Some things are accepted as fact even though they are completely false, such as the fact that entitlement spending in the
US needs to be curtailed. Now it's true that health care spending, including Medicare spending, is out of control and should be curtailed. That isn't a problem with Medicare, but instead it's a problem with our ridiculous health care system. Every sentient being knows this is true, along with the related point that there's absolutely nothing wrong with Social Security, but the Villagers just "know" that the richest country in the history of the world can't possible afford to pay for your parents' health care. And they repeat it over and over and over.