Small Government - A Trump Goal - Apparently

[Revoltingest]

I’m actually excited about the possibility to reduce wasteful spending.

STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency ("DOGE"). Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the "Save America" Movement. "This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” stated Mr. Musk. It will become, potentially, "The Manhattan Project" of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of "DOGE" for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before. I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending. They will work together to liberate our Economy, and make the U.S. Government accountable to "WE THE PEOPLE." Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 - A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence.

Trump also plans a "big government" agenda in some areas...
- Encouraging police violence against civilians, & granting them increased immunity.
- More regulation of media, eg, prosecution for negative coverage of him.
- More political speech regulation, eg, illegalizing criticism of judges.
- Increasing the federal spending deficit & national debt.

 

[Kenny]

... which may end up being a problem.

A business mindset can't always handle government processes because government has to be transparent and accountable to the public in a way that business doesn't.

In a business, once you've decided on a plan, you just implement it. In government, once you've decided on your plan, you often need to:

- present your plan to the public
- wait 30 days while you get feedback
- summarize the feedback and submit it to some other department for approval to proceed
- get the OK
- wait another 30 days for any appeals
- submit it for funding approval as part of next year's budget
- wait a year until the budget is released and approved
- put out a tender
- wait 30 days for bids
- finally pick a contractor and start building... 2 years after you decided that this was the best option.

And it's not because bureaucracy inherently moves slowly. It just that there's all sorts of extra, legally mandated steps when you're doing work for the public good and paying for it with public money.

You do have some points but there is the other side of the coin.

A government mindset can’t always handle the business aspect. If business were as careless as the government, they would be bankrupt and the government is heading in that direction. Like the bridge that led to nowhere...

Bridge to Nowhere (San Gabriel Mountains) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A businessman would have made allowances for such an occurrence or never built it in the first place.

So the merger of the two should optimize the process.

 

[Kenny]

Trump also plans a "big government" agenda in some areas...
- Encouraging police violence against civilians, & granting them increased immunity.
- More regulation of media, eg, prosecution for negative coverage of him.
- More political speech regulation, eg, illegalizing criticism of judges.
- Increasing the federal spending deficit & national debt.

more propaganda. To me this sounds more like Trump derangement.

 

[Revoltingest]

more propaganda.

Those are based on things Trump has actually said.
I know that a Trump lover could never accept any
of them as factual. Love is blind.
You're supporting big government without knowing it.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

You do have some points but there is the other side of the coin.

A government mindset can’t always handle the business aspect. If business were as careless as the government, they would be bankrupt and the government is heading in that direction. Like the bridge that led to nowhere...

Bridge to Nowhere (San Gabriel Mountains) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

A businessman would have made allowances for such an occurrence or never built it in the first place.

So the merger of the two should optimize the process.

I hope you're not suggesting that business doesn't make large, wasteful decisions. I assure you, they do.

 

[Kenny]

We shall see. My observation is that oftentimes, people who press for "efficiency" end up cutting out essential services, while leaving the deadweight and fat.

“We shall see” is correct.

Hopefully my “excitement about the possibilities” will end up with contentment if the fulfillment of expectation but I am still holding my breath. Perhaps we can do like Obamacare… pass it and the fix the issues that it leaves behind.

 

[Kenny]

I hope you're not suggesting that business doesn't make large, wasteful decisions. I assure you, they do.

I am speaking generally. Acknowledging that business can be wasteful but looking at Elon Musks business… he seems to have a good handle on getting the same product out will a lot of less expenses. He is also good on innovation.

 

[Yerda]

I am speaking generally. Acknowledging that business can be wasteful but looking at Elon Musks business… he seems to have a good handle on getting the same product out will a lot of less expenses. He is also good on innovation.

Also, quite good at obtaining government subsidies.

It is extraordinary watching the American response to being fleeced once already by Trump; turning out their pockets for him again. It's like you can't wait to have him steal from you.

 

[esmith]

So Sorry Charlie
The voting American public has spoken.....get over it.

 

[Stevicus]

“We shall see” is correct.

Hopefully my “excitement about the possibilities” will end up with contentment if the fulfillment of expectation but I am still holding my breath. Perhaps we can do like Obamacare… pass it and the fix the issues that it leaves behind.

I don't know if it's a matter of inherent "inefficiency" that comes with government - or more a matter of the corruption and temptations that can come with governmental power. Sometimes, they might seem like small things, like some official using their expense account for personal vacations, parties with friends, or things like that. But that can add up quickly depending on how many people do that.

 

[metis]

Smaller government? Why then the want for increase in military spending and law enforcement? He just wants to cut funding for the impoverished, education, healthcare, probably roads. All the money from those tariffs are going to go to a larger more forceful government.

Exactly, thus Trump's positions like this are the polar opposite if what the Gospel actually teaches, namely people first.

 

[metis]

Perhaps we can do like Obamacare… pass it and the fix the issues that it leaves behind.

It's a program that has helped millions of Americans in need that Trump tried to replace but offered no plan whatsoever. So, Trump's position is compatible with the Gospel how?

never mind

 

[Viker]

So Sorry Charlie
The voting American public has spoken.....get over it.

No. But, we shall overcome. Trump voters are already regretting it. Homan is one of the authors of Project 2025 and now a Trump appointee. And look at the circus clowns he's appointing. No qualifications or experience needed. The important thing is that they're loyal clowns.

 

[Viker]

I am speaking generally. Acknowledging that business can be wasteful but looking at Elon Musks business… he seems to have a good handle on getting the same product out will a lot of less expenses. He is also good on innovation.

He just sits at the head of corporations he bought and takes credit for others work. One look at his passion project that he oversaw and contributed to most, the Cybertruck, gives a glimpse into his ineptitude.

 

[F1fan]

Pessimism and optimism, both are two ways of looking at things.

Also realism and fantasy.

Can’t waste money if you aren’t spending it.

If you don't pay your electric bill you will save money. That is how you extremists are thinking. You show no signs of understanding how the federal government works, and why it is essential for a nation of 335 million to function.

And if they trim 1 trillion dollars, that is 1 trillion plus interest less. I’m an optimist.

Yeah, it's simplistic and naive. You have no idea what damage they will cause to citizens, and you only see it as money. Mesanwhile billionaires accumulate more wealth because their taxes are getting cut. What kind of Christian are you again?

 

[F1fan]

No. But, we shall overcome. Trump voters are already regretting it. Homan is one of the authors of Project 2025 and now a Trump appointee. And look at the circus clowns he's appointing. No qualifications or experience needed. The important thing is that they're loyal clowns.

And he's asjed the senate to recess so the appointments don't have to be questioned and approved. The criminal president elect is already trying to be an authoritarian. This is going to be bad. How long before his voters regret it?

 

[Clizby Wampuscat]

TL : DR?
Trump is basically adding another government department in the belief that it will reduce government spending lol

Yes, it is called investment. Wasteful spending in the government will not stop on its own. It is like energy efficiency projects, you spend $500,000 today to save $100,000 a year for 15 years. You need to spend money now to save money over time. Someone needs to find the waste and eliminate it and that person/entity needs to be paid and have resources. Musk is a good person to do this. I don't like Vivek so much.

 

[wellwisher]

Smaller government? Why then the want for increase in military spending and law enforcement? He just wants to cut funding for the impoverished, education, healthcare, probably roads. All the money from those tariffs are going to go to a larger more forceful government.

All the DOGE is going to do is replaced one "deep state" with another. One that has no checks and balances and no oversight. A sword for the rich and powerful.

The Constitution says the role of Government to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare. Provide and promote are two different verbs. Provide means giving physical resources and money. The first taxes ever raised by the Federal Government were used for war; common defense.

Promote can be done without physical resources. All you need is Human Resources. We can use cheer leading, running commercials, print literature, campaigning, lecturing, etc., all without the need for a huge budget and a bloated bureaucracy. I remember President Johnson's wife, Ladybird, promoted getting rid of litter, Back in the 1960's litter was a big problem on all the roads. Give a hoot don't pollute. This led to young volunteers picking up litter and then to a change of life style, all on the cheap. Now they would start a new Agency which will cost $10 for each beer can picked up. It does not have to be that wasteful way.

What I see happening is many of the social needs, will be sent to the states, with states managing that extra money. Just cutting out the middle men, at the top end, saves a fortune. The Central Government will be sort of watching all the states, and helping to promote, the best of the best in terms of efficiency and end results.

I also heard that the Department of Education will be junked. That duty will also go back to the states. Government may still have a promotion role, based on what works in all the State experiments. This allows state to meet the local needs and wants.

Many Agencies that remain, will be de-centralized from Washington. Headquarters will be move to the various states. It makes more sense to have the Department of Agriculture in the Bread Belt, where the farmers are. Washington is too removed from farmers, and too connected to special interests.

Part of the corruption in Washington is because, since everything centralized, it is a one stop corruption store. Spreading it out moves jobs to States, and makes it more work for those who will try to run deals. It is also closer to the needs; bureaucratic reality check. The goal is $2 trillion savings, which would allow a balanced budget amendment, and some money to pay down the debt.

The deadline is Fourth of July 2026 which is the 250th Anniversary of the Constitution. Happy Birthday America.

 

[F1fan]

He just sits at the head of corporations he bought and takes credit for others work. One look at his passion project that he oversaw and contributed to most, the Cybertruck, gives a glimpse into his ineptitude.

And let's not forget his mismanagement of the Twitter takeover, and it's fall. It is still highly used, but it's losing users by the millions since the election, and people joining Bluesky as an alternative. I think Twitter/X or TwiX, will become like parlor, and and Trump Social, and just be far right platforms.

 

[stvdv]

I’m actually excited about the possibility to reduce wasteful spending

Sadly the money only will flow to the rich elite

Did you know:
Musk his wealth increased with 70 billion $, since the elections; money wise he is smart

BUT

God didn't give the money
It doesn't fall from the sky
It doesn't grow on trees

Hence

It will come out of American pockets

Nothing appears out of thin air: E=mc²

Well, God could do that, but remembering Jesus and the money business in the temple, I would say Musk is not working for God, like a Jesus ... neither will Trump. Both will probably double their wealth next 4 years ... Adharma at its worst