Musk and Ramaswamy on the plan to reform our government

[Tropical Wilds]

“I never thought leopards would eat my face…”

 

[KCfromNC]

But not eggs and gas. Those are gonna be practically free!

Which reminds me, we do need a weekly post about egg prices, you know, to make sure America is being made great again.

 

[KCfromNC]

We could save the most money with one change. Move the federal bureaucracy to one of the coldest places in the USA. Yes, Alaska would do nicely.

Would make it kinda hard for the Navy to respond to threats in the Atlantic, Med and middle east, but you know what they say about populist movements - complex questions deserve simplistic answers that sound OK but won't actually work.

 

[Richard T]

Would make it kinda hard for the Navy to respond to threats in the Atlantic, Med and middle east, but you know what they say about populist movements - complex questions deserve simplistic answers that sound OK but won't actually work.

I was not too clear but I assumed that certain parts that are needed worldwide or domestically would be fine anywhere if their duties were needed in that region. The move of much of the bureaucracy to a cold climate area would likely see thousands of bureaucrats quit and new hires would not be for the weak at heart. DC is a quagmire, that needs to be shook up. In some cases it has become our own enemy. Yes, they can do away with some of it, but for essential stuff just making it move, should have a beneficial effect.

 

[Pommer]

I was not too clear but I assumed that certain parts that are needed worldwide or domestically would be fine anywhere if their duties were needed in that region. The move of much of the bureaucracy to a cold climate area would likely see thousands of bureaucrats quit and new hires would not be for the weak at heart. DC is a quagmire, that needs to be shook up. In some cases it has become our own enemy. Yes, they can do away with some of it, but for essential stuff just making it move, should have a beneficial effect.

Lemme get this straight…the US is going to “save money” by laying off a large fraction of the federal government’s~2.7 million employees and contractors?
What about the customer’s citizens’ ability to engage with their government without undue delay?

Or should we just be satisfied with whatever “service” our leaders deem is necessary to provide “good enough“ service, and be quiet about it?

 

[Richard T]

Lemme get this straight…the US is going to “save money” by laying off a large fraction of the federal government’s~2.7 million employees and contractors?
What about the customer’s citizens’ ability to engage with their government without undue delay?

Or should we just be satisfied with whatever “service” our leaders deem is necessary to provide “good enough“ service, and be quiet about it?

You are right there. How much government you want is based on personal preference. If government is cut some citizens will get less service and or money. Most government operations are somewhat redundant and inefficient. If that is the part that is cut, then it is a good thing. Admittedly my example is a bit oversimplistic, but DC is too comfortable for many. A bureaucratic move might eliminate lobbyists and special interest groups too. Could be the offices are just disbursed all over the place. Could'nt the Dept of Commerce headquarter in Dallas? Agriculture in Nebraska? etc?

 

[Pommer]

Most government operations are somewhat redundant and inefficient. If that is the part that is cut, then it is a good thing. Admittedly my example is a bit oversimplistic, but DC is too comfortable for many.

I’m increasingly skeptical about this truism that “government is wasteful*”, yet, I believe it to be true after a fashion…but a government‘s interests is to keep the “we-the-people“ from revolting and slashing services or payments for entitlements usually works counter to that aim.

A bureaucratic move might eliminate lobbyists and special interest groups too. Could be the offices are just disbursed all over the place. Could'nt the Dept of Commerce headquarter in Dallas? Agriculture in Nebraska? etc?

What? Get the money out of politics is cool again!?
Joy.


*to a fair degree government isn’t supposed to run with no leaks. We can have a cut-to-the-bone civil service…but why is that necessarily “good”?

 

[Richard T]

True even the best private enterprise runs with some leaks. One can make the case too that some departments need more funding. The IRS for instance does bring in more money when it hires more agents. No one wants to skip on Air traffic controllers or airport security either. I sure hope they think the cuts through and pick the easy fruit.

 

[KCfromNC]

I was not too clear but I assumed that certain parts that are needed worldwide or domestically would be fine anywhere if their duties were needed in that region.

So after we exclude all of the necessary parts of government, how much is really left to cut? Seems like the lofty promises don't line up with the reality of the situation after even doing a simple fact check on the basics. I can't imagine it getting any better once all the details are worked out.

For example, with this plan of moving the entire federal government to Alaska, where do veterans go for health care?

 

[KCfromNC]

You are right there. How much government you want is based on personal preference. If government is cut some citizens will get less service and or money. Most government operations are somewhat redundant and inefficient.

Yep, for example we have military bases on both the east and west coast. We can cut half of them and increase efficiency. Some citizens will get less service, obviously, but it is worth it because, well, talking points and so on.

 

[Richard T]

So after we exclude all of the necessary parts of government, how much is really left to cut? Seems like the lofty promises don't line up with the reality of the situation after even doing a simple fact check on the basics. I can't imagine it getting any better once all the details are worked out.

For example, with this plan of moving the entire federal government to Alaska, where do veterans go for health care?

No, just move the head offices. Cut the head off and the rest that is not critical will fall away. VA is not going anywhere, it was a promise, though I suppose it could be privatized.

 

[ozso]

Oh, I get it. The American people are being deceived by hackers and big spenders. Yeah, that really explains why we don't trust the main stream media [sarcasm alert].

It's true! Well, ccording to mainstream media that is.