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Waiting for the Chainsaw
Discourse ^ | 20 Mar 2025 | Jon Gabriel

Posted on 03/23/2025 1:56:21 PM PDT by Rummyfan

In spite of wailing from professional Washington, DOGE is not doing nearly enough to make a real dent in out-of-control government spending

I come from the Ron Swanson school of government spending. If an official says, “We need to cut expenditures by 32%,” I’ll reply, “Let’s make it an even 40,” before starting a chant of “Slash it! Slash it!”

So, imagine my surprise to learn that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is destroying America as we know it. At least that’s what I’ve gathered from the headlines.

“Elon Musk's DOGE unit is causing confusion — and raising security and legal concerns.” “Veterans groups raise the alarm about DOGE cuts at the VA.” “DOGE cuts at NOAA will impact hurricane forecasting and data gathering on storms.” And those are just from NPR, paid for by the federal government and listeners like you.

Obviously, legacy media will oppose nearly every move made by a Republican administration, let alone by the Bad Orange Man and his First Bro, Elon. But conservative platforms also are sounding the alarm. National Review warns Elon Musk to “Cut Spending by Using the Law, Not by Breaking It.” Jonathan V. Last of The Bulwark stokes fears about “The Illegality of DOGE.” Fellow Weekly Standard alum Stephen Hayes points out “The Downside of DOGE,” despite the fact that he praised government gridlock in 2013 because it forced Washington to deal with the national debt.

The debt in 2013? A paltry $16.7 trillion. Today it clocks in at more than twice that.

(Excerpt) Read more at discoursemagazine.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 03/23/2025 1:56:21 PM PDT by Rummyfan
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To: Rummyfan

I totally agree.

I think the federal government should be cut in half. At a minimum. Maybe not all at once, but we need big cuts. We need to show intent.


2 posted on 03/23/2025 1:58:10 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: Rummyfan

I’m waiting for a big fat check from these corrupt SOB’s who’ve been shaking down and economically gang banging the tax payers for decades.

Btw, if not for Trump this author would have zero clue those in the U.S. government were running one giant widespread con-job on the citizen taxpayers.


3 posted on 03/23/2025 3:22:33 PM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: Rummyfan

See where and what has the author done about it?

Oh yeah. Nothing.


4 posted on 03/23/2025 3:31:02 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: Rummyfan
We've seen two months of DOGE spent on the easy ones: anything indicating obvious corruption, probationary employees, etc. with even those minimal actions facing injunctions by Marxist judges. Although appreciable and a good start, these moves do address the fundamental insolvency built into the system, particularly public employee unions and entitlements. Until Congress gets serious, starting with raising retirement ages and means testing Social Security and Medicare, this will remain nibbling at the edges.

Don't get me wrong, DOGE software sleuthing has been little short of amazing. It should keep the DOJ busy, but for the ideology of the staff.

5 posted on 03/23/2025 3:36:40 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: ClearCase_guy
I think the federal government should be cut in half. At a minimum. Maybe not all at once, but we need big cuts. We need to show intent.

We need to cut as much as possible NOW!

Trump has the Democrat stunned. He needs to make deep cuts now while they are in confusion.

Once the Dimms have a chance to regroup and come up with a counter strategy the momentum that Trump has will wain and the time for real reform will have passed.

6 posted on 03/23/2025 4:20:26 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Pontiac
We need to cut as much as possible NOW!

Trump has the Democrat stunned. He needs to make deep cuts now while they are in confusion.

And they don't really have a leader. Schumer. Walz. AOC. Bernie Sanders.

They're not rallying around somebody like Obama or Bill Clinton.

Eventually, a leader will emerge. Then they'll get organized again. The question is when.

7 posted on 03/23/2025 4:22:55 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican
They're not rallying around somebody like Obama or Bill Clinton.

The Rallying point has to be a possible Presidential hopeful.

It seems as though AOC is trying to be that hopeful.

She doesn’t have the brains but she does look good on TV.

8 posted on 03/23/2025 4:43:01 PM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Pontiac
It seems as though AOC is trying to be that hopeful.

She doesn’t have the brains but she does look good on TV.

She can run in 2028 but she'll lose. She'll do better than Harris. But let's be serious. Anyone can do better than Harris. She was probably the worst candidate in modern presidential history.

9 posted on 03/23/2025 4:57:55 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: Rummyfan

Imagine labeling National Review as conservative. Exactly why I never would call myself conservative. Conservative is synonymous with corruption


10 posted on 03/24/2025 6:04:57 AM PDT by 03A3 (If we can defund the police, we sure as hell can defund the FBI)
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To: ClearCase_guy
I think the federal government should be cut in half. At a minimum. Maybe not all at once, but we need big cuts. We need to show intent.

AND, cut taxes by half, perhaps go to a 10% flat tax.

11 posted on 03/24/2025 6:17:01 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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