DOGE cuts - where to start?

[Hawkmoon]

Regards DOGE, I doubt they'll have authority to actually do much, but can make recommendations to DJT.  My hope is they can A) ferret out the few agencies that should be retained, allowing Trump to close the rest, and B) figure out the % of workers actually needed at whatever agencies remain.  If (IF) it goes the way it should wed probably see 70-80% of agencies eliminated altogether, and staffing at the remainder drop by 50-80% as well, for a total head count reduction of at least 80%, and an ability to sell off 80-90% or so of federal buildings.

Things like DoD, courts, probably SS, some regulatory bodies would remain, but with staffing much reduced.

Meh.

The feral government is the only group in the known universe that can promulgate a 26-page form that collects two pages of information accompanied by 24 pages of incoherent instructions, and proclaim at the bottom of page 26 that the document complies with the paperwork reduction act.

[Bogie]

If you cut welfare - you will see cities burn. The theory is that it is cheaper to pay off the folks who would riot than it is to pay for the destruction and economic disaster.
 
We saw that here in St. Louis, when Michael Brown's "family" announced a press conference, with crowd, on the county courthouse steps.
 
That's Clayton, MO, right in the middle of the metro area, and that's some high dollar real estate. Not just a couple of Walgreen's getting trashed.
 
The county .gov caved and paid them off.

[Ben]

If you cut welfare - you will see cities burn.

https://youtu.be/V3yJW1yYZ7w?t=174

[WLJ]

Remember when the food stamp system went down for two hours?

[Northwoods]

Remember when the food stamp system went down for two hours?

God forbid they have spend their own money on food instead of their luxury SUV.

[HankB]

If you cut welfare - you will see cities burn. The theory is that it is cheaper to pay off the folks who would riot than it is to pay for the destruction and economic disaster.
 

Considering which cities would burn, and which parts of those cities would light up first, that might not be such a bad thing; there's a segment of society that never learned the old adage "don't poop where you eat."

Then apply the Roman solution, mix salt with the earth so nothing grows there. Or alternatively, level it and plant trees for carbon capture.

[Bogie]

God forbid they have spend their own money on food instead of their luxury SUV.

There's a bunch of folks who are running "side hustles" for cash... Lots of urban folks are also on head meds, which I think can cause more problems, especially when they are stopped... Some of 'em just fill the scripts, and sell the stuff.

There is a sizable cash economy - for instance, you have your Mobile Mechanics... I've seen everything from real service trucks, to a guy with rando tools in the trunk of his Mazda shitbox. The Mazda guy is an idiot, but he talks a lot, mostly does padslap brake jobs for people who don't know any better. I'm guessing he is also one of the ones drawing some sort of aid...

[zahc]

"spending their own money" doesn't quite describe the situation correctly. In areas where welfare is endemic and systematic, it's impossible to survive without the welfare. The economy adjusts to absorb the welfare as a matter of basic economics. Cutting off welfare in these areas literally does create an economic shock that individuals cannot overcome. Now, this is a great argument against the welfare in the first place, but facts are facts.

[Northwoods]

"spending their own money" doesn't quite describe the situation correctly. In areas where welfare is endemic and systematic, it's impossible to survive without the welfare. The economy adjusts to absorb the welfare as a matter of basic economics. Cutting off welfare in these areas literally does create an economic shock that individuals cannot overcome. Now, this is a great argument against the welfare in the first place, but facts are facts.

If you've got the money for a luxury SUV you've got money for food and other necessities apart from welfare.

[Bogie]

Saw a guy at the grocery - had a cart full of ribs, brats, sauces, etc...
 
"I'm sick of this - Just got my EBT, so I'm setting up a grill, and I'm gonna make some money."

[Brad Johnson]

Way back in ye olden dayes when Food Stamps were actually stamps, the store where I worked was in an area heavily populated by food stamp recipients. You always knew distribution day because recipients would fill the strip center's parking lot, trolling stores and patrons trying to sell their booklets for cash at fifty cents on the dollar.

Brad

[WLJ]

Way back in ye olden dayes when Food Stamps were actually stamps, the store where I worked was in an area heavily populated by food stamp recipients. You always knew distribution day because recipients would fill the strip center's parking lot, trolling stores and patrons trying to sell their booklets for cash at fifty cents on the dollar.

Brad

Remember winos and drug head trying to sell food stamp books back in the day.