Will DOGE Be Effective In Cutting Wasteful Spending?

[Hawaiian]

The Treasury Secretary has given representatives of the Department of Government Efficiency full access to the federal payment system, providing them a tool to monitor and potentially limit government spending.

[impulse]

I don't think DOGE is going to be a silver bullet, but nobody knows where all the money's going.  It's gotten too complicated for humans to track it.  (And I don't think that's accidental).   Turning loose AI to scour the payment system may at least reveal where we're spending the money.

 

The problem is that even (especially?) the most wasteful spending has proponents, both Demicans and Republicrats who are buying votes and campaign contributions with our tax dollars.  It's tough to break an addiction like that.   Especially without the willingness.  They're going to be sabotaged at every turn.

 

[bamnutsak]

Hopefully, this won't be our last Social Security payment tomorrow.

 

I filed my 2024 return last week, hope to get my refund before Elon impounds it.

 

Top Treasury official retires over DOGE request for access to payment systems

 

David Lebryk, a top Treasury Department nonpolitical career official, retired Friday after clashing with Elon Musk allies over government payment systems, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill on condition of anonymity. 

 

The Washington Post first reported on Lebryk’s departure, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Upon his inauguration, President Trump had appointed Lebryk acting Treasury secretary while nominee Scott Bessent was waiting to be confirmed.

 

The systems control $6 trillion annually, distributed as Social Security, Medicare, salaries for federal workers, payments to government contractors, payments to grant recipients and tax refunds.

 

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5119996-david-lebryk-retirement-treasury-doge-musk/

[Hawaiian]

9 minutes ago, impulse said:

I don't think DOGE is going to be a silver bullet, but nobody knows where all the money's going.  It's gotten too complicated for humans to track it.  (And I don't think that's accidental).   Turning loose AI to scour the payment system may at least reveal where we're spending the money.

 

The problem is that even (especially?) the most wasteful spending has proponents, both Demicans and Republicrats who are buying votes and campaign contributions with our tax dollars.  It's tough to break an addiction like that.   Especially without the willingness.  They're going to be sabotaged at every turn.

 

Not a silver bullet, that's for sure, but least it's a start to identify where the "hidden" money is going to.  With it's massive budget, the DOD needs to be given an alternative where cuts are to be made or Congress will do it for them.  Like you say, the vote buying addiction has to be stopped. 

[impulse]

2 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Not a silver bullet, that's for sure, but least it's a start to identify where the "hidden" money is going to.  With it's massive budget, the DOD needs to be given an alternative where cuts are to be made or Congress will do it for them.  Like you say, the vote buying addiction has to be stopped. 

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but just look at immigration for an example.  There are so many programs under so many agencies that we don't have a clue how much illegal immigrants cost taxpayers.  They're costing FEMA money, education money, health care money, defense money, and on and on.  Until we get an accounting, we'll never know ('cept NYC Mayor Adams who let the cat out of the bag, at $36K per head per annum.) 

 

Time to turn AI technology loose on the task and at least identify the cost.  What they decide to do about it is a separate issue. 

[Hawaiian]

25 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

Hopefully, this won't be our last Social Security payment tomorrow.

 

I filed my 2024 return last week, hope to get my refund before Elon impounds it.

 

Top Treasury official retires over DOGE request for access to payment systems

 

David Lebryk, a top Treasury Department nonpolitical career official, retired Friday after clashing with Elon Musk allies over government payment systems, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill on condition of anonymity. 

 

The Washington Post first reported on Lebryk’s departure, citing people with knowledge of the matter. Upon his inauguration, President Trump had appointed Lebryk acting Treasury secretary while nominee Scott Bessent was waiting to be confirmed.

 

The systems control $6 trillion annually, distributed as Social Security, Medicare, salaries for federal workers, payments to government contractors, payments to grant recipients and tax refunds.

 

 

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5119996-david-lebryk-retirement-treasury-doge-musk/

If you want to see anarchy and an outright rebellion, freeze Social Security, tax refunds, etc.

Business and employers can retaliate by stop paying the various sales taxes and employees withholding.  Then all hell will break loose.  Then what?  Don't worry.  Never happen.

[OneMoreFarang]

The first question should be: What is Elon Musk's intention?

Somehow I would be surprised if he is interested in improving the lives of all US citizens.

[impulse]

6 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

If you want to see anarchy and an outright rebellion, freeze Social Security, tax refunds, etc.

Business and employers can stop paying the various sales taxes and employees withholding.  Then all hell will break loose.  Then what?  Don't worry.  Never happen.

 

Cutting Social Security to legitimate retirees is just scare mongering.  What they may do (and I'd be in favor) is to cut programs that allow able bodied people to live an entire lifetime without ever working a day.

 

Is that common?  I don't know.  Let's find out.  Finally.

 

[Hawaiian]

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but just look at immigration for an example.  There are so many programs under so many agencies that we don't have a clue how much illegal immigrants cost taxpayers.  They're costing FEMA money, education money, health care money, defense money, and on and on.  Until we get an accounting, we'll never know ('cept NYC Mayor Adams who let the cat out of the bag, at $36K per head per annum.) 

 

Time to turn AI technology loose on the task and at least identify the cost.  What they decide to do about it is a separate issue. 

Agree.  Those that defend illegal immigrants by justifying that they contribute more than they cost the taxpayers are playing with loaded dice.  There really are no accurate figures. 

[Hawaiian]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The first question should be: What is Elon Musk's intention?

Somehow I would be surprised if he is interested in improving the lives of all US citizens.

Depends how you define improvement.  If we do not take the medicine now the future looks rather bleak as the disease will become terminal.

[Yagoda]

Well if we arent paying for condoms to Gaza, or promoting the filthy and divisive  LBGTRYD+/- agenda in other countries., or paying for abortions in Somaliland, thats a good start.

[OneMoreFarang]

30 minutes ago, Hawaiian said:

Depends how you define improvement.  If we do not take the medicine now the future looks rather bleak as the disease will become terminal.

Is that the medicine which cures the problem that the richest three Americans have more money than 50% of Americans?

Will Musk work on that? Or will he try to and probably succeed in making that worse?

[theshu25]

41 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The first question should be: What is Elon Musk's intention?

Somehow I would be surprised if he is interested in improving the lives of all US citizens.

Musk is the same as the orange con.   They looking after them selves

and would not give 1 toss about the ordinary american

[Yellowtail]

44 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The first question should be: What is Elon Musk's intention?

Somehow I would be surprised if he is interested in improving the lives of all US citizens.

Why would that surprise you? 

 

 

[Yellowtail]

18 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is that the medicine which cures the problem that the richest three Americans have more money than 50% of Americans?

Will Musk work on that? Or will he try to and probably succeed in making that worse?

So, if the three richest Americans were broke, that would make the lives of Americans better? 

 

I think it easy to argue that Musk, Bezos and Zuckerburg have already improved the lives of Americans. 

 

 

[CallumWK]

1 hour ago, Hawaiian said:

but least it's a start to identify where the "hidden" money is going to.

 

Identify it and redirect it to their own projects

[impulse]

Just now, CallumWK said:

Identify it and redirect it to their own projects

 

One fight at a time.  Knowing where the money's going (and who's getting it) is fundamental to any financial system.

 

 

[Yellowtail]

Just now, CallumWK said:

Identify it and redirect it to their own projects

What "projects"? 

 

Do you think cutting spending and improving efficiency is a good idea or not? 

 

Do you think the federal government should be funding organizations that work to promote illegal activities? 

[OneMoreFarang]

20 minutes ago, theshu25 said:

Musk is the same as the orange con.   They looking after them selves

and would not give 1 toss about the ordinary american

But Musk is a lot smarter, and he is the richest man on earth. 

[Yellowtail]

I do not see how freezing discretionary spending until someone is willing to make a case that the money should be spent is a bad thing. 

 

I do not remember the left getting their panties in a bunch when Biden threatened to halt school funding unless schools allowed men into girls' locker rooms.  

[impulse]

Just now, CallumWK said:

Identify it and redirect it to their own projects

 

One fight at a time.  Knowing where the money's going (and who's getting it) is fundamental to any financial system.

 

 

[Yellowtail]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

But Musk is a lot smarter, and he is the richest man on earth. 

Yet you claimed you "...would be surprised if he is interested in improving the lives of all US citizens.".

 

Again, why would that surprise you? 

[connda]

It's a start.

[Airalee]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

So, if the three richest Americans were broke, that would make the lives of Americans better? 

 

I think it easy to argue that Musk, Bezos and Zuckerburg have already improved the lives of Americans. 

 

 

Nobody ever seems to consider the math behind the redistribution of billionaires wealth to us peons.

 

The top 3 have about 900 Billion combined.

 

First, the billionaires would need to liquidate their stock, real estate, yachts, art collections etc etc.   But who would buy it?  
 

If they could theoretically turn it all to cash, dividing the spoils would leave each American les than $3,000 richer.

 

That $3,000 would be thrown away on stupid junk (just like the Covid payments were) and in less than a month, people would be looking for the next group of billionaires to plunder all while crying foul and complaining about the subsequent inflation.

 

Why is it always the leftists who want to take the billionaires wealth, while claiming that Trump is for the rich, but their never honest enough to look at the fact that Kamala had more billionaire donors than Trump?

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, Airalee said:

Nobody ever seems to consider the math behind the redistribution of billionaires wealth to us peons.

 

The top 3 have about 900 Billion combined.

 

First, the billionaires would need to liquidate their stock, real estate, yachts, art collections etc etc.   But who would buy it?  
 

If they could theoretically turn it all to cash, dividing the spoils would leave each American les than $3,000 richer.

 

That $3,000 would be thrown away on stupid junk (just like the Covid payments were) and in less than a month, people would be looking for the next group of billionaires to plunder all while crying foul and complaining about the subsequent inflation.

 

Why is it always the leftists who want to take the billionaires wealth, while claiming that Trump is for the rich, but their never honest enough to look at the fact that Kamala had more billionaire donors than Trump?

 

 

The left does not really want to take the wealth from billionaires, they have the support of most billionaires. They know that if they are honest, the people will not support their policies. 

 

That's why they have to have open borders and stir up all the animosity. If the citizenry is happy, the left has no power. Hate and division are the only real "tools" the left has. 

[stevenl]

It will for sure be effective in musk obtaining information on his competitors.

[Yellowtail]

1 minute ago, stevenl said:

It will for sure be effective in musk obtaining information on his competitors.

Do you think cutting spending and improving efficiency is a good idea or not? 

 

Do you think the federal government should be funding organizations that work to promote illegal activities? 

[cjinchiangrai]

There is no actual Department of Government Efficiency and Musk has not been confirmed as a department head. This is all nonsense.

[Yellowtail]

5 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

There is no actual Department of Government Efficiency and Musk has not been confirmed as a department head. This is all nonsense.

Do you think cutting spending and improving efficiency is a good idea or not? 

 

Do you think the federal government should be funding organizations that work to promote illegal activities? 

[Hawaiian]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is that the medicine which cures the problem that the richest three Americans have more money than 50% of Americans?

Will Musk work on that? Or will he try to and probably succeed in making that worse?

No.  That would be poison and not medicine.  You have a habit of demonizing successful capitalists.  

Why is it their fault that the U.S. government has an addiction to uncontrolled, wasteful spending.  If the feds followed their game plan we wouldn't be so deep in hole.  They are successful because they haven't spent more than they make.  Is that too complicated for you to understand?

You make no sense when you question whether Musk will make it worse.  Make what worse?