Elon Musk

[CUSP82]

The dismantle the Govt and instituations is the important part of 4Samsons argument .

My question is this is trump .Musk et al trying to set up an autocracy? If so what % of US car ?

When you want to set up an autocracy you put people on the payroll so they will be loyal to you not fire them. Stop reading stupid media

 

[Willie Dole]

Whether the employees are working hard or doing their job well doesn't have to be the question. The US government is bloated with agencies and departments, many of which never should have been created in the first place.

But they were created though the legal process and given their mandates by Congress? Even the departments that were created in the first 25-30 years of our nation's history are being dismantled from within by doggie the the current administration.

Whether or not you think they should have been created, many of which were created during highly conservative republican administrations by acts of Congress, the fact is only Congress gets to decide where and how money is spent in our government, and they allocated the funds to these departments to fulfill a role that serves the American people. Ex: the EPA is meant to protect our environment so we don't get things like lead and mercury poisoning, not as it's current head has stated "to make it easier to buy a car or run a business". The Executive branch can not say "we don't think this serves the American people there for it is fraud" and then impound/redistribute funds allocated by Congress. There are proper channels if they feel a specific contract is fraudulent in some way, legal hurtles that must be mustered over. And the current administration has a long history of failing when it comes to proving a legal case for their actions.
So it stands to reason that the actions of doggie are not going to be legally justifiable (at least not most) and that the actions taken even so far will have (and are having on the economy) will be devastating for the American people and likely only enrich those who have wealth and power already.
I also think that's why most of the Dem leadership is sitting on their hand like little bitches, they wont suffer the long terms effect of this administration. Most of them will be dead or are wealthy enough for their families to ride it out. Reps. AOC, Katie Porter, and others who are working class elected people know how bad these policies and executive orders will be for everyday Americans.

I'm not left or right of the isle, I just want there to stop being greater division in our country. There are more things we can agree on than we disagree about.

 

[not2big]

It is ok to fire people if they are no longer needed; however, it is required that the people being fired receive proper notification and not be told they are being fired for cause when their work records have not been reviewed. When you are fired for cause, you are not eligible for unemployment and it makes it difficult to apply for a new job.

 

[akaTrex]

It is ok to fire people if they are no longer needed; however, it is required that the people being fired receive proper notification and not be told they are being fired for cause when their work records have not been reviewed. When you are fired for cause, you are not eligible for unemployment and it makes it difficult to apply for a new job.

Many employees are being laid off and receiving severance packages, vacation pay, and other benefits. As a result, many are choosing to retire. This situation reflects the reality for a majority of Americans in an "at-will employment environment".

In my career, I have provided support to both the private sector and federal, state, and local governments.
In my experience, some of the least motivated individuals I encountered were within federal, state, and local government roles.

In California, low-performing employees often transfer to another department or state agency instead of facing consequences for their poor performance.

Good Luck trying to FIRE a low-performing Teacher! Doesn't Happen!

 

[akaTrex]

Interesting how Elon's Space X is on their way to rescuing the stranded Astronauts.

US astronauts stuck on space station because Biden didn’t want to risk rescue before election:
They were only scheduled for only 10 days.

MSN

During a press conference last week from the International Space Station, Astronauts Wilmore and Williams, who were only to be in space for 10 days — backed up the allegations, saying: “I can only say that Mr. Musk, what he says, is absolutely factual.”

 

[Willie Dole]

We don't need a federal department running education. It's not even in the charter of the government to do so. The EPA is chock full of bureaucratic regulation and has become a mini government all its own. It needs to stop.

The Constitution (the charter of the US Gov) states that Congress is to pass laws. Congress passed laws to create the Department of Agriculture, the Department of War (now Defense) and so on, including the Department of Education in 1979. Our country is arguably much more "bloated" that it was at it's founding, but that's only because of it's natural growth and expansion, as well as the changes in what We The People want our elected reps to do to run our gov. Congress has delegated a lot of it's obligations to these departments, but that is because the departments are supposed to be (and predominantly were) filled with experts in the things the department oversees. Our Reps don't know jack from squat when it comes to how technology works, how could they be, they are experts in being politicians. So we have a system were the government finds experts in a field to work at things like the EPA, FDA, FCC, DoA, DoD, etc, so that the American people's wellbeing is put first.

I for one want a government that tries to protect it's citizens from environmental disasters, ground water/pipe contaminates that poisons us and keeps our kids safe from the predations of social media companies, as much as it does for protecting us from religious extremist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaida, and whomever else wishes to force their religious beliefs on others. IMO, the DoD should be funded as much or more than it is, and so should the EPA. Both protect us from other humans. The departments don't need to stop, they need to not be dismantled.

 

[Willie Dole]

US astronauts stuck on space station because Biden didn’t want to risk rescue before election

That's just Clayton “Astroclay” Anderson's opinion and isn't based on the fact that since the start of the space race, and increasingly so since the Challenger disaster, safety is the highest concern. And TBH SpaceX doesn't have a proven enough record with going to real outer space (not just 100km up for millionaires), or with docking with the ISS. They are safer there and have allowed for more scientific work to be done. They will be brought home as safely as possible, regardless of who is in the WH.

Here is a link to a reputable source on the subject:

 

[Willie Dole]

It is ok to fire people if they are no longer needed; however, it is required that the people being fired receive proper notification and not be told they are being fired for cause when their work records have not been reviewed. When you are fired for cause, you are not eligible for unemployment and it makes it difficult to apply for a new job.

Agreed! There are union regulations in place to protect workers from exactly this! There are channels already in place to handle this, but the current administration wishes to move fast and break things. Chaos is the goal so the news cycle cant keep up while they loot, destroy, and disenfranchise countless Americans.

 

[Pegasus]

No Cusp you destroy the structures that prevent Autocracy .

Thoughts on how deep and how long the US recession is going to be anyone?

 

[4Samson]

But they were created though the legal process and given their mandates by Congress? Even the departments that were created in the first 25-30 years of our nation's history are being dismantled from within by doggie the the current administration.

Whether or not you think they should have been created, many of which were created during highly conservative republican administrations by acts of Congress, the fact is only Congress gets to decide where and how money is spent in our government, and they allocated the funds to these departments to fulfill a role that serves the American people. Ex: the EPA is meant to protect our environment so we don't get things like lead and mercury poisoning, not as it's current head has stated "to make it easier to buy a car or run a business". The Executive branch can not say "we don't think this serves the American people there for it is fraud" and then impound/redistribute funds allocated by Congress. There are proper channels if they feel a specific contract is fraudulent in some way, legal hurtles that must be mustered over. And the current administration has a long history of failing when it comes to proving a legal case for their actions.
So it stands to reason that the actions of doggie are not going to be legally justifiable (at least not most) and that the actions taken even so far will have (and are having on the economy) will be devastating for the American people and likely only enrich those who have wealth and power already.
I also think that's why most of the Dem leadership is sitting on their hand like little bitches, they wont suffer the long terms effect of this administration. Most of them will be dead or are wealthy enough for their families to ride it out. Reps. AOC, Katie Porter, and others who are working class elected people know how bad these policies and executive orders will be for everyday Americans.

I'm not left or right of the isle, I just want there to stop being greater division in our country. There are more things we can agree on than we disagree about.

What does any of that matter when a man that grew up in South Africa with South African values is telling you to change or get rid of it? What you wrote sounds way too American and full of too many of the American values that created one of the greatest countries in world. You should be more realistic in your expectations of America. I am being sarcastic here but it is still very sad when you think about it

 

[4Samson]

Barak Obama's 2011 "The Campaign to Cut Waste" DOGE back in 2011?​

Interesting you post that video. Always Republican vs Democrat with Americans. I suggest Republican Americans think more along the lines of is Donald Trump a good Republican? Stop focusing so much on the other side.

Anyway back to why it is interesting you posted that video, are you aware that back around that time legislation was passed through congress to prevent the social security fraud that Musk and Trump are now bragging about stopping? It was never shown any were actually receiving any payments prior to the legislation but the irregular age records were noticed and action was already taken (by the Democrats haha) to ensure this was not the case. You can look up the exact wording online if you want but the law is something like benefits stop automatically at age 115 and anyone who is receiving social insurance benefits over the age of 115 needs to check-in in person every year or something. So no, there were not millions of 150-300 year vampires receiving social security checks stopped by Musk or Trump as he bragged about in his speech to congress and the American people. Typical Trump lies that most Americans are uninformed about.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about. Among other times, Trump brought it up recently in the President's annual speech to congress that is typically referred to as "The State of the Union Address". He lied and bragged about stopping the social security vampire payments right around the time he talked about successfully defunding studies on "transgender mice". Unfortunately he also did not understand the funding was for studying "transgenic mice", meaning "mice with modified DNA (to make the DNA more similar to humans), which biomedical researchers use to study how genes impact disease and health, or how human diseases and organs might respond to medications." Like most of what comes out of Trump's mouth, just nonsense.

Back to Musk and social security, the rich South African man was ranting on twitter the other day that there are children receiving social security payments. Yes Mr. Musk, in America children whose parent/s have died receive assistance payments from the dead parent's social security account until they are 18. Again he did not grow up in America and does not understand American values. I'm sure those children receiving payments would also prefer to be in a different situation.

 

[4Samson]

Interesting how Elon's Space X is on their way to rescuing the stranded Astronauts.

US astronauts stuck on space station because Biden didn’t want to risk rescue before election:
They were only scheduled for only 10 days.

MSN

During a press conference last week from the International Space Station, Astronauts Wilmore and Williams, who were only to be in space for 10 days — backed up the allegations, saying: “I can only say that Mr. Musk, what he says, is absolutely factual.”

That is not what is said or implied by the astronauts in the video you linked.

 

[Johnny D]

The Constitution (the charter of the US Gov) states that Congress is to pass laws. Congress passed laws to create the Department of Agriculture, the Department of War (now Defense) and so on, including the Department of Education in 1979. Our country is arguably much more "bloated" that it was at it's founding, but that's only because of it's natural growth and expansion, as well as the changes in what We The People want our elected reps to do to run our gov. Congress has delegated a lot of it's obligations to these departments, but that is because the departments are supposed to be (and predominantly were) filled with experts in the things the department oversees. Our Reps don't know jack from squat when it comes to how technology works, how could they be, they are experts in being politicians. So we have a system were the government finds experts in a field to work at things like the EPA, FDA, FCC, DoA, DoD, etc, so that the American people's wellbeing is put first.

I for one want a government that tries to protect it's citizens from environmental disasters, ground water/pipe contaminates that poisons us and keeps our kids safe from the predations of social media companies, as much as it does for protecting us from religious extremist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaida, and whomever else wishes to force their religious beliefs on others. IMO, the DoD should be funded as much or more than it is, and so should the EPA. Both protect us from other humans. The departments don't need to stop, they need to not be dismantled.

We're going to disagree, then, on how the interests of the people are best served and by whom. You believe the government can do a better job of it than the private sector and I believe they can't, and certainly not dollar-for-dollar. You believe that the tax payer should be forced to support those programs because you find them important and necessary. I do not.

Whether the Constitution allows for something like the DOE, for example, isn't quite as clear cut as you make it out to be. Fundamentally, the 10th Amendment would leave something like that up to the states, if at all. Just because Congress has spending power, doesn't mean it's ok for Congress to establish departments and agencies at their whim. They used "general welfare" as the argument which would allow them to yet if you read The Federalist Papers you'll come away with a very different understanding of what's really meant by general welfare. What if this administration and Congress decide to establish the Department of Personal Health and Physical Fitness - a federal agency dedicated to ensuring that all Americans maintain a minimum standard of physical fitness and health. Are you cool with more of your tax dollars going to pay for that and the government telling you how fit you should be and how to get there? I mean.... That's putting "the American people's wellbeing first", as you say, isn't it? And Congress can easily argue that it's appropriate spending toward general welfare.

 

[Willie Dole]

What if this administration and Congress decide to establish the Department of Personal Health and Physical Fitness - a federal agency dedicated to ensuring that all Americans maintain a minimum standard of physical fitness and health.

Presidential Fitness Test, later replaced by The Presidential Youth Fitness Program is basically the EO version of this idea, and it had mixed results. But it was also changed many times over the years, always in an effort to provide the best outcomes for children. Grade school sports programs got a big boost from it during the Regan and Cater years. I think I was in 7th grade when some of the goals were changed and suddenly I wasn't considered "flexible" because they changed the distance you needed to stretch past your feet with a ruler on a wooden box, feels so long ago.
Anyways, I think we can agree that a DoE is better to have than not for the same reasons we had during the cold war for these kinds of programs. The better educated a population is, the more productive it's private sector will be. The US gov used to capture more of those private sector gains and put in back into programs like the DoE or VA. Let's not forget that during most of the 1900s, taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals were much higher, and the American people got a lot for that money. All of these programs that a majority of American citizens want can be funded, those fund put to good use, and the American people see tangible benefits like better schools, lower grocery and home costs, and better healthcare.
And even if "The State" have their "Rights", those are limited by what Congress passes. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.". The first part is basically "If congress has not passed a law and it's not in the actual Constitution...." So Congress can federally mandate things that the states must abide by, see desegregation --> states didn't want to follow a law passed by Congress, and we know how that turned out. Likewise, the state need to follow the federal standards as a min, but could go over the top like CA with Prop 65, but they at least need to be doing the minimum that is required.

Personally, here in WA State, I feel that our state legislature in Olympia have passed some very questionably legal laws based on our own state constitution, but would be permissible under the US constitution. Mainly when it comes to gun control, Article 1, sec 24 of the WA constitution is more protective of and explicitly about the the "right to bear arms". A different but similar conversation: States not following their own constitutions because one party or another has total control over the 3 branches.

This is all to say that the legislative branches at any level of government are the ones who make the laws (obv, hang with me) and the executive branches are the ones who make the laws reality (obv still, hang on); but what DOGE and this administration are doing spits in the face of congress and the courts. They don't think they need to follow any rules and can do what ever they want. People are and will continue to be hurt because of the "mandate" to destroy the government from within that MAGA/Libertarians/Tea Party people have been clamoring for for decades. They finally got all 3 branches of federal government and now they are going to tear it all down without regard to who gets hurt. If farmers are hurt by tariffs, lets give them more tax payer money; if blue collar workers are hurt by business slowing down, lets just send everyone a check before the elections ("they wont know where to spend all the money" -DJT).


(sorry for all the long posts, TLDR I don't like Gov either, but its better than not having one)

 

[Johnny D]

Presidential Fitness Test, later replaced by The Presidential Youth Fitness Program is basically the EO version of this idea, and it had mixed results. But it was also changed many times over the years, always in an effort to provide the best outcomes for children. Grade school sports programs got a big boost from it during the Regan and Cater years.

It is not the business of the government to inform on personal fitness, let alone administer and facilitate programs to do so. Again just because Congress allowed it to happen, doesn't make it good governance or an appropriate way to spend their citizens' money.

Anyways, I think we can agree that a DoE is better to have than not

We most definitely do not agree

for the same reasons we had during the cold war for these kinds of programs. The better educated a population is, the more productive it's private sector will be.

So what? I can come up with any number of things that will lead to a more productive private sector but that doesn't make it the role of government to make those things happen (not to mention that when they attempt to, they tend to fail quite spectacularly at it and spend FAR more than the private sector would have if allowed to do the same).

This is all to say that the legislative branches at any level of government are the ones who make the laws (obv, hang with me) and the executive branches are the ones who make the laws reality (obv still, hang on); but what DOGE and this administration are doing spits in the face of congress and the courts. They don't think they need to follow any rules and can do what ever they want.

We've gone over this already. Nobody has offered any solid example of DOGE or Musk doing anything unconstitutional or illegal. They are making recommendations and don't really have much power otherwise.

People are and will continue to be hurt because of the "mandate" to destroy optimize the government from within that MAGA/Libertarians/Tea Party people have been clamoring for for decades.

FIFY

(sorry for all the long posts, TLDR I don't like Gov either, but its better than not having one)

I reject your lesser of two evils logical fallacy. Government is necessary but what we've seen over the past many many decades is a government that meddles in the affairs of individuals and the private sector. To simply brush it off as, "better than no government", is creating a false dichotomy.

 

[Willie Dole]

I reject your lesser of two evils logical fallacy. Government is necessary but what we've seen over the past many many decades is a government that meddles in the affairs of individuals and the private sector. To simply brush it off as, "better than no government", is creating a false dichotomy.

The current administration's goals are, according to them, to dismantle most of the bureaucracy that has kept businesses from making money at the expense of the health/safety/education/future of the American tax payers. They are not making a better government for Americans as a whole, just for those who will profit the most. They are making one that can't function because it's historically been profitable to them do so, fewer regulations means we can dump toxic waste wherever, it's a "screw the largely POC communities down stream, any white folks can afford to buy bottled water" approach.
Why wont someone in power like Speaker Mike Johnson do anything to prevent the executive branch's overreach into what is Congress's power? Because they benefit from both the chaos and destruction of our institutions. Please don't make the mistake of believing any Republican politician actually wants to make your life better. The culture war nonsense is just red meat to distract you while they loot the government and leave it a husk for dems to clean up. This isn't new, they have been doing it for longer than I've been alive.

 

[Johnny D]

The current administration's goals are, according to them, to dismantle most of the bureaucracy that has kept businesses from making money at the expense of the health/safety/education/future of the American tax payers. They are not making a better government for Americans as a whole, just for those who will profit the most. They are making one that can't function because it's historically been profitable to them do so, fewer regulations means we can dump toxic waste wherever, it's a "screw the largely POC communities down stream, any white folks can afford to buy bottled water" approach.

I'm sure that's how you see it. I see this as an opportunity to finally weed out a bunch of waste and regulatory overreach. Carter was the last one to take a really good run at something like this and we were better for it. Unfortunately, we've allowed it to creep back in.

Why wont someone in power like Speaker Mike Johnson do anything to prevent the executive branch's overreach into what is Congress's power?

Were you complaining about Congress abdicating their responsibilities and allowing the WH to make the rules when Biden or Obama were in the WH? I mean.... that issue has been plaguing us for WAY longer than this administration!

Please don't make the mistake of believing any Republican politician actually wants to make your life better.

If you think that I believe that or that I'm a Republican, myself, you haven't been paying attention.

The culture war nonsense is just red meat to distract you while they loot the government and leave it a husk for dems to clean up. This isn't new, they have been doing it for longer than I've been alive.

Yep. Both sides have been distracting the public with their culture war and identity politics (tell me you haven't fallen prey to that) nonsense.

 

[akaTrex]

Interesting you post that video. Always Republican vs Democrat with Americans. I suggest Republican Americans think more along the lines of is Donald Trump a good Republican? Stop focusing so much on the other side.

Anyway back to why it is interesting you posted that video, are you aware that back around that time legislation was passed through congress to prevent the social security fraud that Musk and Trump are now bragging about stopping? It was never shown any were actually receiving any payments prior to the legislation but the irregular age records were noticed and action was already taken (by the Democrats haha) to ensure this was not the case. You can look up the exact wording online if you want but the law is something like benefits stop automatically at age 115 and anyone who is receiving social insurance benefits over the age of 115 needs to check-in in person every year or something. So no, there were not millions of 150-300 year vampires receiving social security checks stopped by Musk or Trump as he bragged about in his speech to congress and the American people. Typical Trump lies that most Americans are uninformed about.

For those who have no idea what I am talking about. Among other times, Trump brought it up recently in the President's annual speech to congress that is typically referred to as "The State of the Union Address". He lied and bragged about stopping the social security vampire payments right around the time he talked about successfully defunding studies on "transgender mice". Unfortunately he also did not understand the funding was for studying "transgenic mice", meaning "mice with modified DNA (to make the DNA more similar to humans), which biomedical researchers use to study how genes impact disease and health, or how human diseases and organs might respond to medications." Like most of what comes out of Trump's mouth, just nonsense.

Back to Musk and social security, the rich South African man was ranting on twitter the other day that there are children receiving social security payments. Yes Mr. Musk, in America children whose parent/s have died receive assistance payments from the dead parent's social security account until they are 18. Again he did not grow up in America and does not understand American values. I'm sure those children receiving payments would also prefer to be in a different situation.

FYI, Elon Must LEFT South Africa at the age of 17!

Social Security Fraud is Rampant! With Democrats and the Liberal Media spouting BS about the threat to Social Security?

Both my brother and I received SS until we were 18 after my father's death.
There is ZERO Threat to ending SS to children in the U.S.

P.S. I don't believe the LibTard Press that participated in a coverup of a Dementia Patient President.
Now, we are learning about Biden's staff using 'autopen signatures' following a concerning report about who ran the White House.

 

[akaTrex]

That's just Clayton “Astroclay” Anderson's opinion and isn't based on the fact that since the start of the space race, and increasingly so since the Challenger disaster, safety is the highest concern. And TBH SpaceX doesn't have a proven enough record with going to real outer space (not just 100km up for millionaires), or with docking with the ISS. They are safer there and have allowed for more scientific work to be done. They will be brought home as safely as possible, regardless of who is in the WH.

Here is a link to a reputable source on the subject:

The two stranded Astronauts believed it was Political. Plus, extended time in space takes a tremendous toll on their bodies, as evident when they return home. Muscle mass decreases due to decreased use and lack of stimulus through exercise and bone loss. Crew members struggle with returning to Earth and it's neurovestibular challenges, or how the body maintains a sense of position and balance as gravity returns. They have to learn how to balance and walk again.

 

[4Samson]

FYI, Elon Must LEFT South Africa at the age of 17!

Social Security Fraud is Rampant! With Democrats and the Liberal Media spouting BS about the threat to Social Security?

Both my brother and I received SS until we were 18 after my father's death.
There is ZERO Threat to ending SS to children in the U.S.

P.S. I don't believe the LibTard Press that participated in a coverup of a Dementia Patient President.
Now, we are learning about Biden's staff using 'autopen signatures' following a concerning report about who ran the White House.

Yeah like I said he grew up in South Africa. I also did not mention he then moved to Canada not USA. I was unaware of the exact ages tbh because I do not care. He did not grow up as an American surrounded by Americans with American values.

Good that you and your brother were able to receive payments as you should. At the very least Musk's drastic cuts in employees is making social security hard to get a hold of and creating long waits to have your situation looked at. Not specific to child benefits but it is already being widely reported it is now very hard to get a hold of anyone at social security when it is needed. That is what happens when you fire a large part of the customer service staff. The people who connect those in need to the benefit they are entitled to. Just a few days ago he was literally saying to completely (100%) cut the phone service (literally deactivate the phoneline) and force people to always go into the offices while he closes a large part of those offices at the same time. That is the South African man's personal view on how Americans in need should be looked after. His vision for the VA also demonstrates he does not share American values when it comes to those who have patriotically served their nation.