Vivek and Elon introduce their government reduction plan

[allegorical oracle]

Employing "a lean team of small-government crusaders" and using the U.S. Constitution as their "North Star," the pair said they would target the thousands of government regulations that had been installed through "administrative fiat" and without congressional authorization.

snip

Doing so, they continued, would allow for "mass head-count reductions" in the federal bureaucracy. They added that they would work to "identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions."

snip

Statutory civil service protections have prevented "the president or even his political appointees from firing federal workers," according to Musk and Ramaswamy, who said Trump would nevertheless be able to enact widespread terminations and that requiring federal employees to work in an office five days a week would result in a "wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome."

Their cost-saving plan would also be enacted by "taking aim at the $500 billion plus in annual federal expenditures that are unauthorized by Congress," which includes funds going toward the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and grants given to "international organizations" and "progressive groups like Planned Parenthood," a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care and education.

https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-government-efficiency-plan-1989352

[Midnight Writer]

1. Genius! In just two weeks, with zero experience in government, they've got it all figured out.

They haven't even consulted with any one who knows what functions these agencies do, and they have already come to the conclusion that they need to burn the whole thing to the ground.

We will all get screwed in the visionary position.

[newdeal2]

2. I'm sure they stole someone's homework

Heritage foundation or some other RW group has had a list ready for some time I’m sure.

[geardaddy]

9. Or Grover Norquist

Remember he wanted to whittle the federal government down enough to "drown it in a bathtub"

[allegorical oracle]

17. Yep. Grover teamed up with Newt Gingrich to let it "wither on the vine." nt

[TheBlackAdder]

41. I thought Conservatives were all about meritocracy, yet they hinted at firing people with SSNs ending with odd number.

So, no matter how good you are you are purged just because your Social Security Number ends with an odd digit.

[Diraven]

3. The end game is obvious

Before they even fire one federal worker they're going to use this to justify a tax cut to "refund the $500 billion savings to taxpayers". And by taxpayers they'll mean extremely wealthy people like themselves.

[Klarkashton]

29. This is the whole point of this bullshit. Absolutely.

A head game.

[Irish_Dem]

4. The plan is to transfer the US federal budget to their pockets.

Under the guise of helping the American people.

Abusers often tell their victims it is all for their own good or that they were asking for it.

[Hugin]

6. Also, it's a return to the antebellum...

Bullshit spoils system.

The roots of the current civil service system were put into place during the Civil War because it was found that the corruption was too deep for the Union army to field much more than hot air.

Sort of like when Pootie rolled into Ukraine.

Two guesses who’s behind this.

[Irish_Dem]

8. The most brilliant crime in US history.

Putin takes over the US and destroys it without firing a shot.

Trump and the GOP do the dirty work for Putin because they want to suck out all US money
into their pockets like Putin does in Russia. And have total permanent power like Putin.

Before Putin rolled into Ukraine he had his puppets waiting in Kyiv to take over the government.
It was supposed to be a cake walk, his soldiers brought dress uniforms for the parades.

But Zelensky was prepared and fought back the Russian soldiers who were unprepared.
And Putin's puppets pocketed the Russian money and ran like scared rabbits.

So the Ukrainians are smarter and have more honor than the US.

[whathehell]

33. I'm sorry, but I don't believe

that "the Ukranians are smarter and have more honor than the US".
Ukraine, besides having a different history and culture than the US, is in a VERY different position relative to Russia than we, and our situations, therefore, are not comparable.
I realize that everyone here, myself included, is VERY angry and upset about the election, but the self-flagellation and self hate being expressed here of late is both depressing and profoundly unhelpful.

[Dem4life1234]

39. Nah he's right

We lost our honor.

[whathehell]

44. Nah he's wrong

Those who voted for Trump may have lost their honor, those voting against him did not.

[arthritisR_US]

46. The Ukraine's have a different history, like yours did they want

it? The Ukrainians have as much honour as your country presently but the BS is about to start.

[whathehell]

51. Huh?

I never said they had less honor. I simply see no reason for those sorts of comparisons.

[Mz Pip]

5. This won't be easy

It’s not going to be like deleting unwanted photos on your iPhone or waving a magic wand like in some Disney cartoon.

[Johonny]

7. Taking out 500 billion from the US economy

Is going to cause a recession. Period. Its a crippling move because typically GOP cuts programs that have huge economic impact. Usually a dollar spend in these types of things generates well over a dollar back in economic gain.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Trump's goal is to be the richest man in the world.

He needs about $500 billion to reach that goal.

[LoisB]

42. By the time he pays Putin and Musk, there won't be much left for him.

[Irish_Dem]

47. I think if Trump destroys the US for Putin, he will allow Trump to have the spoils of war.

But he will not allow Trump to be richer than he is.
So he will siphon off some of the US wealth as well.

[allegorical oracle]

18. Especially when it's paired with deportation of the migrant workforce. nt

[Skittles]

24. they DO.NOT.FUCKING.CARE.

these IDIOTS who voted for them, WTF

[Luz]

50. To quote a MAGA, as long as it makes a lib cry, I don't care.

[Skittles]

52. I wonder if they will care when THEY are crying

that's the repuke way - they ONLY care when THEY are affected

[Kablooie]

10. But Republicans always spend much more than democrats.

This administration will spend like drunken sailors on nothing that helps the country.
While they cut all the services that help and protect people to “save money”.

[Buckeyeblue]

11. I think most of this is just talk

They will make some cuts but I can't envision anything significant. A big country needs a big government. They will find that out.

[Nimble_Idea]

16. think we all about to fafo

but need a hit of that hopium

[Buckeyeblue]

19. They are going to find out that there is more interdependence than they could have ever imagined

Trump tries to sell simple solutions to complex problems. Most people like to think the world is that easy. We know it's not. And simplifying the government will not be easy either, probably not even possible. I'm sure there is some quick and easy things that they'll do. And Trump will oversell these "accomplishments".

[Skittles]

25. simple solutions work on his base

not a lot of thinking required

[pinkstarburst]

48. A lot of his base is not college educated

and doesn't get the complexities of things like the economy. They don't realize how completely this is going to screw us all.

[Skittles]

53. college educated doesn't mean squat

I know MANY well-educated IDIOTS

[Firestorm49]

13. The more departments that they can cut, the more money they can siphon off for themselves.

[travelingthrulife]

14. But does it include the genital checkers at all government bathrooms?

[inwiththenew]

15. They are going to make government employees' lives miserable in hope that a lot of them just quit

And go work for local government or the private sector and not hire anyone to replace them.

[Wiz Imp]

35. No Federal government employees means no services means the government and economy fall apart completely

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Soon this country will be as well run as Elon's Twitter. nt

[soandso]

21. "$500 billion plus in annual federal expenditures that are unauthorized by Congress"

How is that even happening?

[Klarkashton]

30. This is some bullshit right wing semantic exercise.

Forget it.

[markie]

22. so fuck the economy?

great

[Skittles]

26. they cannot think that far ahead

they just want to BURN IT DOWN

[Wiz Imp]

37. Absolutely. I'm shocked that there are so many here who don't seem to understand that is their goal.

It's clear as can be - Trump campaigned on it for crying out loud.

[Skittles]

40. they think it will only hurt "those people"

they're gonna find out THEY are among "those people"

[Baron2024]

23. Elon Musk Is Making Money Off Of The US Taxpayer

The federal government has paid SpaceX some $20 billion since 2008. The largest awards were for taking astronauts to and from the International Space Station, and resupplying the ISS. SpaceX has also won contracts to build a lunar-landing vehicle, and provide launch services to the Defense Department, among others.

Now this guy is going to come in and start slashing government programs, probably a lot of programs that provide support to children, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and the poor. So it is not government waste when Musk makes billions off of the backs of tax payers, but it is government waste when you want to feed a kid or help out a poor or elderly person. Musk should give all of his government money back to the taxpayer then.

[JohnSJ]

27. If they try to pull that crap, I really hope there is a mass strike, and they shut the whole country down.

[Klarkashton]

28. Vivek made his money by bilking investors selling

Them on investing in unproven medicines and raking off a big share before it collapsed.

He is an unethical shitbird conman.

[Baron2024]

31. Agreed- Ramaswamy Is A Fraud And A Thief

https://www.newsweek.com/vivek-ramaswamy-fraud-always-has-been-opinion-1823853

[Klarkashton]

32. Seems as though very few people understand this clown.

He's a dangerous bastard with bad intentions.

[Demovictory9]

43. Yep..he is a cheat, liar and fraud

[Dem4life1234]

38. I hate these soulless grifting creeps with a passion

[milestogo]

49. If he doesn't like "SHITHOLE" countries, why is he turning the US into one?

[iemanja]

54. Elon's insistence that government employees must work in the office will cost money

Space is expensive, and more offices will need to be built. The idiot will end up wasting more money rather than cutting costs.
Face it, the whole reason for his involvement in the administration is grift.