Those same Congress people will fight to keep the money flowing to their districts.
D.O.G.E
- Thread starter GURPS
- Start date
Those same Congress people will fight to keep the money flowing to their districts.
Tech
Well-Known Member
Yep
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Most of these are good, a couple just show her ignorance of how the government works. Like the unobligated funds, that's isn't "hoarded money", it's literally just an IOU until it gets obligated. And the old gaff about the defense department audit is funny as well. They know exactly how much is spent each year, they have to authorize it. They are mad because no one will allow one "auditor" to record the details of every single department and contract, because "i'm an auditor" surprisingly enough isn't sufficient need to know for every program in existence.
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Musk wants to get rid of the CFPB. You know, the guys that forced his original X.com to follow banking rules since they were acting like a bank.
He has previously said they are redundant, that we have too many financial regulatory bodies (might be true), he and his buddy Marc Andreessen have been running around complaining about how the CFPB was shutting down crypto startups (I.E. forcing them to comply with actual banking regulations if they are going to act like a bank) and debunking crypto and Fintech entrepreneurs.
If they have so many complaints about this agency doing these actions and not other agencies, it sounds to me like they aren't redundant at all they are just performing a function these guys have run afoul of multiple times.
It's hard to take DOGE seriously when they start off so obviously self serving.
He has previously said they are redundant, that we have too many financial regulatory bodies (might be true), he and his buddy Marc Andreessen have been running around complaining about how the CFPB was shutting down crypto startups (I.E. forcing them to comply with actual banking regulations if they are going to act like a bank) and debunking crypto and Fintech entrepreneurs.
If they have so many complaints about this agency doing these actions and not other agencies, it sounds to me like they aren't redundant at all they are just performing a function these guys have run afoul of multiple times.
It's hard to take DOGE seriously when they start off so obviously self serving.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
The cost to "save money" is usually more than what it saves in my experience. For example a small credit card purchase first has to be approved by my supervisor, then it goes to the purchasers, the division that the purchasers are in charge a few hundred per purchase to fund themselves no matter how small the purchase (this encourages waste), then item is received and it has to be verified and finally it makes it to the person that needs it.
Ten years ago a bottle of Windex cost over $20 because it has to be treated as a hazardous material. I'd bring in a bottle myself but I could get in big trouble for that because it is hazmat.
Ten years ago a bottle of Windex cost over $20 because it has to be treated as a hazardous material. I'd bring in a bottle myself but I could get in big trouble for that because it is hazmat.
OMG hilarious!
"We need to cut government spending! But not that. And not that. Not that either. OMG you can't cut that! STOPPING CUTTING THINGS!!!"
Ya'll are like Navin Johnson. "I don't need anything! All I need is this...and this....and this here...."
"We need to cut government spending! But not that. And not that. Not that either. OMG you can't cut that! STOPPING CUTTING THINGS!!!"
Ya'll are like Navin Johnson. "I don't need anything! All I need is this...and this....and this here...."
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
An example of something created to keep the Pentagon from wasting money is DAWIA, sounds great to train people in how to get better contracts and to track the performance of acquisitions, but it turned into an empire that has to cost a ton of money. Also the people, those high up with experience that actually make decisions, were exempted from taking all the classes. It takes many classes to become DAWIA certified now, the DAU (defense acquisition university) has a fancy building in Wildwood and many employees itself.
The idea is that this will be different. Not the bullshit money grab it's been in the past where they contract a group to study something that they already know is a problem and have people who are supposed to be taking care of it. "Oh no, this is a group to oversee the group that's there....."
Bureaucrats don't want to solve a problem, they just want to make it look like they're solving a problem while they piss around and surf for internet porn. Instead of doing their job, they hire a bunch of someones to do their job, which never gets done and the someones keep coming back for more money because "the job is bigger than we thought it was..."
Then they have to train everyone to be able to do their job, that they're supposed to already know how to do, which involves as you said more money for buildings and materials and staff.
The most recent personal example of this on a smaller scale was with Soulless Inc where they brought on a contract team to teach a member of each location to do basically desktop publishing. I explained to my 2-steps up boss that I was already proficient in this, was extensively familiar with the software, and would be happy to skip the training and teach my team, or give up my space to one of my co-workers. He appreciated my gesture but no, everyone tapped must attend.
So I attended - it was a Zoom series - and found that pretty much everyone in the class already knew this stuff, in fact we were more familiar with it than the instructor. So it cost them a piss ton of money to teach people things they already knew how to do.
Large entities don't like to use what they have, they want to buy more. That's some of what DOGE is targeting.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
I won't hold my breath. DOGE has no actual power these things must go through Congress to enact actual change. I'm betting it will end up being worse by the time things are over, they always are.
LightRoasted
If I may ...
For your consideration ...
For bureaucrats, it is all and everything about "the process." Never a thought or concern of the end result, or how the process affects people.
For bureaucrats, it is all and everything about "the process." Never a thought or concern of the end result, or how the process affects people.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
Part of the problem, someone who achieves something quietly never gets any recognition or noticed. Someone who created a total disaster so bad that higher ups get involved and take notice and gets forced to "play the game" will get all sort of "great job" if they simply follow the process, keep everyone higher up informed etc. I've seen quite a few people promoted fairly high up because they got face time with a flag officer and properly kissed the ring, while the person that does nothing but succeed quietly goes unnoticed. I actually work with someone that runs away from something when she sees a problem and comes in as the problem is being solved and uses her "new" presence to claim success was because of her.
Not necessarily. My understanding is that a lot of the bureaucratic bullshit is on the chopping block as well and can be done via executive order.
Our Congresstards are mostly lazy panhandlers and many of them are just there for the graft and power, and couldn't care less about the actual job. That's why they hate the MTGs and the Gaetzes and the Maces and Sinemas who not only do the job, but call out the grifters. Trump too - he wants to do the job, not just have the title.
glhs837
Power with Control
The thing I see that drives me crazy is someone who make a short term budgetary choice that has long term negative effects get their achievement award and promotion up the ladder, and is long gone before the Captains start asking "Why the hell would you do that? Who made that call?"
Yeah, Bob the GS-14 acquisition specialist decided to not buy X number of shipsets of auxiliary equipment for the lower priority mission configuration. Great news, that saved 6 million dollars for FY14!!!!
Now to make up that lack will cost 12 million because the cost of everything has doubled since then. And the parts fail far faster than expected and repairs take three times longer and since the guy before that guy thought that O to OEM was the most cost efficient based on the projected failure rates decided not to buy tech data or set up an I-level. Of course that person got their GS-15 and promotion and moved on long ago.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
See that one all the time.
PeoplesElbow
Well-Known Member
You lost me with MTG, she is just AOC with different masters
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Looks like it's not indiscriminately, it appears to be targeted towards whichever agencies they view as personal roadblocks.
Clem72
Well-Known Member
Stuff within the executive branch, yes. Things that are regulatory, but not a matter of law (like when Biden ordered the rescheduling of MJ) will likely go through with minimal challenges. Things related to removing governmental offices and functions (or just zeroing out their budgets) will be held up by lawsuits for more than 4 years. There's pretty much zero chance either side lets the president set precedent that they can do things that are directed by the constitution to be part of the legislative branch.
22AcaciaAve
Well-Known Member
Joni Ernst makes some good points, but also can be exposed as an idiot on some points. I would like to see her voters break down things the way she did. She may be out of a job next election cycle.
1. Ghost writers, under used buildings. Really? The best utilization of Taxpayer funds is to make the federal work force permanent telework. Sell all of the under used buildings. But Ernst wants federal workers back in the office permanently. Terrible misuse of government money from someone who claims to be a conservative. She is in line with democratic mayors like DC's Murial Bowser. Sorry Joni, you failed this conservative test.
2. Audit the IRS. No problem with this. If IRS workers are gaming the system, audit them.
3. Undue Biden's boondoggles. Yeah, agree with this.
4. California trains. Yeah agree. California needs to pay for this. Not Fed taxpayers.
5. Christmas in September. Absolutely agree with this. Contractors make sure they make their money load by the end of the fiscal year. Even if that means having people work OT for no reason.
6. End welfare for politicians. The best thing that can be done is limiting all political runs to a set amount of money. Nobody should be able to buy their way to office. Maybe she should have spoke up earlier. I know why she did not. It won't happen.
7. Bad pennies. That's coming. Everyone knows it. She's no brilliant scholar to suggest this. It's a good idea to drop pennies and even nickels. Problem is that every business will round up, so every consumer will pay more. And people like Joni won't lift a finger to help.
8. Trillion dollar slush fund. I'm good with auditing this. Covid money has been abused. It should be audited
9. Bogus bonuses. Really don't know about this. If true, absolutely should be investigated.
10. Silly Science. This has been something that has been around forever. Should be investigated.
11. Unemployment for millionaire's. This should be done. Millionaire's should not get any federal benefits.
12. Government swag. I get it. Everyone does it. I wonder what swag she handed out when running for office. Limit the money available to any politician. Stop allowing people with tons of money to game the system. She won't vote for that because she uses it too.
13. Head in the clouds. Changing government licenses may be a little more tricky than she understands. It's an idea that should be explored, but by someone who has a bit more intelligence than Joni.
14. China's mad scientists. No problem investigating this. I don't know how much of it is real or not, but go ahead and roll with it.
15. UN overpayments. Good with this as well. The UN sucks. We should disassociate with them.
16. Defense spending. I'm sure there is bloat there, but the country will never cut defense spending, nor should they. We need to maintain military superiority. There are too many enemies that would love to attack us. Destroy them before they destroy us.
1. Ghost writers, under used buildings. Really? The best utilization of Taxpayer funds is to make the federal work force permanent telework. Sell all of the under used buildings. But Ernst wants federal workers back in the office permanently. Terrible misuse of government money from someone who claims to be a conservative. She is in line with democratic mayors like DC's Murial Bowser. Sorry Joni, you failed this conservative test.
2. Audit the IRS. No problem with this. If IRS workers are gaming the system, audit them.
3. Undue Biden's boondoggles. Yeah, agree with this.
4. California trains. Yeah agree. California needs to pay for this. Not Fed taxpayers.
5. Christmas in September. Absolutely agree with this. Contractors make sure they make their money load by the end of the fiscal year. Even if that means having people work OT for no reason.
6. End welfare for politicians. The best thing that can be done is limiting all political runs to a set amount of money. Nobody should be able to buy their way to office. Maybe she should have spoke up earlier. I know why she did not. It won't happen.
7. Bad pennies. That's coming. Everyone knows it. She's no brilliant scholar to suggest this. It's a good idea to drop pennies and even nickels. Problem is that every business will round up, so every consumer will pay more. And people like Joni won't lift a finger to help.
8. Trillion dollar slush fund. I'm good with auditing this. Covid money has been abused. It should be audited
9. Bogus bonuses. Really don't know about this. If true, absolutely should be investigated.
10. Silly Science. This has been something that has been around forever. Should be investigated.
11. Unemployment for millionaire's. This should be done. Millionaire's should not get any federal benefits.
12. Government swag. I get it. Everyone does it. I wonder what swag she handed out when running for office. Limit the money available to any politician. Stop allowing people with tons of money to game the system. She won't vote for that because she uses it too.
13. Head in the clouds. Changing government licenses may be a little more tricky than she understands. It's an idea that should be explored, but by someone who has a bit more intelligence than Joni.
14. China's mad scientists. No problem investigating this. I don't know how much of it is real or not, but go ahead and roll with it.
15. UN overpayments. Good with this as well. The UN sucks. We should disassociate with them.
16. Defense spending. I'm sure there is bloat there, but the country will never cut defense spending, nor should they. We need to maintain military superiority. There are too many enemies that would love to attack us. Destroy them before they destroy us.