-OFF under the guise of “protection.”

[@kellydriscoll4382]

If anything good comes out of Britney’s issue, it’s that hopefully people will take a closer look at conservatorships.

[@seeker296]

yeah I'm surprised that didn't come up. it's not only the elderly who end up in guardianships

[@RJ-mh3ox]

Well she’s still a millionaire he brought up a random old couple who lost everything definitely understand the similarity though

[@indraneelb.7972]

I just wanted to watch a comedy show and go to sleep but now I'm sad with Johnny JoyKiller 😂😂😂😂

[@linkmiyamoto1591]

That’s John Oliver for you, raising awareness of issues that not many people know about

[@BryceJohnson88]

Link Miyamoto maybe he could talk about Obama tripling the national debt, tripling healthcare premiums for families and lowering the standard of living in America

[@fcchelsea136]

Mike Stevens I'm an independent so I'm not going to rush to president Obama's defense, however I would caution you about using that "triple the national debt" talking point. It is true, however modern economics supports deficits during recessions (the great recession being something that was not his fault and he did a mediocre job handling). So it makes sense for more debt to he accrued in that financial period. Additionally, if you look at the debt as a percentage increase over the total that they received (which is the proper way to look at it if you're going to make comparisons), President Obama ranked 5th in the percent that he grew the debt. www.thebalance.com/us-debt-by-president-by-dollar-and-percent-3306296 He certainly didn't help it but that talking point makes many improper assumptions and it's good to stay informed. Here's to hoping this year's spending bill was an anomaly and the fiscal conservatives I'd like to support actually follow their ideology in the next few years!

[@vidyutbaradwaj4393]

Wow the two weeks waiting for this felt like a lifetime

[@alejandrooonec6849]

I had to jerk off all last week to cope with the anticipation

[@AnonyDz]

When will be the next episode please?

[@elaenashipp3417]

How on earth can you have a system where you can be a judge without having any legal training?

[@desiree5416]

I would think they would at least be lawyers and have gone to law school.

[@fakenoose8978]

Elaena Shipp it's America. We revere ignorance above all things.

[@wolftitanreading5308]

Probably Florida

[@Christopher_TG]

During the late 19th century, America went through this democratization phase where we made a lot of positions that would normally be appointed elected. Some of them made sense like U.S. Senators, but that attitude extended to our legal system and now a lot of legal appointments at the state level in the US, including local judges, state district attorneys, state attorneys general, state supreme courts, county sheriffs, and even county coroners are popularly elected. As a result, people with no legal training whatsoever can end up getting into important state-level legal positions in America.

[@DuluthTW]

Great appearances by Neil deGrasse Tyson and some of my favorite senior actors! Thanks for sharing!

[@MegaSuperEnrique]

I didn't recognize all of them. Could you list them please? thanks

[@Omar-kl2lb]

Fred Willard, William Shatner

[@hzocatelli]

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, I think .

[@bkolumban]

Yeah, that is the take away message.

[@maryrosekent8223]

João Z Not Jane Fonda, she’s had many face lifts and looks like her historic self.

[@davidhollenbeck9227]

my mother and I are guardians of my uncle. he is in his 70s and can be confused and talked into doing stuff that is not the smartest things. It works for us because he can not legally sign for anything. He had a high pressure salesman come by and sell him siding for his house and when they came for payment after it was installed I was there with the legal paperwork that said any agreement he made is null and void if my mother or I did not sign off on it. they got pissed but my uncle did not pay and we kicked them off his property. my uncle is a amazing guy and my goal is for him to spend all his money before he dies haveing the best time in his life. The people who live around him love him and when anyone comes around they protect him and call us up to come down if needed.

[@lilanthforester2207]

As a caregiver, most guardianship business I've worked with have left a bad taste in my mouth. For one woman we had to ask for money to buy a client food throughout the week. She'd get around to it when she wanted to, as her food dwindled down to a cheese snack, can of soup and two TV dinners that she was allergic to. Another friend fights tooth and nail to keep guardianship for her mentally and physically disabled daughter EVERY YEAR, and the state puts her through the wringer. It ridiculous

[@sydneyslaughter7163]

Sounds like society cares more about children than the elderly. And that sucks.

[@davidcooper357]

I'm thankful that other people are talking about this and getting their stories out but it's bringing back too many bad memories I'm in tears reading these stories because I lived it I went through a similar experience don't lose faith

[@katt9152]

April parks was sentenced to 16-40 years in prison in January this year if anyone is interested

[@NonameWriter]

Thank you!

[@4KConcertVideos]

@Jimmy Strudel Rackateering, perjury, etc...

[@shawnhartmann4581]

So she might be old enough to need a guardian when she gets out. Well played, penal system, well played.

[@ngrader]

@Jimmy Strudel Because Nevada hasn't had an execution since 2006... But if there were ever a time to start...

[@3p1cand3rs0n]

I cannot condone advising the elderly to entrust their golden dementia years to a man who talks to volleyballs and obsesses over chocolate-related philosophical metaphors. That's why I am signing over my estate to the hippos.

[@landonfriesen8673]

ElyssaAnderson #fuckhippos

[@Goobintar]

This is the best comment

[@slipperyhallam]

Do we even know how old he is? One minute he's 12, the next he's an executive. Or he's off making out with a fish, or making poor real estate investments, or trying to fling himself into a bloody volcano! The man can't even dress himself properly; who wears one red shoe?

[@dainross5321]

WILLLLLSOOOOON!!! :c

[@jocomfiresin6982]

Tom hanks is currently 61

[@ambertasniem7245]

i legit thought this was gonna be about orphans

[@BlinkLed]

The timing of this piece could not be more perfect. I'm helping my grandmother fix everything after her guardian stole thousands of dollars and ended up getting arrested. The most screwed up thing is it was someone in our family we thought we could trust. Seriously only allow the people you trust most in the entire world to have such a position of power over you.

[@Nokkenbuer]

Alternatively, not allow such relations of power in the first place. The only way for someone in a superior position to exploit you is if there is a hierarchy that defines superior positions.

[@kylejacobson9587]

Nøkkenbuer the Negator Yeah... which is inherent to all human society, and will always exist. There will always be people in superior position to others in human society, else society would collapse. Eliminating positions of power as a solution is just as valid as changing the color of the sky. Less, in fact, as the later can in theory be accomplished.

[@skylx0812]

I know of someone with an elderly parent who is hospitalized. They were trying to get power of attorney over their parent so they can take care of their bills but the hospital staff say the elder isn't competent enough to sign a power of attorney form. So the child is trying to get guardianship but you need something in writing from a physician like a physician's affidavit stating the elders condition to show the court and the hospital won't provide one. They won't provide anything in writing backing up their verbal statements that the old man is not mentally fit to sign anything. So the elders bills cannot be paid with their own funds and their daughter cannot get guardianship. Family are trying to raise money to pay the bills and the hospital has their parent in their control. Strangely enough this is taking place in Phoenix. So what I don't understand is HOW the woman in the video got custody over two strangers from the court when my friend, the child of the elder can't even get her foot in the door of the court without anything in writing!

[@mickymickle2764]

Read the full story: www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights There were others in the medical and legal fields who were complicit with this Parks bitch. Your friend is trying to do this legally, they were not, they were just using the system. Others who were caught up in this abuse of the system are mentioned as well, but the primary story is about Rudy and Rennie. EVEN BETTER NEWS: www.ktnv.com/news/contact-13/family-awarded-8-5-million-in-guardianship-abuse-case-says-it-s-not-about-the-money I had originally seen this story before John presented this segment because I heard of it in a discussion forum I belong to. I had to search for it again to post it here for you, but noticed the top article and went back to check it - they won the civil case (will they ever see the money? probably not - maybe some if she has to give up some assets), and the bitch is IN jail awaiting the criminal case!! WOO HOO for Rudy and Rennie!!! BTW, tell your friend they can still petition the courts - the court may appoint an attorney for the parent and will (depending on what state they are in and how competent they are) make decision based on whether the feel the person is competent or not. I'm sure they will want doctors to examine the person, but they should be able to find you own doctor(s) to back up the claim or not. Any place holding a family member like that, but unwilling to back up their own statements, or look out for the best interest of the patient - I'd be pulling that person OUT and threatening with legal action! They are clearly not acting in that person's best interest. One more word of warning to everyone: GUARDIANSHIP TRUMPS DPOA!!! Someone could still attempt to take over by going to court. DPOAs can also be abused by anyone who has it - as the celebs said, be sure to choose someone you ABSOLUTELY trust, but also beware scams like this Parks pulled. You can still fight it in court...

[@jshir17]

*Guardianship is supposed to mean: "When one Voluntarily allows others to make decisions for oneself," (somewhat like power of attorney through a living will) but too often the guardianship is forced upon people against their will and they are unable to have it revoked.*

[@johnoneill3953]

in ny the judgeis will never give ward a chance many times people agree to it not knowing what it is once it you have no rights vote live in your apt anything and if your guarding removes everything change the locks you cannot get houseing court or police help you get in so you become homeless like myself

[@unvergebeneid]

The more general effects of so many judges not even having a law degree seems like another episode waiting to happen.

[@Stargazer1312]

The entire judicial system is designed around judges knowing and understanding the law, except for actually picking the judges, any shmuck who can market themselves can be a judge in most states

[@papa_xan]

He kind of did that already - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqCvaJ9jitBmf5o

[@1Maenad]

Wait... what?

[@1Maenad]

KoreusZ are you serious?

[@OGimouse1]

The judges in these cases have to have law degrees

[@TheCamcamTV]

John Oliver can be my guardian

[@kaptainkooleio]

Zack Smith I nominate former president Barrack Hussein Obama

[@teosweekin]

Praise Be.

[@NJ-wb1cz]

Cameren Ceniceros, no, you'll get a tall fox.

[@normanrobles6086]

Sounds like a good idea.

[@ajsoltani]

Zack Smith I nominate John Oliver

[@Robb403]

As a court appointed guardian for a person with special needs, I can tell you from my own observations that the system for appointing and overseeing guardianships has been messed up for years and a lot of people have been hurt. Judges can be real idiots sometimes and often indifferent. The system is often overseen by local judges and many pass the clients to their legal friends and family to oversee and outcome isn't at all good.

[@liimakino]

Robb403 are you friends with a judge too?

[@Robb403]

Not intimate. Known a couple. Went to a kind of knee jerk training out on by a local judge for all of the guardians in the county. Didn't seem to do much but leave more people without guardians and make more business for the Cadillac lawyers who do it for a little extra income between defending drunk drivers.

[@RachelDavis705]

I'm surprised John Oliver didn't show any of the video footage of the judge granting April Parks guardianship over people. He didn't even seem to look at any of the info or ask any questions - he was so used to seeing her in court he'd make jokes with her and ask how she was. When people came to him and complained that she or other guardians were mistreating them or that they didn't need guardians, he brushed it off. His name is Jon Norheim, and since April Parks was arrested, he was re-assigned to dealing with cases of abused and neglected children. :-/

[@ngedye]

OMG. Let's hope Mr Oliver picks up on that and does a follow-up ASAP!

[@andrewgan9038]

Who’s here after watching I Care A Lot? That movie is scarily accurate.

[@PaulZink]

As usual, John Oliver brings long-overdue attention to a little-known but very important topic. Bravo.

[@McClintonforThree]

Agreed. Fuck hippos.

[@AnonyDz]

Wait what? A farmer can be judge in Texas? What the hell was I thinking all these 25 years of studying?!!

[@TheAustin1985a]

Studying guardianship for people with disabilities in my Special Education program. This is important for not only senior citizens but all vulnerable people.

[@blindskatr156]

As a social worker, I can confirm full guardianship should be a last resort. Getting a healthcare agent, representative payer, and attorney-in-fact would ensure your wishes are complied with. Fun fact: if someone says they are Power of Attorney, they actually mean they're the attorney-in-fact. Power of Attorney is the name of the legal document listing the AIF and their responsibilities. No one is actually a piece of paper, unless you identify as such.

[@kevinwallace4635]

[Long comment alert] Hi, im a guardian of my father here in Maryland. My case is a little unique because I'm a successor guardian, meaning i came after someone else [my aunt]. It wasn't an easy thing either, after she neglected him for almost a year and stole 20,000 dollars I took her to court and forced her to leave. This process really showed me how broken the system was, with me presenting evidence such as faked bank statements, transaction histories showing the illegal moving of money, court ordered forms she submitted almost a year late and even the state law stating plainly she should be removed for just one of the many actions I showed her to be involved in the court was apathetic. Alls my aunt had to say was that she thought i was a brat or dishonest and naive [being only 20] and my whole position was eroded. It was a sickening thing to watch. In the end I won howeber and my father has been thriving ever since. Long story short; guardians have unbelievable power and insane amounts of leniency to a judge. The laws [here in MD] are from 1930 and working in its system broke my faith in the courts. 10/10 would become successor again.

[@mason2971]

that ending needed some betty white

[@DrSmoothlove]

Nah, this was only for people who weren't immortal.

[@DylanKing-xe4yl]

What did she do?

[@stephengrigg5988]

she hasn't aged in the last thirty years

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

Betty saying hippos are fucking killing machines might have been too much for us :)

[@shadowdemon7770]

Who are the woman? I didn't recognize any of them

[@EAtheatreguy]

When did his hair get so gray? Trump's really putting the stress on everyone's favorite bird fact funny man.

[@rachelfox8108]

Donald Trump has got to be the only president to make everyone ELSE age like a president

[@umamipaneer]

@@rachelfox8108 Damn that's the most accurate commentry on Trump I've ever read. And that's also a depressing fact

[@megalodon1834]

@@rachelfox8108 you're a national treasure.

[@rachelfox8108]

@@umamipaneer It's also true. I'm about as grey as a stressed out 42 year old (currently developing a Sweeney Todd streak). And I'm 25.

[@rachelfox8108]

@@megalodon1834 Thank you. I'll inform UNESCO immediately.

[@Rowsy91]

This is one of the most underrated episodes that doesnt get enough attention. VERY important topic

[@evanbelcher]

Thanks for raising my awareness. I had no idea that this was even a thing. I thought this episode was going to be about the adoption system.

[@Tustin2121]

Evan Belcher - that’s called the foster care system. I don’t know, but I imagine the foster care system is more regulated than this, as it deals with children, and people think of the children a lot more than they think of the elderly.

[@FriedrichHerschel]

Sadly, this isn't a problem only in the USA. I live in Germany, when my grandmother got dementia, she got an appointed guardian by a court, too. Just because my mother (her only child, her husband (my grandfather) died a few years earlier) lives 250 km (that's roughly 1,5 hours drive) away, and the judge meant that this is too far/long "in a time of need" (like telephones weren't invented). Anyways: one sad day my grandmother passed away (we heard that by the elderly facility she lived in, not by the "guardian"), and a few days later we learned that she didn't had enough money left to pay for the funeral. We wondered, because even if she wasn't wealthy, together with some "contribution limits" (don't know if that's the right term, there's a certain amount of money you are allowed to keep even if things get really rough) it certainly should have covered the funeral. So, only after her death we as a family were allowed to see the documents, receipts, bills of the "guardian" etc. because _now_ we were the inheritors and that stuff actually _belonged_ to us now. Prior to the death of my grandmother, we as a family had no right to see anything of it, because the "guardian" decided, that my grandmother didn't wish to share that with us. Yeah, right ... but legally nothing you could do about it. Let me tell you, there were some strange things in it, but only small things. Things that the court won't dig into. 1000 € like mentioned in the video? They certainly would have. 10x 100 €? Nope, not worth the effort. Even aftershave for men ... and chocolate, so much chocolate (my grandmother hated it, we only gave her vanilla based sweets when we visited her), but the guardian replied "that must have been gifts to other people in the elderly facility". Apparently my grandmother was so into giving, she completly forgot her own child + grandchildren (we never got anything when we were there), at least that's what the "guardian" apparently wanted us to believe. We thought about going to court, but in the end didn't. Not because of money, and we do know that when no-one steps in those people can continue like nothing happened, but it was too much psychological stress for my mother dealing with that "guardian" and everything attached to it. DISCLAIMER: every time I talk about money in that story, KEEP IN MIND we weren't after money at all. Those were merely hints to us that something didn't add up, things you only think of when the story the "guardian" presented felt like "bullshit". We didn't want a big inheritance nor gifts from her when we visited her, we just loved her and it was very hard, seeing her struggling with the dementia. We knew she couldn't have much because of that, so money was never a thing as long as she lived.

[@annieconway8998]

FriedrichHerschel that is so sad! Why could her children not become her guardians?

[@voorstenkamp]

Nah I don't believe it, you guys were after her money why else would you defend yourself like this in a KZbin comment section! If distance was a problem your mother could have made the effort to relocate her to a facility closer to you guys.. just saying

[@HappyFluegel]

Actually your statements are not depicting the law in Germany correctly. You should have consulted a Lawyer specialized in Betreuungsrecht. during the appointment of her guardian she is obliged to provide yearly records to the courts even though there are some exceptions mostly for family guardians. And she has to provide a Final account to the heirs, they can retroactively challenge her financial and care decisions. During the time your grandmother was alive you could have sued the guardian are petitioned the court to appoint a different guardian. you should have proceeded against the guardian of what you say is true, to prevent her from exploiting other people in need

[@davidacus956]

FriedrichHerschel I thought you were gonna tell us Germany has a hippo problem for a second

[@seanscon]

aren't people in germany required to have a traineeship (ausbildung) in old edgecare (altenpflege) or something like that before becoming a guardian? and there is somthing called overseeing-rights (betreuungsrecht) which can be applied to limit the power of the guardian.. somethings arent adding up

[@MaximilienRobespierre1]

John, can you apply as a guardian of Donald Trump?

[@reaganlear6548]

Maximilien Robespierre OMG he just might! He's trolled Mike Pence and Rudy Giuliani,as well as some TV preacher,with great success 😂he is brilliant at this kind of thing.

[@amaurys93]

Maximilien Robespierre dumpster fires can have guardians?

[@jacd751]

Best. Idea. Ever. 😂

[@ruraljuror1734]

I’d much rather that Parks lady be in charge of him. LOL

[@ThoughTMusic]

If you gain guardianship, pull the plug.

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

Why, WHY, is US system and law such a provider for conmen?

[@LJ4Tasyo]

Torbjörn Lekberg capitalism

[@Excludos]

It's what you get when you make bribery legal. Conmen often put huge amounts of money into making sure they can continue doing what they're doing, and politicians who refuse it have a huge uphill battle to fight against those who do.

[@Pyreleaf]

*cough*CAPITALISM*cough*

[@ThomasSMuhn]

It's called The American Dream.

[@germanicus8342]

Cause being a conman is easy, while stopping takes a lot of time, effort, and money. It does not help that there exists individuals​ in the US want to stop any regulation that tries to manage such problems, and actively call any such efforts 'another attempt at the government to interfere in our lives'.

[@rebeccalovelace7071]

Holy balls, I had no idea that Mercury's sunrise-to-sunrise time was longer than it's rotation time. Took a bit of googling to get my head around that, but now I now that Mercury sometimes has two sunrises in a single day! COOOOOL!!

[@marcialpena2730]

Rebecca Lovelace At least im not the only person who cared about that. Seriously its so bizzare but i dont see anyone mentioning it

[@arturofernandez4058]

Earth has that too, any planet does. Look up solar day and sideral day

[@John_Smith.]

Nope, the sun doesn't rise twice on Mercury. It rises once every two Mercurian years.

[@DoctorWhoKage]

Fun Fact: I love anything to do with Outer Space Science

[@FrankHarrison12]

Venus is even worse, its full rotation time is longer than its year, not even considering sunrise/sunset.

[@Hailstormful]

Wait wait wait WAIT!!! Someone can become a city judge without being a lawyer? Who the f*ck thought this was a good idea?

[@satsunada]

go watch the episode on judges and you'll see generally how it works and why.

[@bradycl84043]

Probably the same folks that thought it was okay to elect a President who knows nothing about politics.

[@DiegoSanchez-wc7nm]

Hailstormful who gives a fuck? Why do you?

[@Nerdnumberone]

Basically the concept is democracy = good and voters should be able to vote for who they want. This can lead to some problems. Elected judges episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqCvaJ9jitBmf5o

[@natethegreat1999]

Supreme Court justices don’t have to be lawyers the president can nominate whoever all it takes is senate confirmation

[@ellinorglorioso2247]

My mother was literally stolen from by the court appointed attorney and the opposing attorney with the guardian just showing up in court stating HE would do it for free! HE by the way worked for protective services . I wasn't charging ! I was her daughter when my mother asked that I be her guardian it was ignored by the Okeechobee court judge and everything she owned was sold by this "guardian" and the judge just let it happen. My mother's house, car, clothes and all her belongings are gone...……... sold .I had to buy her clothes! my 2 siblings stole a truck load of stuff, then the guardian and the 2 lawyers and the judge took one million dollars + in FLORIDA from this woman.It appears to be a very well polished operation, since she could afford her own lawyer, This guardian moved her from one nursing home a Medicaid nursing home, that charged $6000. a month at least, for 8 years depleting her trust fund to another nursing home just recently .At the Medicaid $6000.a month place , I Had to get a lawyer to fight for her just to get her ears cleaned out as she was going deaf from wax build up. Their administrator fought me on this, plus the court deemed her incompetent in order to get full control for this "free" guardian over her rights and assets. It is my belief this guardian and these court manipulations killed my mother via negligence, ignorance and a pathology that is sweeping through Florida and all over the USA. Predatory guardians, all seem to appear on the outside as good citizens. My mother was able to be released to go home just a few months after being rehabilitated, at the 1st nursing home, but the guardian and her court appointed lawyer kept her in that nursing home for 8 years selling off her assets and stealing the rest of her life.

[@sirkrutchbluesman3009]

FUCK GETTING OLD

[@al5612]

If it came down to your situation, I'd be taking my mother, selling our assets, and moving. Disgusting what they did to your mother

[@fakenoose8978]

ellinor glorioso the judges all get kickbacks.

[@awesomely.awesomness]

I am so sorry for what happened to you and your mother. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@Misses-Hippy]

I have a similar story but in Las Vegas.They were Licensed to Bill!

[@williamtecumsehsherman4574]

Its 3 AM and I'm still awake for this.........your doing something right John

[@yeahmem]

By the way April Parks is behind bars now.

[@CaTastrophy427]

I read that as April Pranks FSR

[@jeremypowers7872]

She shouldn't even be breathing

[@rainsongt189]

Parks and several others were to go to trial in May.

[@PlumBerryCherries]

#Yeah!!!!!!

[@erbgorre]

i guess she got off easy then compared to being assigned to a guardian as a ward

[@k_a_y_l_e_e]

This is one of the best segments I've ever seen on this show.

[@TheKrislaf]

The audience in this segment was really great!

[@victorfranca85]

This was a true segment

[@BryceJohnson88]

That's not a very high bar to reach...

[@BryceJohnson88]

Will Pack Republicans do care about health care. They just know that things need to be done right. Not just throw something together like Obama care that tripled premiums and lowered the standard of living and healthcare around the country. You're heart is probably big, but your brain is rather small.

[@k_a_y_l_e_e]

......are you sure about that

[@sarahlusher5156]

I used to be a social worker who worked with disabled clients. One of my (adult) clients was being taken to court by her own mother who was seeking full legal guardianship over her. I helped my client fight that case and convinced the judge to give her a chance to live independently. The mother (who did not have her child's best interests at heart but just wanted the authority to have her committed to an institution) asked me "Do you truly believe she can live on her own without it blowing up in her face?". And I had to honestly reply "I don't know if she will be successful on her own, but she deserves a chance to try before she has so many rights taken away." I no longer do that job and for all I know that client flamed out fantastically. But I wasn't going to allow someone complete control of her life before she had even failed at independence.

[@debbiegross3136]

John Oliver, you deliver every single time!

[@sm00gzleebear41]

Debbie Gross this is true, daily show since 8th grade. Stewart has a podcast now doesn't he? I miss Stewart so much. But Samantha Bee, Colbert and this finding dory Gerald knock off fill my life with joy.

[@sm00gzleebear41]

Blair Waldorf who's his writing team and can add them to my daily new regimine?

[@sm00gzleebear41]

Franz Farmer u wat

[@marcpeterson1092]

Am I the only one who this his schtick has gotten old?

[@debbiegross3136]

Marc Peterson Yes.

[@verdatum]

Jesus Christ, Cloris Leachman is IMMORTAL.

[@FilmArtPhoto]

verdatum Thanks, I couldn't figure out who that was!! Wow!!

[@drfreud65]

verdatum As long as she stays out of the state she grew up in. Their former governor, now ambassador to China under Trump, defunded the state ombudsmen overseeing long-term care. There's no inspections of nursing homes as a result.

[@IncognitoSprax]

verdatum Rita Moreno doesn’t even look her age

[@Gguy061]

Clitoris

[@wall57805]

What is it?

[@ezra55595]

I'm lucky my grandparents had legal documents drawn up about who they want to take care of them and their medical and financial affairs before their minds started to go.

[@sunshinemishasmommy5352]

Yeah,this story was truly horrifying...my grandma never wanted to talk about such things,and when she had a terrible fall at home and had to go into a nursing home,I had to take over her financial and medical affairs...this was stuff I never had to deal with,but I did because I loved my grandma and wanted to do what was best for her...she adopted me when I was 6 and gave me a good and stable home all these years and I wanted to give back to her the care she gave to me..I did the best I could for her..she passed last year,but I'm glad that I was there to be able to handle her affairs and not have some soulless woman like the one in this story take over and rob her blind..I don't understand how some people can do stuff like that...

[@ko3li668]

Thank you on behalf of your grandma

[@kolil9262]

rly

[@DeterminedDIYer]

Hey troll she had medical needs lol. jeez.

[@kolil9262]

are u talking to me or...

[@collinkeyser6827]

Anyone Else Here After Britney Spears' Testimony About How She's Been Mistreated In Her Conservatorship?

[@bookbook9495]

Hi friend!

[@Hackerboy602]

"I Just Wanted to Watch a Comedy Show and Go to Sleep, but Now I'm Sad" with Johnny Joy-Killer ...Alright, take your thumbs up.

[@pfc.christianl.3660]

That slight quip about Sam Bee was funny. Mr. Oliver: Equal Opportunity Shit Giver.

[@tristanneal9552]

Oh shit where was it I missed it.

[@alexke1234]

While he was "raging" against Neil, he started saying "you feckless" around the 8:24 mark.

[@irosencrantz882]

Alexander Mertens, I backed it up 30 seconds before that mark and played it until the 10 minute mark and heard no mention of Sam Bee. Do you have a more accurate timestamp?

[@AHannah89]

"you feckless" is the quip about her. That's why the audience started laughing hard right after that

[@alexke1234]

He never mentions her explicitly. Samantha Bee called Ivanka Trump a "feckless cunt" in her show and a whole controversy ensued. Oliver was definitely referencing that.

[@SioLazer]

there needs to be a part two! how did they get a guardian appointed to them who then had power over them without them knowing? a big part of this story is missing.

[@charlielight8544]

www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights April Parks herself was the one who made the petition to the court to get herself appointed as their guardian; John did imply how deep her corruption goes, but it appears that she had thoroughly infected the court with it as well. (The judge presiding over those cases very much liked her, and one of the cases ending in her favor lasted only 91 seconds)

[@jmdenison]

The reality is, it's the judges that are to blame. Parks couldn't have done a thing without one or more judges being complicit. Our US judges are dirty bribe takers with little or no oversight. Often the GALs and guardians are in charge of the campaigns for the judges or pay a huge role in their re election. beware

[@jaybrielakoi7747]

SioLazer Debbie Gross bwuahhh ha ha yeah these episodes he makes are fantastic. 😙😃😄😝🤣😂☺️😜😝🤣😝😝😂😂🤣😄😂😂😂😗😂

[@Standardhumanbeing]

I saw the words “April” and “Parks”, then I continued reading and was equally informed yet disappointed that it wasn’t about Parks and Recreation

[@boredumbsleepyhead]

and why did they have control over their money as their guardian?

[@chumark54]

After watching Netflix's Dirty Money S2E5 "Guardians Inc." I came here to watch John Oliver again. Protect our elderly; protect ourselves.

[@c.w.r.794]

John Oliver is amazing

[@ThatsABitPersonal]

I'm glad he pointed out about talking with your family about what to do in the future, my family has been the guardian and caretaker of my grandma for over a decade and it works really well and she's happy and healthy. And it's good to discuss with your parents what to do when they get older.

[@JoonasD6]

Every single on of these episodes is funny, but they also come with a realisation that there is a big country in the world where all these problems are possible and very real. What the hell, US? "Local judges - who have no legal training"? ... WTF

[@scottsbarbarossalogic3665]

I also found that quite flabbergasting

[@merlinious01]

Yeah, the third biggest country by population and i think 15th in landmass. Just replace "America" with "Europe" for an easy way to get a size comparison.

[@jameskevinheinle301]

Joonas Mäkinen GERIVORES

[@jameskevinheinle301]

Joonas Mäkinen Privatized FEMA camp

[@jameskevinheinle301]

Joonas Mäkinen Barnevernet for the aged meat it's tasty food for kangaroo courts special needs diets of GERIVORES. they eat houses ,too,and assets do they garnish with chopped human rights, succulent!

[@meyerwhite1427]

I now point people to this episode when they watch the movie, "I Care a Lot" and think the plot is too crazy to be real...This episode and the comment below from 'Tony Stark' were undoubtedly the inspiration for the film...

[@mike0rr]

As much as I love laughing at Trump and that whole ordeal, I really like these episodes exploring topics I hardly knew about before. Sips on my Diet Dr. Pepper*

[@wendysullivan825]

Mike Orr same here. Civil Forfeiture, Multilevel Marketing, Net Neutrality...I learn so much.

[@mike0rr]

Right. Nothing wrong with criticizing and poking fun at those in power. But this channel has, and often still is pretty informative rather than "just" funny. Totally not a criticism when they do a Trump episode. Just a nod to when it's more informative.

[@goodgrief1163]

Diet Dr. Pepper is the only diet soda worth drinking.

[@mike0rr]

Diabetic serial killers*

[@cantgetitupanymore3244]

Ewww Diet, do you also wipe before taking a shit?

[@rouzhinasafaei1692]

I have a question! How is it possible for people who are not lawyers to become judges? Is that a thing in America? Because that is genuinely concerning! I was born in a third world country and it takes years for a lawyer to become a judge there.

[@satsunada]

Many judges in the US are elected officials. Like most posts in the election process, it generally has few requirements. Even president of the US has that you have to be a natural citizen (born here) and that you're over 35. That's it. So like judges, any idiot can win a seat and hold it based purely on personality alone.

[@CultofThings]

It's possible for a reality tv star to become president too

[@skylx0812]

One county of in American state requires its judges to undergo mental stability tests. One judge eventually failed his and was given the option of taking early retirement or be removed from the bench and end his career in disgrace. He took retirement and got a job as chief judge in an Indian reservation court. Even whatever checks and balances that are in place don't work. Well, it worked for that particular county but the judge was able to simply apply elsewhere and be hired again.

[@joshmedici]

It is the PPS legal system in the US and most of Latin America, where laws apply only to the Poor, Prostitutes, and Stupids. Anyone else gets a free pass as big as their wallet.

[@Nerdnumberone]

Do many elected or appointed positions in other countries have strict, explicit qualifications? In the US, they generally don't. The assumption is that grossly incompetent people won't get elected, appointed, or confirmed. Unfortunately, sometimes there are unqualified people who are more popular than qualified professionals.

[@soylentWill]

This is very painful, not for said content...but because we have to hear it from a comedy show.

[@Stevros999]

Indeed

[@hansbass8119]

Wait, this is a comedy show?

[@KillerSputnik]

The fact that they use MSM news stories as references in all their segments should tell you how sad it is that you cant digest this content unless it's wrapped up in a 20 minute comedy segment. You dont have to hear it from John Oliver, you just dont want to watch or read real news and educate yourself.

[@AnilKDasanna]

@@KillerSputnik May be because learning through Books is much easier than learning directly through Research articles

[@KillerSputnik]

@@AnilKDasanna You learn the happenings of every day life from reading hand detailed reports and news. If people aren't going to read or watch the news, what makes you think they're going to read a book? Or the idea that publishing current news in a medium that takes months to print, publish, and market? This Just In..... woman rips off multiple elderly patients in elderly care scam. Read all about it in six months when we finally get Penguin to publish and distribute our book.

[@cassandracapodagli4368]

Me: laughs at 'i just want to watch a comedy show and go to sleep but now I'm sad with Johnny Joy-kill Also me: watching this at 2 am wanting to get in a good laugh before I go to sleep

[@therealitycheck2679]

You know you're a fan when you're watching all those famous old people and waiting for the catheter cowboy to show up xD

[@IsraTheBlack]

They better call Saul.

[@andrescarrillo5201]

Rafahil i love this comment

[@gabrielal6872]

Haha I love Saul

[@Rust_Rust_Rust]

GIMME JIMMY!

[@G-Unit1111]

Except Saul is working as a manager at a Cinnabon in Lincoln, Nebraska now. Oops, spoiler alert!

[@MrUn1versal]

G-Unit1111 spoiler alert? Nah man. You just unleashed the southwestern drug lords on that poor man

[@fleshreap]

So if I change my name to Tom Hanks, can I petition to be the guardian of William Shatner and use all his money to buy tide pods? "$2 million for tide pods, is this correct?" "yeah sorry I'll reverse that"

[@pidgeonpatrol861]

John Oliver: No tall foxes Manned Wolves: *exist*

[@entewente]

Who are these wolves manned by?

[@HistoryandOtherStuffwithBV]

I am here the proof that you were wrong about how you said that DeGrasse was the only one who liked the Mercury joke. I liked that joke, too!

[@NJ-wb1cz]

The Montenegrin Mapper, you're just saying that to stick it to the Englishman with spider fingers.

[@barkasz6066]

#metoo

[@HistoryandOtherStuffwithBV]

+Bear Arms No, I legit actually liked that joke. Also, how dare you insult John Oliver, the living embodiment of comedic satire himself?!

[@CRASHjester]

The Montenegrin Mapper Not exactly the living embodiment, but he's still hilarious.

[@myopiniondoesntmatterh9073]

I liked it, too. Didn’t understand a word of it, but I liked it. 😆

[@quester09]

this is why you behave sanely and soberly in public (and with your doctor) once you reach about 60. it's a jungle out there. also don't sign anything.

[@Leo_Lionhart]

Neil deGrasse Tyson, truly, the fun killer of all science related puns/jokes. Nothing is too lame to be rightfully corrected by him.

[@w1ldflwr572]

Ha! I loved that part. He has such a great sense of humor.

[@sainjawoof3506]

It's not funny if it's not accurate.

[@irosencrantz882]

Leo Lionhart, It would be awesome if Dr. Tyson swooped into this thread and started correcting our grammar.

[@angelliquec305]

As it should be

[@alexdaurora1335]

I was given over to a legal guardian at six years old in Ohio and suffered a lot of abuse at this person's hands. In addition to physical and verbal abuse I was forced to work jobs and he took all of the money. I have never understood how this person was able to do this and get away with it. After watching this episode, I now have a better understanding of what happened to me in my childhood. Thank you John Oliver. I ran away after turning seventeen and dropped out of high school. This was the beginning of my adulthood. I've had mental illness and addiction problems. If anybody out there reads this and knows of any legal referral help I would love some. I would love to know if the state of Ohio is at all financially responsible for allowing this to happen to me

[@MusicSavvy0419]

I appreciated this so fucking greatly. My Grandfather passed away last year and was put under a Guardianship in PA without our knowing/consent as he lived with a roommate. They tried to seize our house, broke into it, and still have yet to give us an itinerary of what was spent from his savings.

[@marywhitten5491]

Was this in Montgomery County, PA. They are notoriously corrupt along with the surrounding counties.

[@jmdenison]

see my blog at www.marygsykes.com and I'd love to hear your story. They do this ALL the time

[@theoriginalsache]

Oh God, I read an article about this and it was a horrifying tale of elder abuse and theft. Edit: Holy shit, it was exactly about this lady.

[@CRASHjester]

theoriginalsache Surprising she hasn't been on national news.

[@plaidpanda]

Trying to learn more about this... link, please?

[@ElleahWC]

It's a New Yorker article titled "How the Elderly Lose Their Rights." (The bizarrely selective internet filter at my work won't let me link it). It's a dystopian read.

[@plaidpanda]

ElleahWC FOUND IT!! And even better, I still have a few free New Yorker articles this month. Thank you, random internet citizen. Very kind of you!

[@sinom]

That one guy really enjoys it.

[@conotaku9898]

Sinom cougar champion?

[@JensPlaner]

I mean he does the show like since 2015 so you would expecz him to do so

[@joee7809]

Sinom yeh that one laughing guy is weird

[@jennylee9278]

He hasn't had a good fight since the Kaiser.

[@notreallyhere851]

do a video of child protective services.

[@samaraisnt]

Yes!!!!!

[@TristanBomber]

Regarding 2:36, maybe at the end of every season, LWT could do an "Optimism Recap" for that year, just going over good things that happened and progress for that year?

[@BognaZone]

TristanBomb only if its funny

[@rebeccaa3541]

I actually knew someone who was a victim of April Parks. Their mother had early alzheimer's disease and they wanted her sent to Florida were they lived and placed in a care facility there were they could actually see her. April Parks got herself appointed as his mother's guardian despite everything and she wanted 20 grand just for herself on top of all the other general fees to transport his mother to Florida.

[@shanez1215]

Rebecca A Fuck April Parks. Also, forcing someone to move to Florida should be a severe crime in itself.

[@LifeOfTheParty323]

April Parks husband is also under arrest. Good.

[@luisisthenamelitn6978]

Let's not forget how shitty any rehab or treatment facility in Florida is.

[@priscilaassis5704]

LuisIsTheName LITN have you been to every facility in Florida in order to make this statement or do you just have a disdain for the state?

[@AirQuotes]

@@priscilaassis5704 no one with any sense likes Florida

[@ranthropologist]

As much as I am so so glad you've done a segment on guardianship, I really wish you had included disabled people as a whole, rather than just disabled seniors. Disabled people of all ages - particularly developmentally disabled people, like me - get taken advantage of by guardians/conservators all of the time! And it can be nearly impossible to fight, because courts automatically won't trust our judgment. In fact, guardians of developmentally disabled people have LITERALLY KILLED their children/wards, and serve little to no time at all! The murderers of Alex Spourdalakis - his mother and godmother - only served THREE YEARS before being released because they "felt really guilty." Our lives mean so little to the world at large, and it's frustrating that you left us out of a segment about something that impacts so many of us. (Note: I am lucky enough to not be under a guardianship, but I'm also not independent.)

[@tchallenger91]

ConfettiVampire well fucking said.

[@johnj3027]

Eh... the most logical reason I can think of is that the two topics are very different though it may seem similar. Your case, it's diagnosed; secondly, everyone becomes a senior (hopefully), not every is developmentally disabled. Though your specific issue wasn't covered, the issue of unqualified guardians and incompetent judges was and that is still pertinent to guardianship of disabled people. It is unfortunate but you shouldn't be "frustrated" at John or the program; it certainly made me more knowledgable about the fact.

[@ranthropologist]

Like I said, I'm super glad he did a segment on this, because it's really important and not very talked about. But the thing is, he also acknowledged that not every senior becomes disabled to the point of needing a guardian or conservator. That means that he's talking about disabled seniors only, and how hard would it have been to expand that to all disabled people? That's the part that really frustrates me, but he did provide great information on why the system is broken in general.

[@VelMa-opinion]

My mum was appointed a guardian. My dad did her bills and such, but the *public* guardian who acted as a public official, meaning under much stronger accountability rules in case of negligence or embezzlement, checked his accounting and any billings that looked "off" for her. *_Nobody_** was paid a penny for this!* This was naturally in Europe, where people are civilised and education is still appreciated, so all judges are _professional lawyers!_

[@if7723]

That sounds like some commie bullshit. What's next, the state is going to force my food companies to put actual food in my food and not ground up orphan? I'll have to use a toilet for defecation and not just throw it in childrens faces? My police force will have to do the serve and the protect in "Serve and Protect"!!! Bah, I say. BAH

[@SmittenKitten.]

Yeah, well... We have... Uhm... We're the home of... Have you ever heard of Golden Corral? Don't look it up or anything to verify my next statement, but it's easily the best restaurant to have ever existed or will ever exist and WE, the US of A, created such a marvel!!!

[@acopernic]

Guardianship are not paid in Switzerland. It's a social duty.

[@sweetboo1022]

Andre Cabezas you guys have so many more things correct. America's so far behind in it's social justice and taking care of people who cannot take care of themselves. it's ridiculous. I'm a volunteer for foster children as a special Advocate and the things I see in the foster care system would make your head spin.

[@timthorson52]

How does that work when there is no family to care for them, does the state/government appoint someone to do it unpaid when they are incapable of handling their own care? I realize this may be that .01% of cases, and the U.S. is screwed up, but there are extremes.

[@Kate-kp2ry]

Forcing people to care for their parents is fundamentally unjust. There is nothing to celebrate about such a system.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

Andre Cabezas social duty is heresy in American culture. Only he who steals best is cared for.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

shugo104 scale up a successful system? Or we wouldn’t be the America that can make anything bigger or better. No excuses, we are America. We can do it, we just don’t believe in supporting others or sharing when we aren’t profiting.

[@ackbarfan5556]

Can confirm. Dr. Pepper key to immortality.

[@mikebockey4125]

ackbarfan5556, ya, you know when a dr. pepper sounds good? -every time i think of it.

[@GFmanaic]

Who wants a life of drinking dr pepper

[@ChristheMad]

Nope. That's Pepsi Max.

[@bebadarcy]

Dr Pepper is the intellectual drink of the chosen ones! (cit. Steins;Gate)

[@MyloXyloto94]

Beatrice Darcy Literally drinking it as I watch this.

[@gallantsoul8586]

Fellow Person of Culture I see

[@jenniestevens1166]

Agreed! I totally sent a screenshot of that lady to my husband, who is always getting after me for how much Dr. Pepper I drink.

[@maryrosekent8223]

Beatrice Darcy It was originally made with prune juice as the “secret” ingredient.

[@xxkanezxx6903]

Omg I love you for leaving this comment....all I thought of was okabe when I saw the old woman with the Dr. Pepper

[@gedrictudio]

Rest in peace, Fred. You were awesome.

[@kieransmith9616]

I dont know who he was but some dude in the audience was laughing his ass off and once you start paying attention to him the ONLY THING YOU CAN HEAR IS HOW MUCH HE'S ENJOYING THIS SHOW, IT'S CRAZY