Trump creates new "department" whose goal is efficiency and cutting down government waste

[Paul158]

Early training for the Iditarod race in Alaska.

[Offthemat]

47 minutes ago, ionel said:

Shouldn't this be over in the puppy thread? 

Which one was it?  I could hide this one and put it in the other one, but then you guys would have to move your replies.  

[mspart]

Perhaps AARP should look into this apparent elder abuse by these radical canines.  

mspart

[ionel]

33 minutes ago, Offthemat said:

Which one was it?  I could hide this one and put it in the other one, but then you guys would have to move your replies.  

Since there are no better options...

is the puppy thread but maybe it should be in both. 

[Lipdrag]

Per person spending by the federal government more than quadruples (constant dollar basis).  The problem is not tax cuts for the rich - or for anyone.  The problem is the spending at every level of government - including my local library that has millions in the bank but still pushes for a milllage increase every election.

 

Dear DOGE, make this trend return to the 1990's level of $10k fed and $5k local spending per capita.  Then flatten it.  Then find a way to "government efficiecy-ize" our tax code to a flat tax.  Then encode it with a constituional amendment.  Then close your department's doors as you last cutting action.

[Le duke]

Per person spending by the federal government more than quadruples (constant dollar basis).  The problem is not tax cuts for the rich - or for anyone.  The problem is the spending at every level of government - including my local library that has millions in the bank but still pushes for a milllage increase every election.

 
Dear DOGE, make this trend return to the 1990's level of $10k fed and $5k local spending per capita.  Then flatten it.  Then find a way to "government efficiecy-ize" our tax code to a flat tax.  Then encode it with a constituional amendment.  Then close your department's doors as you last cutting action.

The richest Americans will never, ever support a flat rate. And they are the ones (see: Elon) who will effectively write tax policy

That said, they also don’t have income like we do; they get paid in stock and take out loans against those shares.

So, they won’t pay a red cent, they’ll keep getting subsidies and propped up when they fail, and their employees will be the ones taking up the slack.


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[Caveira]

2 hours ago, Le duke said:

The richest Americans will never, ever support a flat rate. And they are the ones (see: Elon) who will effectively write tax policy

That said, they also don’t have income like we do; they get paid in stock and take out loans against those shares.

So, they won’t pay a red cent, they’ll keep getting subsidies and propped up when they fail, and their employees will be the ones taking up the slack.


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They pay almost 50% of the total income tax.   The “rich”.  What is enough?   See the gov waste thread for more info.

[Le duke]

They pay almost 50% of the total income tax.   The “rich”.  What is enough?   See the gov waste thread for more info.

And yet, they are accumulating wealth at a rate rarely if ever seen before. The average billionaire has seen his or her wealth increase by 60%+ since 2020.

The top 1% of Americans have 30% of the wealth.

The bottom 50% have 2.5% of the wealth.


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[Caveira]

8 hours ago, Le duke said:

And yet, they are accumulating wealth at a rate rarely if ever seen before. The average billionaire has seen his or her wealth increase by 60%+ since 2020.

The top 1% of Americans have 30% of the wealth.

The bottom 50% have 2.5% of the wealth.


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You didn’t answer what is enough.  And where does it end …. See gov waste/spending thread.  

[ionel]

16 hours ago, Le duke said:

And yet, they are accumulating wealth at a rate rarely if ever seen before. The average billionaire has seen his or her wealth increase by 60%+ since 2020.

 

and what about the average millionaire ... how are Bernie, Biden, Clinton's ..  doing?

[Caveira]

3 hours ago, ionel said:

and what about the average millionaire ... how are Bernie, Biden, Clinton's ..  doing?

I know tons of folks who make more than 200k annually.  Just a data point but it’s more than a senator makes.  Based on some job titles I’ve seen from others in this forum many others here do too…..

net worth 

pelosi D 253 million 

Romney R 234 million 

mark Warner D 246m

Dan Goldman D 183m

Darrel Issa R 243m 

Shyte Chelsey Clinton is worth about 50 million!     Nepotism Much?

no one I know.   No one  making 200k a year is worth 200+ million usd.   The level of corruption, insider trading, and just pure criminal activity is astronomical.  

term limits are needed!   They keep themselves in office.   The power, corruption, and influence they wield isn’t measurable.   There is a 100% chance all of these people are all on the take.       The list is so long I stopped typing as I know there is close to a 0% chance people read links or watch vids that are posted.   (See link below)

notice there are Ds and Rs on that list……   Note there are tons more.  

#100 on this list is worth 10 million dollars…. That’s crazy I never even heard of her!  Lisa blunt Rochester D-NY house rep.   How are there 100 government sen/house people worth 8 figures.   

https://www.quiverquant.com/congress-live-net-worth/

 

[1032004]

On 11/18/2024 at 8:13 PM, Lipdrag said:

Per person spending by the federal government more than quadruples (constant dollar basis).  The problem is not tax cuts for the rich - or for anyone.  The problem is the spending at every level of government - including my local library that has millions in the bank but still pushes for a milllage increase every election.

 

Dear DOGE, make this trend return to the 1990's level of $10k fed and $5k local spending per capita.  Then flatten it.  Then find a way to "government efficiecy-ize" our tax code to a flat tax.  Then encode it with a constituional amendment.  Then close your department's doors as you last cutting action.

It’s November 2024, do we have 2023 numbers yet?  This honestly doesn’t seem too bad.  It shot up during the once in a century pandemic (which was of course during the term of the guy starting DOGE) and then came back down.  If 2023 declined again then the trend would seem pretty consistent.  I assume this is not inflation-adjusted?

[Danny Deck]

13 hours ago, Caveira said:

I know tons of folks who make more than 200k annually.  Just a data point but it’s more than a senator makes.  Based on some job titles I’ve seen from others in this forum many others here do too…..

net worth 

pelosi D 253 million 

Romney R 234 million 

mark Warner D 246m

Dan Goldman D 183m

Darrel Issa R 243m 

Shyte Chelsey Clinton is worth about 50 million!     Nepotism Much?

no one I know.   No one  making 200k a year is worth 200+ million usd.   The level of corruption, insider trading, and just pure criminal activity is astronomical.  

term limits are needed!   They keep themselves in office.   The power, corruption, and influence they wield isn’t measurable.   There is a 100% chance all of these people are all on the take.       The list is so long I stopped typing as I know there is close to a 0% chance people read links or watch vids that are posted.   (See link below)

notice there are Ds and Rs on that list……   Note there are tons more.  

#100 on this list is worth 10 million dollars…. That’s crazy I never even heard of her!  Lisa blunt Rochester D-NY house rep.   How are there 100 government sen/house people worth 8 figures.   

https://www.quiverquant.com/congress-live-net-worth/

 

Didn't most of these people earn most/all of their wealth prior to politics? Romney, Warner, Goldman and Issa certainly did. Paul Pelosi was a successful investor prior to Nancy's political career, but I'm unsure how wealthy they were in the 70s.

Can't find it stated explicitly, but it seems likely Lisa Blunt Rochester's wealth came from her late husband. I know my rep, Kevin Hern got his money as a McDonald's franchisee. 

Lots of reasons why the wealthy are over represented in Congress, but I would venture that it's their ability to self fund their campaigns rather than relying on a party apparatus has more to do with it than corruption once they're in office.

[WrestlingRasta]

Some people on here seem to think the only way to make money is through a salary.

[Lipdrag]

5 hours ago, 1032004 said:

I assume this is not inflation-adjusted?

You assume wrong.  The whole 100 year chart is inflation adjusted and on a per-capita basis so the actual size of the governments' budgets in real dollars are about 14 or 15 times larger than in 1920.

Edited November 20 by Lipdrag

[jross]

Just to confirm it says inflation adjusted in the image, under the chart.

[1032004]

3 hours ago, Lipdrag said:

You assume wrong.  The whole 100 year chart is inflation adjusted and on a per-capita basis so the actual size of the governments' budgets in real dollars are about 14 or 15 times larger than in 1920.

 

2 hours ago, jross said:

Just to confirm it says inflation adjusted in the image, under the chart.

Apologies, missed that.  That would make some sense as I’d agree there should certainly be places we can trim the fat.  But I do think it’s notable that the trend stayed mostly consistent other than during a major recession and a once in a century pandemic, so I wouldn’t say “it’s the Democrat’s fault” or anything like that (and I’m not saying you guys are necessarily saying that).

[ionel]

1 minute ago, 1032004 said:

 

Apologies, missed that.  That would make some sense as I’d agree there should certainly be places we can trim the fat.  But I do think it’s notable that the trend stayed mostly consistent other than during a major recession and a once in a century pandemic, so I wouldn’t say “it’s the Democrat’s fault” or anything like that (and I’m not saying you guys are necessarily saying that).

 What percent government workers lost their job vs private sector during recession and pandemic.  

[1032004]

3 minutes ago, ionel said:

 What percent government workers lost their job vs private sector during recession and pandemic.  

I don’t know and don’t feel like looking it up at the moment, do you?

[ionel]

9 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

I don’t know and don’t feel like looking it up at the moment, do you?

Nah ... I don't feel like it either.

Is it safe to say there should be no concerns with cutting all of Biden's newly appointed armed IRS agents? 

[Offthemat]

 

[mspart]

20 hours ago, 1032004 said:

I don’t know and don’t feel like looking it up at the moment, do you?

No need to even look it up.  Zero government employees lost their jobs.   Thousands private sector workers lost their jobs.  

mspart

[red viking]

On 11/18/2024 at 7:42 PM, Le duke said:

The richest Americans will never, ever support a flat rate. And they are the ones (see: Elon) who will effectively write tax policy

That said, they also don’t have income like we do; they get paid in stock and take out loans against those shares.

So, they won’t pay a red cent, they’ll keep getting subsidies and propped up when they fail, and their employees will be the ones taking up the slack.


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A highly disproportionate chunk of that growth is Healthcare related. You willing to reign that in?

[red viking]

6 minutes ago, mspart said:

No need to even look it up.  Zero government employees lost their jobs.   Thousands private sector workers lost their jobs.  

mspart

Which government workers should have been laid off due to covid? 

Btw you are wrong though. I personally know govt workers that were laid off due to covid but you have no clue and make baseless winger claims like this. 

Edited November 21 by red viking

[red viking]

https://www.gao.gov/federal-health-care-spending