ElwoodBlues · M
No. At best, 卐LON is doing very sloppy work. At worst he is damaging America and spreading lies.
For example:
The numerous mistakes, according to people familiar with the complex world of government contracting, suggest that Mr. Musk’s team of outsiders, charged by the president with cutting spending, don’t fully understand it.
For example:
Musk's DOGE touted slashing an $8 billion contract. It actually cut $8 million.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/19/doge-said-it-cut-8-billion-contract-8-million/79176949007/The numerous mistakes, according to people familiar with the complex world of government contracting, suggest that Mr. Musk’s team of outsiders, charged by the president with cutting spending, don’t fully understand it.
David Reid, an environmental scientist in Michigan, was surprised to learn his contract studying invasive species in the St. Lawrence Seaway was included on the list. “That contract wasn’t canceled by DOGE or anyone else,” he said. The contract expired on Dec. 31 and he decided to retire and not renew it, he said. “If they took credit for canceling the contract, they’re lying.”
A report by CBS News this week found another type of error involving this kind of contract: The group had triple-counted the $655 million maximum value of one contract for U.S.A.I.D. with numerous sub-contracts.
In another case, DOGE claimed $232 million in savings on a contract providing information technology support to the Social Security Administration. But The Intercept reported that only a sliver of the contract was canceled — a program to let users mark their gender as “X” — bringing the actual savings closer to $560,000.
In another case, DOGE claimed $232 million in savings on a contract providing information technology support to the Social Security Administration. But The Intercept reported that only a sliver of the contract was canceled — a program to let users mark their gender as “X” — bringing the actual savings closer to $560,000.
The “wall of receipts” also lists hundreds of cases in which — even by the website’s own accounting — the changes saved taxpayers nothing. In one contract, the Securities and Exchange Commission had agreed to spend $10 million for a five-year subscription to the legal-research site Westlaw. But the savings are listed as $0. The S.E.C.’s contract expired in March 2024.
The group also claims unrealistic estimates from several special kinds of umbrella contracts. When the government expects many different offices may want ongoing orders of the same general product or service — say, I.T. — it creates an overall contracting mechanism with a set ceiling under which several pre-vetted vendors can compete for individual orders. Each of those individual orders represents money the government has committed to spend. But the ceiling on the whole umbrella doesn’t.
“It’s not real money,” said Kelly Saldana, who spent nearly two decades working at U.S.A.I.D., including as the director of its office of health systems. If one of these larger contracts has a ceiling of $100 million and there’s only one $10 million order under it, the remaining $90 million isn’t savings or money that could be spent elsewhere.
“It’s not real money,” said Kelly Saldana, who spent nearly two decades working at U.S.A.I.D., including as the director of its office of health systems. If one of these larger contracts has a ceiling of $100 million and there’s only one $10 million order under it, the remaining $90 million isn’t savings or money that could be spent elsewhere.
Mesthartiya · M
@ElwoodBlues What's worse is that it's already clear that if (and it's a big IF) the midterms go ahead in 2026, Musk can immediately cry foul if things don't go his way, and no-one will really be able to prove otherwise.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
I think what he is doing is very very damaging in the short, medium and long-term.
The three main aspects of the Trump administration are it's authoritarianism and it's anarcho-capitalism, and it's oligarchic takeover of the American state.
With the first, they are prepared to break any law, any democratic precedent and any boundary of decency to consolidate power and get what they want. Project 2025 called this 'unitary executive theory.' This is modelled on Viktor Orban's Hungary.
The second is Doge's attempt to destroy the US administrative state. Things like overseas aid, medical and science research. Air traffic control. All are under attack in the name of government efficiency and anti-wokeness. Though they don't want to hear it, the partial destruction of the US administrative state is also very bad for Trump voters.
While this is going on, the US military is left alone and Musk's companies are still receiving massive subsidies from the US government. Doge's actions will result in even more wealth and power concentrated in the hands of the elite. Count your cash and laugh at the world burning.
If any good can come from this, it's that people might finally wake up to how evil and radical the political right has become. If European voters want 'rightwing populism,' please examine exhibit A. Maybe this will be turning point. Maybe.
The three main aspects of the Trump administration are it's authoritarianism and it's anarcho-capitalism, and it's oligarchic takeover of the American state.
With the first, they are prepared to break any law, any democratic precedent and any boundary of decency to consolidate power and get what they want. Project 2025 called this 'unitary executive theory.' This is modelled on Viktor Orban's Hungary.
The second is Doge's attempt to destroy the US administrative state. Things like overseas aid, medical and science research. Air traffic control. All are under attack in the name of government efficiency and anti-wokeness. Though they don't want to hear it, the partial destruction of the US administrative state is also very bad for Trump voters.
While this is going on, the US military is left alone and Musk's companies are still receiving massive subsidies from the US government. Doge's actions will result in even more wealth and power concentrated in the hands of the elite. Count your cash and laugh at the world burning.
If any good can come from this, it's that people might finally wake up to how evil and radical the political right has become. If European voters want 'rightwing populism,' please examine exhibit A. Maybe this will be turning point. Maybe.
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Patriot96 · 56-60, C
@Burnley123 you mean like, if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor?
Or, my son has never taken money from china, i will not pardon hunter
Or, my son has never taken money from china, i will not pardon hunter
bijouxbroussard · F
HeWhoWalks39 · 36-40, M
FreestyleArt · 31-35, M
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
NerdyPotato · M
FeetAreFantastic · 41-45, M
sree251 · 41-45, M
@TrashCat
Why don't you make this accusation on Twitter (X)? Musk would take you to court and make you prove your accusation. If you can't, the judge can't send you to jail because slander is not a crime.
No he isnt. He is an unelected official being used but the authora of project2025 to route out opposition and to benefit the wealthy
He's been caught using his position to procure gov contracts.
He's been caught using his position to procure gov contracts.
Why don't you make this accusation on Twitter (X)? Musk would take you to court and make you prove your accusation. If you can't, the judge can't send you to jail because slander is not a crime.
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TrashCat · M
@Patriot96 When does he stop the fantastic healthcare taxpayers provide congress when they receive salaries $200k plus and have net worths of upwards of $100 mill.
Also, Musk says he and his 6 boy toys are sleeping in government provided space across from the whitehouse and submitted an expense report for $7.4million.
You're star-struck swooning has blinded you to the price of eggs, inflation, and kleptocracy
Also, Musk says he and his 6 boy toys are sleeping in government provided space across from the whitehouse and submitted an expense report for $7.4million.
You're star-struck swooning has blinded you to the price of eggs, inflation, and kleptocracy
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
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deadgerbil · 26-30
Sidewinder · 36-40, M
Heartlander · 80-89, M