Musk and Ramaswamy on the plan to reform our government

[Valletta]

The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long. That’s why we’re doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. We will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. Unlike government commissions or advisory committees, we won’t just write reports or cut ribbons. We’ll cut costs.
We are assisting the Trump transition team to identify and hire a lean team of small-government crusaders, including some of the sharpest technical and legal minds in America. This team will work in the new administration closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020

A huge task but the right men for the job.

 

[Fantine]

Austerity has brought on recession in UK and other countries.
Recession means less revenue which doesn't translate into lower deficits.
It does, however, translate into voter anger.
Why don't we have recall elections like in California?

 

[DaisyDay]

It seems a bit...ironic...that these two unelected men who rail against unelected bureaucrats making decisions in accordance with their duties would be given any authority to determine how our government will function - or not.

Government cannot function well without a working bureaucracy. Cutting randomly without understanding how the departments actually function and how they are meant to function is a recipe for chaos and harm to the citizenry. For instance, Musk apparently saw one title with "diversification" in the name and leapt to the conclusion that it somehow had something to do with the evil known as "DEI", retweeted the office holder's info on his X and labeled it as a "fake job" evidently not understanding what the job entailed. (Linkie).

Is it any coincidence that Musk is an investor of Dogecoin and that the "agency" (only Congress can create or abolish federal agencies) is named "DOGE"?

Elon Musk Issues Surprise Crypto Endorsement Amid $3 Trillion Bitcoin And Dogecoin Price Boom

Elon Musk has praised the meme-based dogecoin, a cryptocurrency he once vowed to "send to the moon"...

www.forbes.com

How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker

The world‘s richest man has a lot to gain from Trump’s return to the Oval Office

time.com

“In medieval Venice, the leader of the oligarchy ruled for life, and he went by the same title that Musk gave to his new department: the Doge.”​

 

[Vambram]

IMO, the fourth branch of the Federal government a.k.a. the Federal bureaucracies are much, much too big and bloated. They are unaccountable to the American people and far too much money is wasted on them. The federal bureaucracies and agencies must become more efficient, less wasteful, and more accountable to the American people and our elected leaders.

 

[Eliyah Moshiach]

I agree that it’s a huge task, but with the right team, change is definitely possible. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out and hoping it leads to a more efficient and effective government.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

IMO, the fourth branch of the Federal government a.k.a. the Federal bureaucracies are much, much too big and bloated. They are unaccountable to the American people and far too much money is wasted on them. The federal bureaucracies and agencies must become more efficient, less wasteful, and more accountable to the American people and our elected leaders.

Actually, traditionally speaking, the "fourth branch of government" referred to The Press.

 

[eleos1954]

The entrenched and ever-growing bureaucracy represents an existential threat to our republic, and politicians have abetted it for too long. That’s why we’re doing things differently. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians. We will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. Unlike government commissions or advisory committees, we won’t just write reports or cut ribbons. We’ll cut costs.
We are assisting the Trump transition team to identify and hire a lean team of small-government crusaders, including some of the sharpest technical and legal minds in America. This team will work in the new administration closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget.

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020

A huge task but the right men for the job.

Ultimately it is the house that holds the "purse strings" ... however by involving private sector people .... there will be much exposed and then the American people can hold the house's "feet to the fire" if need be .... Also, there are many regulations and/or government agencies that can be changed and/or eliminated without house approval. You are quite right ... too many bureaucratic entities involved. This will be exposed.

it's going to be quite interesting.

 

[Fantine]

Actually, traditionally speaking, the "fourth branch of government" referred to The Press.

The press is democracy's last hope. God bless and protect them.

 

[BCP1928]

IMO, the fourth branch of the Federal government a.k.a. the Federal bureaucracies are much, much too big and bloated. They are unaccountable to the American people and far too much money is wasted on them. The federal bureaucracies and agencies must become more efficient, less wasteful, and more accountable to the American people and our elected leaders.

By law and by the Constitution they are accountable to the heads of the departments which employ them who are appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate. Technically, they are agents of the President who is responsible to see that the laws of the country are properly executed. If their bad behavior is the fault of the laws, it is the responsibility of Congress. If the fault is in execution of the laws then the responsibility lies with the President as overseen by Congress. How does DOGE expect to change that?

 

[Vambram]

The press is democracy's last hope. God bless and protect them.

If the press is democracy's last hope, then what does it mean when a significant majority of people in the USA don't trust the press?

Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low

Americans' confidence in the media is at its lowest point, as Democrats' confidence is near the record low and Republicans' is almost nonexistent.

news.gallup.com

Historically Low Faith in U.S. Institutions Continues

Gallup finds public faith in many societal institutions holding steady at or near their record lows. Majorities view small business and the military positively.

news.gallup.com

 

[Vambram]

By law and by the Constitution they are accountable to the heads of the departments which employ them who are appointed by the President with the approval of the Senate. Technically, they are agents of the President who is responsible to see that the laws of the country are properly executed. If their bad behavior is the fault of the laws, it is the responsibility of Congress. If the fault is in execution of the laws then the responsibility lies with the President as overseen by Congress. How does DOGE expect to change that?

There are too many laws, far, far, too many regulations, and the Federal Government is too huge and bloated. Hopefully, all of that will start to change in the not too distant future.

 

[Fantine]

If the press is democracy's last hope, then what does it mean when a significant majority of people in the USA don't trust the press?

Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low

Americans' confidence in the media is at its lowest point, as Democrats' confidence is near the record low and Republicans' is almost nonexistent.

news.gallup.com

Historically Low Faith in U.S. Institutions Continues

Gallup finds public faith in many societal institutions holding steady at or near their record lows. Majorities view small business and the military positively.

news.gallup.com

That they have been deceived--foreign hackers, big spenders who buy elections, etc.
I believe most news sources are reliable.
The ones that aren't are as transparently obvious as the candidates they support.

 

[Vambram]

That they have been deceived--foreign hackers, big spenders who buy elections, etc.
I believe most news sources are reliable.
The ones that aren't are as transparently obvious as the candidates they support.

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].

 

[Fantine]

Discretion kept me from elaborating as much as I felt was needed.

 

[BCP1928]

There are too many laws, far, far, too many regulations, and the Federal Government is too huge and bloated. Hopefully, all of that will start to change in the not too distant future.

The laws passed by Congress authorize government agencies to write the regulations necessary to enforce them. Regulations are written in conformity to the Administrative Procedures Act which is also a law passed by Congress. It all comes back to Congress, the elected representatives of the people.

 

[KCfromNC]

Just to remind folks here, Musk also said voters should prepare for economic hardship if Trump won.

 

[The IbanezerScrooge]

Just to remind folks here, Musk also said voters should prepare for economic hardship if Trump won.

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

 

[Always in His Presence]

Austerity has brought on recession in UK and other countries.

There is no one in real life calling for an austerity budget - that is the latest boogeyman from the left. What is being looked at is the excess spending and how to make the government more efficient financially. Something they currently are not doing.

Recession means less revenue which doesn't translate into lower deficits.

No one in real life is looking at a recession - cutting spending and cost REDUCES the deficit.

It does, however, translate into voter anger.

Only on the left

Why don't we have recall elections like in California?

IMHO - that would be anti Democratic - the majority voted and the losing side is not only denying the election, but calling for a reversal of the Democratic Process -

It seems a bit...ironic...that these two unelected men who rail against unelected bureaucrats making decisions in accordance with their duties would be given any authority to determine how our government will function - or not.

Again - pearl clutching - they are ADVISORS - they ADVISE - there is nothing anywhere in real life that says they have the authority to determine how things are going to be done - that is not reality. Might be fear and loathing, but not reality.

Government cannot function well without a working bureaucracy.

No one is saying anything about stopping a working bureaucracy. Just making it more efficient.

Cutting randomly without understanding how the departments actually function and how they are meant to function is a recipe for chaos and harm to the citizenry.

No one in real life is calling for, planning or doing that - again it sounds like fear mongering to me.

For instance, Musk apparently saw one title with "diversification" in the name and leapt to the conclusion that it somehow had something to do with the evil known as "DEI", retweeted the office holder's info on his X and labeled it as a "fake job" evidently not understanding what the job entailed. (Linkie).

That is totally unrelated to him and Vivek looking at how to cut excess and make the government function more efficiently.

Is it any coincidence that Musk is an investor of Dogecoin and that the "agency" (only Congress can create or abolish federal agencies) is named "DOGE"?

It isn't an agency -

 

[Richard T]

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. Only the best bureaucrats would follow that change. Ruin Alaska and save the lower 48 is a good deal. It would be ideal for Congress and the Supreme Court too but that would require a constitutional change. No need for term limits if you could accomplish that.

I also would not repay lost wages when the government is shut down. It is either vacation time or unpaid. America should not have to pay for free vacations when the budget is busted.

I would be happy though if they just cut the tax code down to ten pages. It is far too complicated, with all kinds of special interest handouts.

 

[Fantine]

Federal Employees Brace For Potential Mass Layoffs In Trump's Second Term

I don't have to tell any of you that widespread job cuts have a negative ripple effect on the entire economy, resulting in more job cuts in retailing, service, manufacturing, etc.

But hey, it might counteract the inflationary effect of tariffs. Companies will need to raise prices but will try not to since they have so many fewer customers due to federal layoffs.
And then those companies would fold. What a nightmare!

I know that Musk allegedly was a child genius who has admitted to being on the autism spectrum. But didn't he ever play dominoes? Because that's what he plans on doing to the US economy.