Donald Trump has upended millions of lives in his first 50 days in office

[LiamB80]

My favorite Trump post recently: “We should spend less time worrying about Putin and more time worrying about migrant rape gangs, drug lords, murderers, and people from mental institutions entering our country - so that we don’t end up like Europe”. God Bless President Trump

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Even before Trump came into office, there have been many articles about how baby boomer retirees are reluctant and cautious about spending out of fear of unknown expenses such as long term care and senior health care. 

 

Just think about the layers of uncertainty all this talk about cutting social security, medicare and medicaid is adding to the equation, not just for beneficiaries but for their family and friends, and people they do business with. Is Aunt Betty going to be evicted? Ask me for a loan? Not be able to pay back the money she owes me? Will my benefits arrive on time next month? The price of this psychological torment on consumer sentiment and spending is under appreciated.

 

My social security was interrupted a couple of months ago because I supposedly didn't send in a proof of life form (which I never received), but I can just imagine what impact something like this would have on someone living month-to-month on SS alone, or if it took six months for benefits to be restored after they were suspended.

 

The thing I find so distasteful about Trump, Musk, and DOGE is the contempt they are showing for government workers and people who rely on the government for assistance. If government needs to be trimmed, run more efficiently, or if belts need to be tightened, you can do that in a way that minimizes disruptions to people's lives. Some of the people in the new administration seem to think being cruel is a measure of manhood.

Unfortunately, the Federal government ( like every western government ) has become bloated and corrupt, and there just isn't any easy way to destroy the inefficiency and sack the drones without a lot of screaming. It's like the NHS- get rid of 70% of managers and it would work 100% better, IMO.

 

Far as social welfare goes, there are three parts to it- those that earned their assistance by a life of work and taxes, those that deserve assistance while things are tough through no fault of their own, and those that do not deserve any assistance but get it because of politics eg illegal immigrants, the lazy, the criminal, etc. 

IMO don't touch the first, tighten up the second to ensure that only the deserving get it, and scrap the third almost entirely. No fit person should ever get the dole for more than a short period while they look for work, and not at all if they refuse a job offer. Illegals- zero.