Trump announces Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’

Chesterton · Nov 14, 2024

rambot said:
It doesn't make sense to me though: Government should not be run in an entrepreneurial manner because it is not a business.

That's true, but there are some economic principles which are as inalienable as the laws of physics, for example, you can't spend more money than you take in. This is common to governments, businesses and individuals. You can do it in the short run, but in the long run you're headed for disaster.

rambot · Nov 14, 2024

Chesterton said:
That's true, but there are some economic principles which are as inalienable as the laws of physics, for example, you can't spend more money than you take in. This is common to governments, businesses and individuals. You can do it in the short run, but in the long run you're headed for disaster.

Yes. And that's why in business they try to pursue innovation to create more income from more products being purchased. Having worked near government, I can DEFINITELY tell you that there is definitely areas to save money. But America's current situation still requires MASSIVE spending; I'm thinking about the infrastructure problems. So sure, cut bureucracy but there ARE areas you truly do need to increase your spending.

I read a quote from a German tourist who said that "America is the nicest third world country they've ever been to'. And it's very VERY easy to be flippant and dismiss it as a commentary on the current increase in homelessness but that quote was from 5 years ago.

Perhaps Musk should consider increasing income. That's the fAR more typical way that companies become successful (though I'm not sure that is going to be part of their business model)

RocksInMyHead · Nov 14, 2024

A big thing that's often overlooked is that personnel constitutes only about 5% of the US government budget. So, sure, you could make cuts to staffing, but it's not going to make a massive difference in the budget shortfall - especially because that includes everyone employed by the government. Can't cut that down to 0.

Chesterton · Nov 14, 2024

rambot said:
Yes. And that's why in business they try to pursue innovation to create more income from more products being purchased. Having worked near government, I can DEFINITELY tell you that there is definitely areas to save money. But America's current situation still requires MASSIVE spending;

We need to change the current situation. It's not impossible to change it.

rambot said:
I'm thinking about the infrastructure problems. So sure, cut bureucracy but there ARE areas you truly do need to increase your spending.

I read a quote from a German tourist who said that "America is the nicest third world country they've ever been to'. And it's very VERY easy to be flippant and dismiss it as a commentary on the current increase in homelessness but that quote was from 5 years ago.

I don't know if he talked about it a lot this time around, but Trump talked about infrastructure a lot during the 2016 campaign. Congress spends lots on stuff that doesn't need to be done rather than stuff that does need to be done.

rambot said:
Perhaps Musk should consider increasing income. That's the fAR more typical way that companies become successful (though I'm not sure that is going to be part of their business model)

rambot · Nov 14, 2024

Chesterton said:
I don't know if he talked about it a lot this time around, but Trump talked about infrastructure a lot during the 2016 campaign. Congress spends lots on stuff that doesn't need to be done rather than stuff that does need to be done.

But in a country of 330million, there are going to be people who think almost anything needs to be done.

essentialsaltes · Nov 15, 2024

Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare

Some congressional funding was approved with a set time before authorization expired. However, they continue to receive funding. A recent report by the Congressional Budget Office found more than 1,200 programs at more than $516 billion a year. When an authorization expires, Congress can extend the program through new legislation or by providing new appropriations, according to CBO.

“This is totally nuts. We can & should save hundreds of billions each year by defunding government programs that Congress no longer authorizes. We’ll challenge any politician who disagrees to defend the other side.

One [such program] is the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, which helps provide funding for veterans’ medical care. The authorization expired in 1998, but still receives about $120 billion in funding.

Innsmuthbride · Nov 15, 2024

essentialsaltes said:
Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare
Some congressional funding was approved with a set time before authorization expired. However, they continue to receive funding. A recent report by the Congressional Budget Office found more than 1,200 programs at more than $516 billion a year. When an authorization expires, Congress can extend the program through new legislation or by providing new appropriations, according to CBO.

“This is totally nuts. We can & should save hundreds of billions each year by defunding government programs that Congress no longer authorizes. We’ll challenge any politician who disagrees to defend the other side.

One [such program] is the Veterans’ Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996, which helps provide funding for veterans’ medical care. The authorization expired in 1998, but still receives about $120 billion in funding.

As a Navy Veteran, I am furious about this deliberate screwing over of our nations veteran's!

Always in His Presence · Nov 15, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump continued to fill his administration at breakneck speed Tuesday night, tapping SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”

It just struck me - the guy we have been told for seven years hates immigrant - has just appointed an immigrant from Pretoria South Africa and the son of immigrants to high level advisors positions?

comana · Nov 15, 2024

hislegacy said:
President-elect Donald Trump continued to fill his administration at breakneck speed Tuesday night, tapping SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a new “Department of Government Efficiency.”

It just struck me - the guy we have been told for seven years hates immigrant - has just appointed an immigrant from Pretoria South Africa and the son of immigrants to high level advisors positions?

I don’t think he has a problem with wealthy immigrants.

Always in His Presence · Nov 15, 2024

comana said:
I don’t think he has a problem with wealthy immigrants.

We are close -

I don't think he has a problem with immigrants - he also married one.

comana · Nov 15, 2024

hislegacy said:
We are close -

I don't think he has a problem with immigrants - he also married one.

Unless they are pending asylum or on protected status,

Always in His Presence · Nov 15, 2024

comana said:
Unless they are pending asylum or on protected status,

no he only speaks about those who did not go through the legal system - that what makes them ILLEGAL ALIENS - not immigrants

comana · Nov 15, 2024

hislegacy said:
no he only speaks about those who did not go through the legal system - that what makes them ILLEGAL ALIENS - not immigrants

I think the Haitian immigrants might have something to say about that.

essentialsaltes · Nov 16, 2024

Maybe they can start here:

Pentagon fails 7th audit in a row but says progress made (in fact it has never had a clean audit -- they only started 6 years ago)

The Pentagon on Friday failed its seventh audit in a row, with the nation’s largest government agency still unable to fully account for its more than $824 billion budget, though officials stress they are making good progress toward a clean audit in 2028.

A billion here a billion there, pretty soon you're talking about real money.

civilwarbuff · Feb 16, 2025

essentialsaltes said:
When an authorization expires, Congress can extend the program through new legislation or by providing new appropriations, according to CBO.

Doesn't seem they specified which law that is. Could you provide that for us?.....cuz something tells me that really does not exist.

Trump announces Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’

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Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare​

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Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare​

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Vivek Ramaswamy wants to start DOGE cuts by eliminating funding for unauthorized programs - including veteran healthcare

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