I am angry. No, I’m furious. In one week, Americans will celebrate the country’s 250th birthday. I already have my flags and patriotic attire in place to mark next weekend events. While nothing can deter me — not even those who claim to hate this country — I am not in a good place mentally on this day.

Why, you ask? Well, there have been such disturbing stories in the news in recent days. Some of it is too hard for me to comprehend. Here’s what I mean:

A nationwide federal probe into Medicare/Medicaid fraud has turned up 455 alleged perpetrators with more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. Infractions were found in 45 states and territories.

This ungodly amount of fraud involves everything from false claims for mental health services for kids, an opioid distribution scheme reportedly involving pharmacies and clinics and physical therapy businesses. These are just some of what was found in Houston, Texas. More will come from other states as these alarming cases are found.

Among those alleged to have been involved are physicians and nurse practitioners, along with medical personnel at clinics and various health care providers.

I don’t know about you, but I have difficulty processing how such dishonesty and theft occur under the supposed watchful eye of our government. And the amount of money involved is enough to turn my stomach.

Personally, Uncle Sam knows every penny we have ever earned. The Feds also know we pay our taxes on time, properly register our vehicles, have valid driver’s licenses and obey the laws of the land.

So how is it that $6.5 billion of our tax dollars can be stolen out from under the watchdog eyes of our government? Yet, if we were to be a day late paying our taxes, we would receive a generous fine from those in D.C. Someone more than just the accused needs to answer for this monumental failure.

As a senior citizen, I keep hearing that Social Security will be bankrupt by 2030. I used to think that is just a scare tactic for certain elected officials to get their way in Washington. But now I wonder. How will this country sustain any future truly-earned benefits when billions of our money is stolen out from under us?

I began this column saying I am angry. I hope you are, too.

Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hzeigler@theintelligencer.net.