As always, an excellent rundown of DOGE. Problem is everything has become so hyper political and journalist have a hard time knowing how to report political news without getting snared into the analysis trap. Don't forget that many politicians get reelected because they promise to bring back federal tax dollars to their home communities for, often times, questionable projects. Worse than that, they don't have the time or won't take the time to do line by line budget analysis were the pork is hidden in plain sight. They leave that task to "staffers" who have their own political agendas and, as many have suggested, may have even more power than the elected officials they serve. Thus, the question most asked but not answered about the Biden presidency becomes who was really running the show. The joke in Washington has always been that we really don't need elected officials because the entrenched bureaucracy runs on its own power.
I can't pretend to know how to solve the problem of massive fraud and waste in DC. Given the pathetic record of the Government Accountability Office and the Inspectors General, it's about time someone or something stepped in and produced tangible results. And, yes, the actually numbers are soooo much worse than anyone could have predicted. All I know is that if I ran my own finances like they do in DC I would be broke and living on the street or put in jail for stealing from 320-million Americans who don't have the common sense to look behind the curtain of "the great and powerful OZ".
Thank you, Al! Always good to hear from you. Your points are excellent and certainly point to the massive problem journalists have in trying to make sense of government spending (and misspending) and explain it to their audience. I remember the words of one national leader who said, "government of the people, by the people, for the people." But, is it really? Journalists need to understand their responsibility and hold people in power accountable. Questions is: how to make that happen? Thank you again for your cogent thoughts.
One of my friends who I worked with in television and was also a college professor pointed out something in the article that I will clarify next week. It has to do with the difference between budgets and debt. Thanks!
As always, an excellent rundown of DOGE. Problem is everything has become so hyper political and journalist have a hard time knowing how to report political news without getting snared into the analysis trap. Don't forget that many politicians get reelected because they promise to bring back federal tax dollars to their home communities for, often times, questionable projects. Worse than that, they don't have the time or won't take the time to do line by line budget analysis were the pork is hidden in plain sight. They leave that task to "staffers" who have their own political agendas and, as many have suggested, may have even more power than the elected officials they serve. Thus, the question most asked but not answered about the Biden presidency becomes who was really running the show. The joke in Washington has always been that we really don't need elected officials because the entrenched bureaucracy runs on its own power.
I can't pretend to know how to solve the problem of massive fraud and waste in DC. Given the pathetic record of the Government Accountability Office and the Inspectors General, it's about time someone or something stepped in and produced tangible results. And, yes, the actually numbers are soooo much worse than anyone could have predicted. All I know is that if I ran my own finances like they do in DC I would be broke and living on the street or put in jail for stealing from 320-million Americans who don't have the common sense to look behind the curtain of "the great and powerful OZ".
Thank you, Al! Always good to hear from you. Your points are excellent and certainly point to the massive problem journalists have in trying to make sense of government spending (and misspending) and explain it to their audience. I remember the words of one national leader who said, "government of the people, by the people, for the people." But, is it really? Journalists need to understand their responsibility and hold people in power accountable. Questions is: how to make that happen? Thank you again for your cogent thoughts.
One of my friends who I worked with in television and was also a college professor pointed out something in the article that I will clarify next week. It has to do with the difference between budgets and debt. Thanks!