Thank you , Tim, for the synopsis of the financial state that we are now thanks to years of mismanagement from both parties. It's time to put party politics aside and clean this mess up. Trump's idea with the DOGE seems to fit the bill and hopefully we can dig ourselves out. The resistance, I know, is great as many people's jobs are on the line but I think there is little choice if we are survive as a country.
Excellent piece, Tim. If you look at the lockdown in CA, it forced bankruptcy on numerous small businesses, but the government thrived. We even got to see our governor eat a $1200 meal at French Laundry. But that's the George Soros way of making money, to make it impossible for countries to have small businesses, small farms - sustainability and self sufficiency - and to make countries instead dependent on global finance run by Soros.
Sadly the federal gov't manages on the "cost plus" system, which means whenever an employee fails to do their job the agency simply increases its numbers by hiring another employee.
After President Reagan changed gov't contracts from cost-plus to fixed costs, I was charged with reducing a plant of 5,000 employees to the essential number. We analyzed the critical functions and made the plant profitable with 1,800 employees.
An idea like DOGE is overdue and important. My question is… why choose a man who profits in the hundreds of millions from sucking in the government teet to make such decisions? What’s to keep him honest? For many of us, it’s a wolf guarding the hen house model. So much for draining the swamp.
Having far more transparent and alternate media today will go a long way to make us all watchdogs. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. So this will be on us, if we get lazy and stop watching.
I agree with you, J. Although the corruption has gone on for many years, I think these last four years of Biden's administration and the overt, outright corruption of the MSM which has financial and morally devastated this country, has prompted more people to not only question the decisions made by the government but to hold the "players" responsible for their actions.
This sounds exactly like experienced businessmen coming together to reorganize, refine, reestablish, and rejuvenate a failing business plan. This is exactly what our country needs.
Just in time for its 250th Anniversary. Timing could not be better. Particularly since this pulls us back closer to our original constitutional framework. Including assertions of independent power by our three separate, but equal branches of our government.
The next few yeas will be a tremendous civics lesson - how do we as a nation allocate power, duty and responsibility?
Fixing things will be a painful process. We must take the medicine if we are to survive as America. Trump will be vilified by the opposition. We'll see how successful they are at that.
Donna. M & M are unfunded liabilities because they are pyramid schemes.
TJ: It is a huge task. No, it will not happen overnight. Yes, it will pass through the shoals of resistance and heavy incoming flak. Otherwise (1) it would have been accomplished long ago, and (2) it would not have been put off for so long.
We will do the heavy lifting for you, TJ; because this needs to be done.
Thank you for pointing out the real unfunded liabilities, which is in access of $220 trillion. A few thoughts on paying down our debt: Both SSI and CMS are on the verge of insolvency. Trump along with not taxing SSI benefits, should allow enrollees to invest their benefits in mutual funds etc.
Trump must also address the out of control civil service laws and regulations in order to prevent unsustainable drains on the system. I support Project 2025 and DOGE in order to purge inefficient and unsustainable federal employee compensation.
Next, open up the oil and natural gas spigots, let prosperity,wealth and commerce flow big time! Massive increase in tax revenues in order to pay down the massive debt that the Democrats left for us to pay!
I was very fortunate when I started my business 40 years ago that I had advice from a very smart local accountant. He made it clear to me that I needed to run my tattoo studio as a business, legit, not as a pirate ship like most of my peers. So I played by the rules, paid taxes, hired people and paid taxes on them...... no matter that it was an eccentric occupation. Now I am forever grateful that I chose the honest path.
I want to see my taxes go toward our country's infrastructure and citizens, not foreign wars. And I thoroughly support more citizen decision-making in the way the government makes choices. I cannot believe that if we locals were asked to approve the current destruction of the logic of our local road grid that we would have approved. Any more than I think the majority of Americans would say yes to sending untold zillions off to kill people in foreign undeclared wars we have no business in.
I completely support the concept of D.O.G.E. and am eager to see the success it brings.
Question I have is what happens to those employees laid off. Will they fill the many jobs in the private sector that everybody talks about being available? It will depend I suppose on pay grade and skill level. Also DOGE will not touch state and local jobs. Many of local governments are in the hands of progressives. Lots of challenges ahead but I suppose SI is where many of the solutions lie, with the hope as in the past that technology does open up new jobs that no one anticipated.
We should never passively turn anything as important as this over, and walk away. Maybe it does not matter enough to you? I hope you rethink this. Passivity is how we got here in the first place. The alarms have long been sounded.
You are a very cautious person, Carol. I like that. Personally, I gave my trust to Trump to do the right thing when I voted for him so I'm just enjoying the ride. He is not going to be perfect but he is going to do much needed shaking up.
I paid into the SSA system since 1962. From 1972 to 2017 at the maximum rate. Still, I only draw about $2800 monthly (a brutal divorce can do that). If I had been allowed to go to a different system on market returns, my monthly would be in excess of $5000. Still, it is what it is. Do not take it away. Let us who did contribute live out our days. We will be gone soon enough.
Thank you , Tim, for the synopsis of the financial state that we are now thanks to years of mismanagement from both parties. It's time to put party politics aside and clean this mess up. Trump's idea with the DOGE seems to fit the bill and hopefully we can dig ourselves out. The resistance, I know, is great as many people's jobs are on the line but I think there is little choice if we are survive as a country.
God speed to DOGE
Excellent piece, Tim. If you look at the lockdown in CA, it forced bankruptcy on numerous small businesses, but the government thrived. We even got to see our governor eat a $1200 meal at French Laundry. But that's the George Soros way of making money, to make it impossible for countries to have small businesses, small farms - sustainability and self sufficiency - and to make countries instead dependent on global finance run by Soros.
i'll be glad when that old vampire finally kicks the bucket.
I'm sure either the FBI or CIA can help to "move" Soros along <g>.
Ms. West, I don’t think trump’s in that bad of shape.
Great article TIm! And here is how one meme puts it:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4JhCiOM1d/?igsh=MXUxMGY3MzdnNGdzYQ==
That's amazingly well done. But I want to know the budget and who's paying for it!
RFKJr's VP running mate put out some amazing videos, once she got on board the Trump train. Wonder if she is behind this? Has her touch.
"Firstly, thank you for coming in today, and second, YOU'RE FIRED!" hahaha classic Trump.
Sadly the federal gov't manages on the "cost plus" system, which means whenever an employee fails to do their job the agency simply increases its numbers by hiring another employee.
After President Reagan changed gov't contracts from cost-plus to fixed costs, I was charged with reducing a plant of 5,000 employees to the essential number. We analyzed the critical functions and made the plant profitable with 1,800 employees.
Go DOGE.
An idea like DOGE is overdue and important. My question is… why choose a man who profits in the hundreds of millions from sucking in the government teet to make such decisions? What’s to keep him honest? For many of us, it’s a wolf guarding the hen house model. So much for draining the swamp.
Fortunately we don't have a man like that coming in as president. You must be think8ng about Biden.
yeah, who is he talking about?? lol
Having far more transparent and alternate media today will go a long way to make us all watchdogs. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. So this will be on us, if we get lazy and stop watching.
I agree with you, J. Although the corruption has gone on for many years, I think these last four years of Biden's administration and the overt, outright corruption of the MSM which has financial and morally devastated this country, has prompted more people to not only question the decisions made by the government but to hold the "players" responsible for their actions.
Great apologist answer!
You won't be expected to say thank you. Not necessary.
This sounds exactly like experienced businessmen coming together to reorganize, refine, reestablish, and rejuvenate a failing business plan. This is exactly what our country needs.
Just in time for its 250th Anniversary. Timing could not be better. Particularly since this pulls us back closer to our original constitutional framework. Including assertions of independent power by our three separate, but equal branches of our government.
The next few yeas will be a tremendous civics lesson - how do we as a nation allocate power, duty and responsibility?
Excited to see how everything turns out!! Finally hopeful for our country's future!
Fixing things will be a painful process. We must take the medicine if we are to survive as America. Trump will be vilified by the opposition. We'll see how successful they are at that.
Donna. M & M are unfunded liabilities because they are pyramid schemes.
It will be interesting to see how many of the DOGE "recommendations" make it through Congressional Budget Committees, Appropriations Committees etc.
A 1000 mile journey starts with a single step. Is your own karma wanting this to fail, or to succeed, TJ?
I'm all for making the government more efficient. I just feel it's a huge task. Seems like lots of folks think it's a 1 mile trip.
It's a huge task but so is making tamales.
Pollly how did you know what I'm doing today?
😂😂😂🇺🇸
TJ: It is a huge task. No, it will not happen overnight. Yes, it will pass through the shoals of resistance and heavy incoming flak. Otherwise (1) it would have been accomplished long ago, and (2) it would not have been put off for so long.
We will do the heavy lifting for you, TJ; because this needs to be done.
Great read, Tim. I'm so impressed with your output based on facts and good analysis. I'm sharing this!
DOGE plus energy independence and a secure border hopefully will put some air back in the flat tire known as the US economy ) aka Bidenomics🙄
Thank you for pointing out the real unfunded liabilities, which is in access of $220 trillion. A few thoughts on paying down our debt: Both SSI and CMS are on the verge of insolvency. Trump along with not taxing SSI benefits, should allow enrollees to invest their benefits in mutual funds etc.
Trump must also address the out of control civil service laws and regulations in order to prevent unsustainable drains on the system. I support Project 2025 and DOGE in order to purge inefficient and unsustainable federal employee compensation.
Next, open up the oil and natural gas spigots, let prosperity,wealth and commerce flow big time! Massive increase in tax revenues in order to pay down the massive debt that the Democrats left for us to pay!
I was very fortunate when I started my business 40 years ago that I had advice from a very smart local accountant. He made it clear to me that I needed to run my tattoo studio as a business, legit, not as a pirate ship like most of my peers. So I played by the rules, paid taxes, hired people and paid taxes on them...... no matter that it was an eccentric occupation. Now I am forever grateful that I chose the honest path.
I want to see my taxes go toward our country's infrastructure and citizens, not foreign wars. And I thoroughly support more citizen decision-making in the way the government makes choices. I cannot believe that if we locals were asked to approve the current destruction of the logic of our local road grid that we would have approved. Any more than I think the majority of Americans would say yes to sending untold zillions off to kill people in foreign undeclared wars we have no business in.
I completely support the concept of D.O.G.E. and am eager to see the success it brings.
Question I have is what happens to those employees laid off. Will they fill the many jobs in the private sector that everybody talks about being available? It will depend I suppose on pay grade and skill level. Also DOGE will not touch state and local jobs. Many of local governments are in the hands of progressives. Lots of challenges ahead but I suppose SI is where many of the solutions lie, with the hope as in the past that technology does open up new jobs that no one anticipated.
1. Stop adding new government jobs
2. Cross-train current government employees to fill more productive positions.
3. Reasonable severance options
4. Build on transferable skills valued by the private sector
5. Stress test vocational skills-training in our local community colleges
6. What job skills now met by illegals, can terminated government employees fill
Good ideas.
Looks like we will all have to wait and see when the Trump team takes over.
We are leaving everything in their hands with trust they will proceed with much care.
We should never passively turn anything as important as this over, and walk away. Maybe it does not matter enough to you? I hope you rethink this. Passivity is how we got here in the first place. The alarms have long been sounded.
You are a very cautious person, Carol. I like that. Personally, I gave my trust to Trump to do the right thing when I voted for him so I'm just enjoying the ride. He is not going to be perfect but he is going to do much needed shaking up.
I paid into the SSA system since 1962. From 1972 to 2017 at the maximum rate. Still, I only draw about $2800 monthly (a brutal divorce can do that). If I had been allowed to go to a different system on market returns, my monthly would be in excess of $5000. Still, it is what it is. Do not take it away. Let us who did contribute live out our days. We will be gone soon enough.