Long post. Headline said it all.
Before FDR took office in 1933 federal spending was less than 7% of GDP. Today it is more than 25% and growing. We can’t let Trump’s goons undo do all this hard work.”
Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations intensely disliked govt and lawyers but admitted they were essential in LIMITED QUANTITIES.
I’ve seen Government contracts where it’s written in that they can be cancelled at the convenience of the Government. I’ve also seen middle of FY budget cuts significantly reduce the scope and personnel on existing contracts without any backlash. As far as personnel dismissals, if you can’t immediately fire them, change their job descriptions and reduce their grades to somewhere between GS1 and GS6.
“...”a rogue agency aimed at destroying nearly a century of vital government expansion. Before FDR took office in 1933 federal spending was less than 7% of GDP. Today it is more than 25% and growing. We can’t let Trump’s goons undo do all this hard work.”
And that’s the only creditable thing that was said. He wanted a reason for creating a checks and balance to government, to include the sections that were there for checks and balance, he’s went it with his own statement. It is the responsibility of all government employees to help identify and repair government issues. If that fails bad enough, and in this case the citizens had to step in, then it’s time to oversee the overseers. People only fear that which looks over their shoulders and can bite, (or will).
wy69
Let’s examine this statement. Franklin Roosevelt established a myriad of agencies staffed by unelected, unconfirmed experts who would rule and not serve citizens. Instead of legislating, Congress henceforward would create legislators residing within impenetrable agencies. Instead of inherent individual liberties constraining government, a host of bureaucrats becoming autocrats conferred rights upon and applied constraints to those who should be citizens.
On April 14, 2023, the Supreme Court began, what this agency I would hope continues, by stricking a blow supporting our Constitution and individual liberties. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, citizens began losing many freedoms through administrative edicts. Appeals of these regulations had to be made to courts within an agency, which has already found the people guilty. Such power harks back to discretions of English kings unrestrained by Parliament found in such places as King’s Council and the Star Chamber.
The Supreme Court acted to reassert the jurisdiction of district and circuit courts and the legislature as established by the Constitution. All power was to reside there, so Americans could avoid the sad experience of English citizens. Justice Kagan delivered the unanimous opinion of the court saying, “One respondent attacks as well the combination of prosecutorial and adjudicatory functions in a single agency….They maintain in essence that the agencies as currently structured, are unconstitutional in much of their work”.
You and I could relate too many examples of people’s frustrating experiences facing government bureaucrats. Their sufferings cause me to reflect on a passage where Fredrick Douglass describes overseer duties. I only substituted for the words slave, overseer, and master.
“No matter how innocent a citizen might be it availed him nothing when accused by the bureaucrat of any violation of a regulation. To be accused was to be convicted and to be convicted was to be punished….To escape punishment was to escape accusation….few citizens had the fortune to do either under the overseership of the agency.”
The best explanation I have found of our perilous situation is referenced below as The History and Danger of Administrative Law.
Supreme Court 9, Administrative State 0
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4145682/posts
The History and Danger of Administrative Law
https://constitutionclub.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/the-history-and-danger-of-administrative-law/
DOGE’s job will be much easier if Congress would vote to deunionize the government.
p.s. please note I said "most" and "roughly". I didn't say every single state.
Wanna downsize this beast? Eliminate every department and agency created after 1960. Then, cut off electrical power to those agencies.
To really downsize without possibility of re-emergence, they will need to fire the people, sell the properties, pass closure legislation, take away security clearances and remove the department from the budget.
Correction: “pointless government expansion”