How in the world did the government spending get so far off the tracks? In less than a month Elon will and his 20 year olds will pry 1 trillion dollars out of the politicians cold dead hands. will

[jross]

2 hours ago, fishbane said:

The crack team at DOGE initially reported USAID spent $50MM on condoms sent to Gaza.  Trump and his officials thought it was wasteful to send this to Palestine and implied it was likely misappropriated by Hamas to buy bombs because they have no use for condoms.  The condoms were sent to Gaza, but it was Gaza the Providence in the country of Mozambique where over 10% of the adult population has HIV...

The bigger picture is that local trumps global.  We should address local HIV before global HIV, and address other local needs before HIV at all.  It's not a zero sum game... but we don't have a surplus to spend...

 

2 hours ago, fishbane said:

DOGE are cutting things they don't understand in a chaotic and disorganized manner.  That ain't efficiency.  

There are trade offs.  Rapid bold change with mistakes OVER quality with no change.  DOGE has chosen wisely.

There will be less loud mistakes over time.

It will work out.

[Bigbrog]

23 minutes ago, jross said:

The bigger picture is that local trumps global.  We should address local HIV before global HIV, and address other local needs before HIV at all.  It's not a zero sum game... but we don't have a surplus to spend...

 

There are trade offs.  Rapid bold change with mistakes OVER quality with no change.  DOGE has chosen wisely.

There will be less loud mistakes over time.

It will work out.

This!  I would take making mistakes on how much is actually being saved then doing nothing at all.

[jross]

1 hour ago, Bigbrog said:

This!  I would take making mistakes on how much is actually being saved then doing nothing at all.

We are also observing good intentions crashing into bad execution. (layoffs)

It stinks for the government, just as it does for the private sector.

I've lived it.

The trade off is worth a leaner and functional government.

The clock is ticking.

Go!

[Le duke]

We are also observing good intentions crashing into bad execution. (layoffs)
It stinks for the government, just as it does for the private sector.
I've lived it.
The trade off is worth a leaner and functional government.
The clock is ticking.
Go!

Layoffs for the sake of layoffs, and a resultant lack of services, are a good thing?

It’s one thing to improve efficiency. Great.

But if a service is no longer rendered, or only partially rendered, because of this, is that a good thing?


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[jross]

Layoffs for the sake of layoffs?  Where?

No, layoffs because we are spending 2T more than we take in.

We should both reduce spending and reduce taxes.

Reduce waste in government services.

Reduce services all together.

“Would I fight to keep this person/service?” No?  Out!

"Can you tell me what you did last week?"  No?  Out!

Makes sense to those that want fiscal sanity.

[uncle bernard]

Just now, jross said:

Layoffs for the sake of layoffs?  Where?

No, layoffs because we are spending 2T more than we take in.

We should both reduce spending and reduce taxes.

Reduce waste in government services.

Reduce services all together.

“Would I fight to keep this person/service?” No?  Out!

"Can you tell me what you did last week?"  No?  Out!

Makes sense to those that want fiscal sanity.

1. The government budget doesn't work like a family budget. The government should run at a deficit for the good of the economy.

2. They aren't cutting the real waste. Any serious attempt to actually reduce government spending would start (and probably end) at the pentagon.

[uncle bernard]

I thought Jon Stewart actually did a really nice job laying out the flaws in DOGE's approach. If you want a shorter version, start around 13:00.

(Plus you get to see Stewart accidentally severely cut his hand, but keep the show going)

 

[red viking]

1 minute ago, jross said:

Layoffs for the sake of layoffs?  Where?

No, layoffs because we are spending 2T more than we take in.

We should both reduce spending and reduce taxes.

Reduce waste in government services.

Reduce services all together.

“Would I fight to keep this person/service?” No?  Out!

"Can you tell me what you did last week?"  No?  Out!

Makes sense to those that want fiscal sanity.

If you really want to save money, change the law that would enable entire programs to be eliminated or reduced. 

Only 1% of the federal budget is employee compensation. The employees watch the purse strings and make sure the other 99% of the money is being spent in accordance with laws and not via corruption. Musk hates regulation because he's under dozens of federal investigations for rule/law violations and he has billions in federal govt contracts. He is going after the employees exclusively and not addressing any of the big expenditures. 

2+2=4. It's VERY simple and obvious what this is about if you take off the red tinted goggles. 

[red viking]

If you really want to shrink the budget by any significant amount, you MUST reduce social security, Medicare and/or military spending (and not just a few civilian workers at Pentagon; I'm talking about slashing military contractor budgets). Until I see that, DOGE is a joke with this alternative agenda that was fairly obvious from the start but becoming even more obvious to any moderate by the day. 

[jross]

Just now, uncle bernard said:

1. The government budget doesn't work like a family budget. The government should run at a deficit for the good of the economy.

2. They aren't cutting the real waste. Any serious attempt to actually reduce government spending would start (and probably end) at the pentagon.

That's one person's opinion.

The government can keep printing money until trust or the market collapses.  Deficits CAN help the economy but you can't ignore the downside of inflation, debt servicing, and tax hikes.  I make a good salary and am still puking over insurance, college education, and housing costs.

It will be EXCITING to see the waste cut from the pentagon.

Am also looking forward to more waste reduction in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

[jross]

8 minutes ago, red viking said:

Only 1% of the federal budget is employee compensation.

Who you do think is spending the money?

[Bigbrog]

7 minutes ago, red viking said:

If you really want to save money, change the law that would enable entire programs to be eliminated or reduced. 

Only 1% of the federal budget is employee compensation. The employees watch the purse strings and make sure the other 99% of the money is being spent in accordance with laws and not via corruption. Musk hates regulation because he's under dozens of federal investigations for rule/law violations and he has billions in federal govt contracts. He is going after the employees exclusively and not addressing any of the big expenditures. 

2+2=4. It's VERY simple and obvious what this is about if you take off the red tinted goggles. 

LOL...again you show you have no clue about anything!  Why is it so hard for some of you to not understand that DOGE IS JUST GETTING STARTED???  You all keep up with this lazy/tired/ignorant rhetoric of "bUt tHeY oNlY aRe sAvInG a sMaLl aMoUnT" 

And I am open to a discussion about HOW the employee's are being let go as I feel there could be a better way to do that, but I do not disagree with the why...which is my next question, why is it so hard to not understand that if an employee is NOT NEEDED that they should be let go??  Do some of you honestly feel that people should just keep their job even if it provides no value and/or is no longer needed??  Seriously??

[jross]

11 minutes ago, red viking said:

if you take off the red tinted goggles. 

Not right or left.  Just dollars and sense.

[red viking]

1 minute ago, jross said:

Who you do think is spending the money?

Firing employees won't do much if anything about that. The money will still go out unless specifically directed otherwise (e.g. USAID, which is pretty minor). It just won't be scrutinized as much so there will actually be more fraud. Musk is laughing all the way to the bank and now has a free ticket to violate whatever rules he wants. 

[red viking]

2 minutes ago, Bigbrog said:

LOL...again you show you have no clue about anything!  Why is it so hard for some of you to not understand that DOGE IS JUST GETTING STARTED???  You all keep up with this lazy/tired/ignorant rhetoric of "bUt tHeY oNlY aRe sAvInG a sMaLl aMoUnT" 

And I am open to a discussion about HOW the employee's are being let go as I feel there could be a better way to do that, but I do not disagree with the why...which is my next question, why is it so hard to not understand that if an employee is NOT NEEDED that they should be let go??  Do some of you honestly feel that people should just keep their job even if it provides no value and/or is no longer needed??  Seriously??

I'll see it when I believe it. He won't touch social security, Medicare or DOD contracts. 

[Bigbrog]

Just now, red viking said:

Firing employees won't do much if anything about that. The money will still go out unless specifically directed otherwise (e.g. USAID, which is pretty minor). It just won't be scrutinized as much so there will actually be more fraud. Musk is laughing all the way to the bank and now has a free ticket to violate whatever rules he wants. 

So much wrong with this post...but let's focus on the last two sentences...PROVE IT!!!  As you have shown over and over...you can't and won't.  It's just your tired schtick of just spewing emotion comments that have no basis in fact and is just pure ignorant rhetoric.

[red viking]

1 minute ago, Bigbrog said:

So much wrong with this post...but let's focus on the last two sentences...PROVE IT!!!  As you have shown over and over...you can't and won't.  It's just your tired schtick of just spewing emotion comments that have no basis in fact and is just pure ignorant rhetoric.

So, are you saying that Musk is not under several investigations for violating federal regulations? Or at least WAS. I'm sure those aren't going anywhere right now. 

Edited February 25 by red viking

[Bigbrog]

Just now, red viking said:

So, are you saying that Musk is not under several investigations for violating federal regulations? 

What??  Prove what you wrote...don't change the subject.

[Caveira]

5 minutes ago, red viking said:

So, are you saying that Musk is not under several investigations for violating federal regulations? Or at least WAS. I'm sure those aren't going anywhere right now. 

Dictators and presidents don’t get investigated wouldn’t he just kill the investigations if he was a dictator ?

 

if I was a dictator.  I would just take the $ no?  Why come up with this crazy doge scheme just to get rich.  Just take it.  Seems strange.  

Edited February 25 by Caveira

[red viking]

1 minute ago, Bigbrog said:

What??  Prove what you wrote...don't change the subject.

Keep lobbing softballs....https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025.02.13_fact_sheet_re_musk_investigations.pdf

[jross]

2 minutes ago, Bigbrog said:

LOL...again you show you have no clue about anything!  Why is it so hard for some of you to not understand that DOGE IS JUST GETTING STARTED???  You all keep up with this lazy/tired/ignorant rhetoric of "bUt tHeY oNlY aRe sAvInG a sMaLl aMoUnT" 

And I am open to a discussion about HOW the employee's are being let go as I feel there could be a better way to do that, but I do not disagree with the why...which is my next question, why is it so hard to not understand that if an employee is NOT NEEDED that they should be let go??  Do some of you honestly feel that people should just keep their job even if it provides no value and/or is no longer needed??  Seriously??

I think they do because even in a wasteful job, paychecks keep the cash cycling.

[jross]

8 minutes ago, red viking said:

Firing employees won't do much if anything about that. The money will still go out unless specifically directed otherwise (e.g. USAID, which is pretty minor). It just won't be scrutinized as much so there will actually be more fraud. Musk is laughing all the way to the bank and now has a free ticket to violate whatever rules he wants. 

If your boyfriend is a spender, and you cut him from your life, will you still spend?

Give it a break with Trump this and Musk that.  Geez.

[red viking]

4 minutes ago, jross said:

I think they do because even in a wasteful job, paychecks keep the cash cycling.

The people being let go are not being let go because of poor performance. The vast majority are being let go because they are enforcing regulations that President Musk doesn't like. 

In reality, Musk PREFERS that they don't do their job. 

Edited February 25 by red viking

[Bigbrog]

6 minutes ago, red viking said:

Keep lobbing softballs....https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025.02.13_fact_sheet_re_musk_investigations.pdf

What does that have to do with what you wrote....RV " It just won't be scrutinized as much so there will actually be more fraud. Musk is laughing all the way to the bank and now has a free ticket to violate whatever rules he wants. "

How is Musk laughing all the way to the bank and how does he have a free ticket to violate whatever rules he wants??  Because there are investigation against him??  Can't wait to hear your mental gymnastics on this one....

[Le duke]

Layoffs for the sake of layoffs?  Where?
No, layoffs because we are spending 2T more than we take in.
We should both reduce spending and reduce taxes.
Reduce waste in government services.
Reduce services all together.
“Would I fight to keep this person/service?” No?  Out!
"Can you tell me what you did last week?"  No?  Out!
Makes sense to those that want fiscal sanity.

You realize that none of the supervisors of, or the actual people who were fired, were given the chance to respond to those questions, right?

One of my former soldiers is a NPS Ranger. They just lost their only EMT due to DOGE. How do they provide medical services at their extremely remote NPS property? Should Rangers who do multi-day wilderness movements be fired for not responding within 24hrs to an email they won’t know they got until after the deadline?


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