On Trump

[j_garcia]

I asked ChatGPT: what is the state debt of USA
The answer is simply out of this world insane

As of November 2024, the United States' total federal government debt reached $36 trillion.
This figure includes both debt held by the public and intragovernmental holdings.

In addition to federal debt, individual U.S. states carry their own debts. For instance, California has the highest state debt, totaling approximately $520 billion, followed by New York with $368 billion, and Texas with $324 billion.

It's important to note that the national debt has been increasing due to consistent budget deficits since 2001, extensive borrowing for wars, disaster responses, and efforts to combat recessions and the pandemic. The debt now stands at $36 trillion, equivalent to over 120% of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

First reign of Trumpy we went from $20T to almost $30T in 4 years, though some of that was Covid related. There was a chart that showed it was growing significantly long before Covid hit though. Now he is going to enact more policies that will sink us again.

Trumpy wants the Fed to decrease rates but CPI is way up, so he's gonna have to figure out how he's going to help the those people who voted for him and who will turn on him in a heartbeat if the economy worsens instead of getting better.

 

[highfigh]

What I'm saying is that there is no rhyme or reason to what DOGE is doing. If you think Musk and his band of flying monkeys somehow conducted an audit of government expenditures and found all the fat and fraud prior to Trump assuming office, and then were able to surgically slice that stuff out immediately....well, I don't know what to say to that.

I see it as poking the government with a stick- nobody gave a rat's butt before, he's forcing them to look at it.

I think they might use the facts of fat & fraud to prosecute those guilty of crimes- that should happen and they need to rectify the situation but ay what cost? Would it make finding good candidates impossible, or just much harder than it is now?

Flying monkees or not, fiscal resonsibility has been completely avoided. Did you know there was a way for members of Congress to avoid penalties for bouncing checks?

House banking scandal - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

MIsconduct-

GovTrack.us - Legislator Misconduct Database

www.govtrack.us

Here's more- it's a mess.

Which government programs are considered wasteful or inefficient? | USAFacts

The Government Accountability Office has identified 37 federal programs that are highly vulnerable to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement.

usafacts.org

 

[Trell]

I see it as poking the government with a stick- nobody gave a rat's butt before, he's forcing them to look at it.

That "nobody gave a rat's butt before" is BS.

 

[Mikado463]

That "nobody gave a rat's butt before" is BS.

ok and what did they do ?

 

[highfigh]

That "nobody gave a rat's butt before" is BS.

Anyone who cared got nothing done. If they had, we wouldn't have such a huge deficit.

If this doesn't show a problem, I don't know how to make someone understand-

Employment in government rose by 709,000 in 2023

Employment in government rose by 709,000 in 2023

Employment in government increased by 709,000 in 2023, exceeding the employment growth in 2022 (+299,000) and 2021 (+392,000). Government employment recovered to its prepandemic level in September 2023, surpassing its February 2020 level by 209,000 in December 2023.

www.bls.gov

 

[Trell]

ok and what did they do ?

Let's give some examples from health care, you knew that would come up, didn't you?

The Biden administration allowed Medicare for the first time to negotiate prices of drugs, and that gives big cost reductions to pay for the drugs as well as reducing out-of-pocket costs. The Republicans, of course, was against this cost reduction.

One of the goals of Obama care was to slow the growth of health care spending and that succeeded.

For the third time I post this nifty little graph for you to see. Third times a charm? Medicare projected and actual spending below in the graph. Do you notice that gap?

 

[Trell]

Anyone who cared got nothing done. If they had, we wouldn't have such a huge deficit.

One large part of the deficit are the Trump tax cuts from 2017, and then there were COVID with huge costs as well. The tax cuts could be abolished and the COVID costs was a one-time expense.

Also, see my reply to Mikado above.

If this doesn't show a problem, I don't know how to make someone understand-

Employment in government rose by 709,000 in 2023

Employment in government rose by 709,000 in 2023

Employment in government increased by 709,000 in 2023, exceeding the employment growth in 2022 (+299,000) and 2021 (+392,000). Government employment recovered to its prepandemic level in September 2023, surpassing its February 2020 level by 209,000 in December 2023.

www.bls.gov

I'll give you this nifty statistics in the first figure. Notice that the number of federal employees is not much higher than it was in the 50'ies, and that the increase in number of government employees are local/state?

Second figure shows what local and state employees do.

Figures from https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-fraudulence-of-waste-fraud-and

 

[trochetier]

Documents influencing DOGE -

These documents are influencing the DOGE-sphere’s agenda

Past government reports on improper spending are having a moment with Musk’s followers. What do they show?

www.technologyreview.com

DOGE is going after small potatoes, the biggest waste fraud and abuse are in DOD. Cost+plus contracts incentivize contractors to spend more. In many cases MIL spec is a copy of ISO or ASTM or similar standards, DOD pays significantly more for these fake MIL spec items which could be bought off the shelves for pennies or dollars. Remember the $400 toilet seat scandal? Apparently it is still continuing but now it is $200.

Other fraud is in the Medicare Advantage program, the providers get paid more for sucker patients so they have strong incentive to make patients look sicker so they can up-code their Medicare bills. FL is a known haven for Medicare fraud by doctors.

 

[mtrycrafts]

One large part of the deficit are the Trump tax cuts from 2017, and then there were COVID with huge costs as well. The tax cuts could be abolished and the COVID costs was a one-time expense.

Also, see my reply to Mikado above.



I'll give you this nifty statistics in the first figure. Notice that the number of federal employees is not much higher than it was in the 50'ies, and that the increase in number of government employees are local/state?

Second figure shows what local and state employees do.

Figures from https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-fraudulence-of-waste-fraud-and

...

Not to mention Reagan's tax cuts, 3X debt. Don't forget GW Bush and the long, wrongful war in parts. Oh, let's not forget his economic collapse of the real-estate market and what it cost to fix it, certainly not a 2 page solution.

Yep, all those tax cuts add up.
Didn't Clinton raise taxes and had a surplus? And, didn't a republican Speaker collaborated somewhat?

 

[trochetier]

Key figures at DOGE -

Elon Musk’s Demolition Crew

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has been unleashed on federal agencies. ProPublica is attempting to document who is working with him and what they are doing.

projects.propublica.org

Looks like none have forensic accounting expertise to find fraudulent expenditures or Human Resource background who understands matching skills to jobs and can help strategic RIFs.

 

[trochetier]

Not to mention Reagan's tax cuts, 3X debt. Don't forget GW Bush and the long, wrongful war in parts. Oh, let's not forget his economic collapse of the real-estate market and what it cost to fix it, certainly not a 2 page solution.

Yep, all those tax cuts add up.
Didn't Clinton raise taxes and had a surplus? And, didn't a republican Speaker collaborated somewhat?

But we were told all those tax cuts always paid for themselves!

 

[trochetier]

IRS where they apparently still run machines in COBOL should be DOGE's high priority yet it is NOT. It should right up Musk's teams alley to bring those computers up to 2025.

 

[j_garcia]

IRS where they apparently still run machines in COBOL should be DOGE's high priority yet it is NOT. It should right up Musk's teams alley to bring those computers up to 2025.

The 19yr old failed hacker who is "advising" on government technology won't know what COBOL is

 

[Mr._Clark]

Trump said he doesn't see Vance as his successor:

>>>Trump was asked by Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier if he thought JD Vance would have his endorsement for the next election. Trump’s response was pretty definitive.

“No, but he’s very capable,” he said.<<<

Trump’s Response When Asked if He Sees JD Vance as His Successor: ‘No’ | Video

"But he's very capable," the president adds The post Trump’s Response When Asked if He Sees JD Vance as His Successor: ‘No’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

www.yahoo.com

The article goes on to say:

>>>While Trump has gone out of his way to humiliate Vance in public before, he has also repeatedly said he wants to run for a third term. That of course is legally impossible since the 22nd amendment to the U.S. constitution explicitly forbids presidents from being elected to more than 2 terms.<<<

This is technically correct, but it ignores a possible way for Trump to serve a third term without being elected to a third term. Here's the text of the 22nd Amendment:

>>>No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice . . .<<<

In theory, Trump could endorse a loyal lackey, run as VP, and make it clear that the lackey will resign the day the lackey takes office. Bingo, Trump is in for a 3rd term.

The problem of course is making sure that the loyal lackey really will follow through and resign after winning the election. Trump would not be able to force the lackey to resign.

What does this have to do with Trump stating that he doesn't see Vance as his successor? One possibility is that Trump doesn't trust Vance for the lackey role. The lackey doesn't need to have any abilities, just 100% loyalty to Trump the person.

Who would be a suitably loyal lackey? My best guess is one of the Trump spawn, Don Jr. or Eric (hereinafter "spawn pawn"). The Don has both of them by the financial balls and he can cut either out of his will if the chosen spawn pawn refuses to resign after winning the election.

Another option would be to have the spawn pawn run and have him be president legally, but Don could control the spawn pawn with threats of cutting him out of the will. In other words, follow Putin's example when he became prime minister in 2008, while effectively retaining control.

 

[mtrycrafts]

But we were told all those tax cuts always paid for themselves!

Thanks for reminding me. Yes, now I remember.

Oh, wait, in the end, it didn't and does not.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Trump said he doesn't see Vance as his successor:

>>>Trump was asked by Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier if he thought JD Vance would have his endorsement for the next election. Trump’s response was pretty definitive.

“No, but he’s very capable,” he said.<<<

Trump’s Response When Asked if He Sees JD Vance as His Successor: ‘No’ | Video

"But he's very capable," the president adds The post Trump’s Response When Asked if He Sees JD Vance as His Successor: ‘No’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

www.yahoo.com

The article goes on to say:

>>>While Trump has gone out of his way to humiliate Vance in public before, he has also repeatedly said he wants to run for a third term. That of course is legally impossible since the 22nd amendment to the U.S. constitution explicitly forbids presidents from being elected to more than 2 terms.<<<

This is technically correct, but it ignores a possible way for Trump to serve a third term without being elected to a third term. Here's the text of the 22nd Amendment:

>>>No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice . . .<<<

In theory, Trump could endorse a loyal lackey, run as VP, and make it clear that the lackey will resign the day the lackey takes office. Bingo, Trump is in for a 3rd term.

The problem of course is making sure that the loyal lackey really will follow through and resign after winning the election. Trump would not be able to force the lackey to resign.

What does this have to do with Trump stating that he doesn't see Vance as his successor? One possibility is that Trump doesn't trust Vance for the lackey role. The lackey doesn't need to have any abilities, just 100% loyalty to Trump the person.

Who would be a suitably loyal lackey? My best guess is one of the Trump spawn, Don Jr. or Eric (hereinafter "spawn pawn"). The Don has both of them by the financial balls and he can cut either out of his will if the chosen spawn pawn refuses to resign after winning the election.

Another option would be to have the spawn pawn run and have him be president legally, but Don could control the spawn pawn with threats of cutting him out of the will. In other words, follow Putin's example when he became prime minister in 2008, while effectively retaining control.

Or, yet a 3rd, he expects to stay in the job for life.

 

[Trell]

Firing all civilian federal employees will reduce the federal outlays by a whopping 5.5%.

It’s a Scam! It’s a Purge! It’s a Scam *and* a Purge

How to think about Trump’s plans for the federal workforce

paulkrugman.substack.com

 

[Trell]

What does this have to do with Trump stating that he doesn't see Vance as his successor? One possibility is that Trump doesn't trust Vance for the lackey role. The lackey doesn't need to have any abilities, just 100% loyalty to Trump the person.

Vance is dreaming about sitting behind the Resolute desk and will say or do anything to fulfil his dream, so no, Trump is right not to trust him.

 

[Dude#1279435]

But we were told all those tax cuts always paid for themselves!

Tax cuts don't reduce the deficit, but they do stimulate the economy.

As I've said before, not a fan of Trump the person, but you do have to give the admin a little more than a few weeks to see how it goes.