Elon Musk...human? - Political

[lnofeisone]

1 hour ago, Gregmal said:

He’s worked both. Think he’s currently in state. Says they basically work interchangeably. 

States have a lot more flexibility and can be gamed like that but for smaller amounts of $. You can't just buy trucks in Federal. Just look at the Tesla for the Dept. of State. Federal gov't has mechanisms for contracts that extend multiple years so this gamification actually hurts departments. 

[Spekulatius]

2 hours ago, Gregmal said:

Yea my brother in law does environmental protection stuff. November and December they are required to go on spending binges, from lunch parties to fleets of new pickup trucks in order to drain any budget excess because if it’s not spent the following years budget gets slashed.
 

Fiscal responsibility is not only not taught, it’s punished and simply thru culture these lifers are trained to be wasteful and game the system.

The same thing exists in larger corporations  as well, albeit not quite as pronounced. I also don’t have dipshit friends that work government jobs. Typically the excess budget stuff are not lunch parties etc but Capex stuff that wasn’t spent because if you spent your budget in September and then something breaks that is sorely needed there would be no money to acquire it. I have seen similar things happening in companies I worked for.

[RichardGibbons]

4 hours ago, Gregmal said:

What’s the point of this? People stopped falling for “polls” years ago. Crazy seeing how much fuss a 10% sell off creates when really very little real world anything has actually happened. 

 

Maybe you just haven't actually realized that something has changed.

Here's some fun graffiti in Canada's most Conservative, pro-Trump province.

 

 

[Gregmal]

57 minutes ago, RichardGibbons said:

 

Maybe you just haven't actually realized that something has changed.

Here's some fun graffiti in Canada's most Conservative, pro-Trump province.

 

 

Idk just seems like way too many people are emotionally wrapped up in all this tabloid like crap to an unhealthy degree. 

[james22]

 

[Sweet]

7 hours ago, lnofeisone said:

When I was working on Gov't contracts, my smallest contract was $3M. Biggest $300M over 5 years. All Federal. I've never seen anyone just blow through money. In fact, I've very frequently finished contracts that would have ceilings that were untouched (i.e., how much the limit was vs. how much was actually spent). I don't know what country you are in but this is 100% not Federal gov't. Maybe some state or grant-based locale. 

I’m in the UK.  We had a requirement to land within a % of our total allocation as a department each year which is why there is always this end of year madness.  I know this to be the case right across the board.

 

We managed contracts too, they tended to work like you suggested.  However if we underspent on a grant the underspend is held centrally.  This is then money that ‘has to be spent’ to land within the % budget allocation.

 

I’d say it’s similiar for those grants you worked on too, even in America.  If you save like 10% I.e. you did a good job of delivering below budget, chances are that saved money sits somewhere in an account that admin and senior managers fret about spending later

 

Edited Friday at 07:36 AM by Sweet

[John Hjorth]

More on the Tesla-Musk paradox :

 

Reuters - Business - Autos, transportation [March 14^th 2025] : Tesla warns it could face retaliatory tariffs.

 

Summary :

• Tesla warns of retaliatory tariffs in wake of Trump's trade policies
• Tesla emphasizes difficulty in sourcing parts domestically
• Autos Drive America trade group warns tariffs could disrupt U.S. production

Tesla letter mentioned in acticle attached.

USTR-2025-0001-00111195-CAT-5983-Public Document.pdf

[beerbaron]

5 hours ago, Sweet said:

I’m in the UK.  We had a requirement to land within a % of our total allocation as a department each year which is why there is always this end of year madness.  I know this to be the case right across the board.

 

We managed contracts too, they tended to work like you suggested.  However if we underspent on a grant the underspend is held centrally.  This is then money that ‘has to be spent’ to land within the % budget allocation.

 

I’d say it’s similiar for those grants you worked on too, even in America.  If you save like 10% I.e. you did a good job of delivering below budget, chances are that saved money sits somewhere in an account that admin and senior managers fret about spending later

 

Same process in Canada. 

[lnofeisone]

6 hours ago, Sweet said:

I’m in the UK.  We had a requirement to land within a % of our total allocation as a department each year which is why there is always this end of year madness.  I know this to be the case right across the board.

 

We managed contracts too, they tended to work like you suggested.  However if we underspent on a grant the underspend is held centrally.  This is then money that ‘has to be spent’ to land within the % budget allocation.

 

I’d say it’s similiar for those grants you worked on too, even in America.  If you save like 10% I.e. you did a good job of delivering below budget, chances are that saved money sits somewhere in an account that admin and senior managers fret about spending later

 

In the US, things are very streamlined on the federal level, and pulling things like that off is unheard of. The federal government is far more sophisticated than the state and local so I can see how this could happen at those levels but not Federal. 

 

When I was doing work for fed they were sophisticated enough to get firm fixed price contracts and have us bear a lot of the risk. We would constantly have to manage cost and demands (and they were very demanding). When i have time and materials (or variants thereof) the clients were always judicious. Did I work with some monumental idiots, yes but I work with monumental idiots doing work for large (think F1000-F500) firms as well. The only common denominator is the people. 

[Sweet]

1 hour ago, lnofeisone said:

In the US, things are very streamlined on the federal level, and pulling things like that off is unheard of. The federal government is far more sophisticated than the state and local so I can see how this could happen at those levels but not Federal. 

 

When I was doing work for fed they were sophisticated enough to get firm fixed price contracts and have us bear a lot of the risk. We would constantly have to manage cost and demands (and they were very demanding). When i have time and materials (or variants thereof) the clients were always judicious. Did I work with some monumental idiots, yes but I work with monumental idiots doing work for large (think F1000-F500) firms as well. The only common denominator is the people. 

I would say that your experience is not the norm.  Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of government here that work very hard and are underfunded.  Then there are other sections with people doing very little all day and the headcount should be reduced by a lot.  So it’s a mixed bag, however my experience it is far more often like I described vs what you described.

[SharperDingaan]

Re Tesla-Musk.

 

Orange Boy isn't going to change until Americans forceably make him. Wall Street as a result of collapsing markets, business as a result of shut out exports/higher import costs, the public as a result of mass layoffs and higher costs, and the federal reserve as a result of buyers progressively walking away from US debt. Markets down 15-30%+, unemployment at 6-15%+ .... the best outcome for all is the hardest crash possible, and as rapidly as possible.

 

After tariffs, a Tesla in Europe now costs as much as a high-end BMW. The BMW is luxury and reliable; the Tesla an embarrassment to drive, a target for vandals .... and that is before it catches fire, all by itself   Turds on wheels. Tesla ain't selling squat.

 

After tariffs, that luxury BMW in the US is now uber expensive, and makes the statement that you can afford it. Whereas, that NEW Tesla is just for the tech bro who can't afford the real thing; and that USED Tesla .... well, you must be REALLY hard up.  Again, Tesla ain't selling squat.

 

Bulk Starlink contracts are being torn-up the world over, en masse. Space Ex rockets seem to have developed a propensity for blowing up ... and all this before their supply chain gets rocked 

 

As it is with Tesla, it will be a similar experience across much of US business engaged in trade. And it will get really exciting when a T-Bill auction has to be scaled back ... 'cause not enough demand showed up. Tariff every other country and at least the external pain gets spread around. Every other country tariffs you at the same time, the internal pain gets concentrated ..... and change.

 

Sadly, the bar fight has now started, and there will be no winners. Best outcome is as many knock-out blows, as soon as possible, to end it quickly.

 

SD 

        

Edited Friday at 07:47 PM by SharperDingaan

[cubsfan]

4 minutes ago, SharperDingaan said:

Re Tesla-Musk.

 

Orange Boy isn't going to change until Americans forceable make him. Wall Street as a result of collapsing markets, business as a result of shut out exports/higher import costs, the public as a result of mass layoffs and higher costs, and the federal reserve as a result of buyers progressively walking away from US debt. Markets down 15-30%+, unemployment at 6-15%+ .... the best outcome for all is the hardest crash possible, and as rapidly as possible.

 

After tariffs, a Tesla in Europe now costs as much as a high-end BMW. The BMW is luxury and reliable; the Tesla an embarrassment to drive, a target for vandals .... and that is before it catches fire, all by itself   Turds on wheels. Tesla ain't selling squat.

 

After tariffs, that luxury BMW in the US is now uber expensive, and makes the statement that you can afford it. Whereas, that NEW Tesla is just for the wanna-be who can't afford the real thing; and that USED Tesla .... well, you must be REALLY hard up.  Again, Tesla ain't selling squat.

 

Bulk Starlink contracts are being torn-up the world over, en masse. Space Ex rockets seem to have developed a propensity for blowing up ... and all this before their supply chain gets rocked 

 

As it is with Tesla, it will be a similar experience across much of US business engaged in trade. And it will get really exciting when a T-Bill auction has to be scaled back ... 'cause not enough demand showed up. Tariff every other country and at least the external pain gets spread around. Every other country tariffs you at the same time, the internal pain gets concentrated ..... and change.

 

Sadly, the bar fight has now started, and there will be no winners. Best outcome is as many knock-out blows, as soon as possible, to end it quickly.

 

SD 

        

 

SD - really sounds like Musk is done for now. I'd sure hate to be him!

[John Hjorth]

18 hours ago, dealraker said:

... Then we got two obsessed for attention leaders who wanted to be in charge of eventful change, but neither with a plan nor any real interest in making a plan, and both have zero attention span as to logic about any of it.  I don't blame them, I sure as hell wouldn't.

 

Very soon responding/resulting events will be in charge of our wild ass duo.  It won't be them controlling the show it will be stuff happening to them that is in control of all of us.  

 

It happens to one of them over and over in his aged low performance business life of failing to keep up with even inflation.  He will crawl out of the chaotic yard sale with a personal profit; always has, always will.   Others.... not so lucky.   

 

This. 

 

Absolutely awesome post, that I have been chewing on the whole day today. If I had a 'bookmark' button here on CofB&F, I would for sure push it here.

 

Do you remember in POTUS' first presidential period, when he eventually ran - more or less - out of steam, and was asked critical questions  about why there was registered 'executive time' - over and over again - in his public calendar, just to keep him clear of anything and everything, to rest, answering the question with something like : '... I have a tough job!'?

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

And the other guy is already way in over his head, and he doesen't even have clue about what has started to happen to him by now.

[Gregmal]

It’s kinda crazy to me how people still don’t get it. Majority of people whom presumably voted for Trump do not care about these things you guys keep “ah ha!”-ing to. What they voted for was a result of behaviors; they detest and abhor elitists lecturing them about morality, “haves” prospering with little effort while telling them how they’re doing it wrong, stock market guys like Fink doing social experiments with their livelihoods, politicians and government employees cruise controlling it with no accountability; and guys like Ackman and Buffett talking the talk and not walking the walk while they struggle to keep food on the table and pay their rent and Geico bills. 
 

These people don’t pay attention to the stock market and if they did, they’d be cheering this stuff. They don’t care about Canadian or Mexican tariffs, they don’t care about Elon Musk outside of probably enjoying seeing him make their tormentors squirm a little bit. 
 

Talk about tone deaf. 

[John Hjorth]

Yahoo!Finance [March 14^th 2025] : Americans sour on economy as inflation expectations hit highest level since 1991.

[rogermunibond]

There's no MAGA revolution.

 

There's 600 days till the mid terms.  Time's ticking.  

 

Are you better off on November 4, 2026 than you were in 2024? 

 

That's the exam.

[cubsfan]

9 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

 they detest and abhor elitists lecturing them about morality

 

If I had to boil it down to one thing - this is it.

 

Leave me alone, let me be free, STFU, stop lecturing me constantly, stay away from my children

[73 Reds]

5 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

If I had to boil it down to one thing - this is it.

 

Leave me alone, let me be free, STFU, stop lecturing me constantly, stay away from my children

A couple more:

 

Stop spending my tax dollars on stuff I don't support and likely detest; and

 

Grow a spine when it comes to recognizing mainstream immorality.

[Gregmal]

Yup. And that’s where the self owns are a little enjoyable. “Ah the market is crashing Trumps an idiot!”….”ahh tariffs are really backfiring 13 days in zomg!”….most of the voters/people give zero fucks about these things and are perfectly fine if the consolidation prize this time around is the system crashing and burning for a bit, especially if they finally get to see some of the haves suffer too.

[james22]

40 minutes ago, Gregmal said:

Talk about tone deaf. 

 

Exactly.

 

I voted for ALL this.

[SharperDingaan]

41 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

Leave me alone, let me be free, STFU, stop lecturing me constantly, stay away from my children

 

Quite agree; don't want to hear it, good on you. The common view along the first 50km of most highways south of the Canada/US border, across the width of Canada. 

 

Threaten the rest of the world, and it is going to retaliate ...  having an idea as to what that might look like, and how it might impact you, is just being prudent; your choice as to whether to act or not. 

 

However, the reality is that Americans do NOT live in a vacuum. You aren't free - you live in a law abiding community, you may well soon not have a job anymore to pay for what you want, and maybe ... you will also not have a wife and kids anymore if you lose the house/car, and fall into a bottle or pill box.  

 

Attitudes that are not going to change until there is widespread house burning.

Misery that is entirely avoidable.

 

SD   

Edited Friday at 04:43 PM by SharperDingaan

[dealraker]

2 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

 

This. 

 

Absolutely awesome post, that I have been chewing on the whole day today. If I had a 'bookmark' button here on CofB&F, I would for sure push it here.

 

Do you remember in POTUS' first presidential period, when he eventually ran - more or less - out of steam, and was asked critical questions  about why there was registered 'executive time' - over and over again - in his public calendar, just to keep him clear of anything and everything, to rest, answering the question with something like : '... I have a tough job!'?

 

- - - o 0 o - - -

 

And the other guy is already way in over his head, and he doesen't even have clue about what has started to happen to him by now.

POTUS has kept a fan base and media following since his early 20's but outside of that several times he's lured substantial numbers of credible people into his very popular project of the current time.  These endeavors have all ended almost precisely the same, POTUS has chosen something well beyond his skill level and he promptly realizes it ain't gunna work.  It is at this point where POTUS truly displays his immense talent to escape soundly with both his money and his reputation as a "deal maker" - while others involved spend years scavenging what they can from the ruins.   

 

However, given this time he has zero invested and no fears of losing anything financially (which is 99% of his interest at all times) and the fact that he can probably still stay empowered with an approval rating of 30%... I think we have some very exciting stuff coming at us.  

 

Overall today we have something that I think will prove to be the theme for this era.  We have Saylor, POTUS, Musk, and many others...all drama queens and kings dancing their dramatic multi directional (non profit) themes and schemes of every type of fear possible - that you must "invest" and "believe" with them not to face ruin or get left behind with astronomical $ rewards.  This sales game is incredibly successful - but the issue is that there is no income/revenue in any of it at all, no benefit to anyone anywhere - except the sponsors own bank/business account and power over you.

 

All of it is polar opposite of Warren Buffett who has said, "Wealth building is your direct link or ownership of stock in a productive profitable business, all else between you and that entity is an unnecessary cost."  We are spending all our time these day discounting and hating one another while 'buying' worthless shit whether it be lunatic fear based ideas or fake investments.  It is a goofball era full of oddballs who love conflict and disruption - as long as they benefit financially themselves.   

Edited Friday at 05:48 PM by dealraker

[cwericb]

Yup, and to top it all off we have great masses of people (including some here) who firmly believe that a group of sociopathic billionaires are trying hard to help out the middle and lower classes. They are trying to help them out all right. 

[Charlie]

No one can say, how it will work out.

One can think of a lot of scenarios.

It can work very well or it can work very bad.

 

It is good from time to time doing something enjoyable

and not focus too much on this endless "shitshow".

Edited Friday at 05:59 PM by Charlie

[73 Reds]

3 minutes ago, Charlie said:

No one can say, how it will work out.

One can think of a lot of scenarios.

It can work very well or it can work very bad.

 

It is good from time to time doing something enjoyable

and not focus too much on this endless "shitshow".

Yup.  Trump, Musk, [Pick a name] Derangement Syndrome is alive and well, even here.  How did we even survive before social media and a 24/7 news cycle?