Political Posts

[Parsad]

I can't get rid of the politics stuff...even I get sucked into it over and over.  But let's keep it polite and cordial, rather than antagonistic and rude.

 

I'm going to allow political discussion around the war threads (Ukraine/Russia and Israel/Gaza) and on threads regarding Elon, Doge, etc.  But don't start adding threads...use the ones already there.

 

For anyone going to non-political threads and starting political discussions...automatic 30 day ban.  No politics allowed at all outside of those mentioned threads on the General Discussion area...so not in BRK, FFH, Investment Ideas, or anything else...automatic 30 day bans otherwise.

 

Cheers!

[james22]

 

[lnofeisone]

4 hours ago, james22 said:

 

I hope there are people left in Census or USPS (or some random redditor/X user) to tell him that has already been tried, and it didn't work well at all to continue to expansion of the pilot OR they can try it again, waste $ and come to the same conclusion.

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2017-20036.pdf?1505825175

 

The number of wheels this administration will reinvent is going to be colossal. 

[james22]

1 hour ago, lnofeisone said:

I hope there are people left in Census or USPS (or some random redditor/X user) to tell him that has already been tried, and it didn't work well at all to continue to expansion of the pilot OR they can try it again, waste $ and come to the same conclusion.

https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2017-20036.pdf?1505825175

 

The number of wheels this administration will reinvent is going to be colossal. 

 

It didn't work well? You know this?

 

Or did it fail for other reasons - was it a protected jobs program, perhaps?

[lnofeisone]

5 minutes ago, james22 said:

 

It didn't work well? You know this?

 

Or did it fail for other reasons - was it a protected jobs program, perhaps?

I know for a fact that it didn't work. The numbers were off by a considerable margin, somewhere in the 50-75% range. I also know of another effort about 2 years ago where they tried to use satellite data, couple it with cell phone usage, and utility power usage, and internet usage to estimate numbers and they were still off. We aren't talking single % digits off or margin of error off. We are talking high teens % off. 

 

I don't know what the protected jobs program is, but I do know that the Census employee who ran the program was a smart cookie, very tech oriented, very frugal, and also cared about getting numbers right. 

[Ulti]

https://warontherocks.com/2025/02/the-rise-of-the-fake-tech-workforce-state-sponsored-infiltration-of-u-s-technical-supply-chains/
 

This is the type of shit the the rich techno savvy Doge head should be focused on..

[james22]

33 minutes ago, lnofeisone said:

I know for a fact that it didn't work. The numbers were off by a considerable margin, somewhere in the 50-75% range. I also know of another effort about 2 years ago where they tried to use satellite data, couple it with cell phone usage, and utility power usage, and internet usage to estimate numbers and they were still off. We aren't talking single % digits off or margin of error off. We are talking high teens % off. 

 

I don't know what the protected jobs program is, but I do know that the Census employee who ran the program was a smart cookie, very tech oriented, very frugal, and also cared about getting numbers right. 

 

You could well be right (we'd probably save more by eliminating the Post Office, rather than giving it more responsibilities), but the fact that it didn't pencil out once before doesn't convince me it isn't worth trying again (technologies and politics both change).

 

The current state isn't sustainable.

[Saluki]

17 hours ago, 73 Reds said:

Sure, but how many "Elon Musks" exist in the world?  To describe him as exceptional would be an understatement so do you think he should be treated like everyone else when it comes to what he can potentially generate?

 

YES!  If mere mortals can comply with the rules about bidding on contracts then why can't he, with all that supposed brain power?  Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates don't seem to have problems adapting their unique genius to pedestrian affairs. 

 

And if wasteful spending is so important to the current administration, why wasn't it an issue when the Treasury Secretary was taking a private government plane so that he and his wife could watch the eclipse? Or when the HUD Secretary spent a ridiculous amount of money (intended to house poor people) to redecorate his office. "you can't get a nice chair for less than $5,000."  Or what about the flights where Air Force one was forced to stop over in Scotland and personell were made to stay at Trump's resort at taxpayer expense?  

 

I'm not trying to rude, but I spent a long time in government at a regulatory agency that had a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, and whenever I saw a disgusting waste of funds it was NEVER at the staff level. It was always the political appointees who were nominated by the President.  I'll give you an example, red and blue.  RED: A chairman who has the title "Dr" in front of his name. He had two full time economists spending almost a year to do research and write his doctoral thesis for him. Then they also had to spend weeks afterwards to explain his paper to him so that he could he defend his dissertation to get his Ph.D. How about BLUE:  a commissioner who instructed my friend, an economist, to find something going on in Paris between X and Y dates that had some arguable connection to our mission so that she and her chief of staff could go on a girls shopping trip. 

 

If you really care about waste, does it bother you that the guy tasked with rooting it out didn't mention how a Biden pilot contract for $400k in electric vehicles from Tesla was changed to $400 million and back-dated to look like it was approved under the prior administration?  You are worried about money for a play in Afghanistan or something but this isn't a concern?  

[73 Reds]

3 minutes ago, Saluki said:

 

YES!  If mere mortals can comply with the rules about bidding on contracts then why can't he, with all that supposed brain power?  Peter Thiel, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates don't seem to have problems adapting their unique genius to pedestrian affairs. 

 

And if wasteful spending is so important to the current administration, why wasn't it an issue when the Treasury Secretary was taking a private government plane so that he and his wife could watch the eclipse? Or when the HUD Secretary spent a ridiculous amount of money (intended to house poor people) to redecorate his office. "you can't get a nice chair for less than $5,000."  Or what about the flights where Air Force one was forced to stop over in Scotland and personell were made to stay at Trump's resort at taxpayer expense?  

 

I'm not trying to rude, but I spent a long time in government at a regulatory agency that had a reputation for efficiency and effectiveness, and whenever I saw a disgusting waste of funds it was NEVER at the staff level. It was always the political appointees who were nominated by the President.  I'll give you an example, red and blue.  RED: A chairman who has the title "Dr" in front of his name. He had two full time economists spending almost a year to do research and write his doctoral thesis for him. Then they also had to spend weeks afterwards to explain his paper to him so that he could he defend his dissertation to get his Ph.D. How about BLUE:  a commissioner who instructed my friend, an economist, to find something going on in Paris between X and Y dates that had some arguable connection to our mission so that she and her chief of staff could go on a girls shopping trip. 

 

If you really care about waste, does it bother you that the guy tasked with rooting it out didn't mention how a Biden pilot contract for $400k in electric vehicles from Tesla was changed to $400 million and back-dated to look like it was approved under the prior administration?  You are worried about money for a play in Afghanistan or something but this isn't a concern?  

@Saluki, Not sure exactly what you are asking but if we are looking only to a standard that would qualify Mother Theresa, who would be tasked with the job?  Perhaps 30 years ago a man named Buffett would have been perfect.  Do you have someone else in mind?   

[Saluki]

1 minute ago, 73 Reds said:

@Saluki, Not sure exactly what you are asking but if we are looking only to a standard that would qualify Mother Theresa, who would be tasked with the job?  Perhaps 30 years ago a man named Buffett would have been perfect.  Do you have someone else in mind?   

 

I don't have a person in mind, but I have a system in mind. A system with career civil servants that are hired based on merit. A system where congress and people in charge of agencies should not be open to corruption and using their influence to grow their wealth. A system where they would be banned from insider trading, and actually prosecuted for it. Does that sound so unreasonable? 

 

It's not difficult at all. How?  

• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may not own individual stocks. They may not have blind trusts either. They may only own publicly traded ETFs or mutual funds that are available to the public. 
• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may only have one bank account with [a specified bank].  Fidelity does all the retirement stuff for federal employees by being the lowest bidder, we can find someone to do all their banking. 
• No member of Congress or head of an agency is permitted to make or receive payments in cash.  A digital trail to root out corruption. No more freezers with cold bars and cash. 
• Change the constitution so that the President's power to pardon does not apply to members of his family, or to members of Congress charged with corruption. 

Use the Singpore model:  well paid public servants, judges and politicians, along with severe punishments for corruption and bribery. 

[cubsfan]

21 minutes ago, Saluki said:

 

Use the Singpore model:  well paid public servants, judges and politicians, along with severe punishments for corruption and bribery. 

 

Be patient - the penalty phase is coming.

[james22]

44 minutes ago, Saluki said:

He had two full time economists spending almost a year to do research and write his doctoral thesis for him. Then they also had to spend weeks afterwards to explain his paper to him so that he could he defend his dissertation to get his Ph.D.

 

Done that.

[John Hjorth]

 

Thank you for your last post above @Saluki,

 

Even asking this question is, to me personally, a demonstration of lack of consideration towards your next - your neighbour. So, please think carefully about it, every time you're even just considering doing something that may eventually make you go totally broke, afterwards - at least for a period - depending on public subsidies.

 

One soul - one vote. It's just crucial to democracry, - if Musk is about to have more than the weight of one in votes, who's  to judge about that? The whole line of thinking about that is is just so out of line, fundamentally flawed - , here on CofB&F.

 

To have a society, you need to have a set of rules of accepted behavior! It reads so trivial , basic simple,-and important! Yet people seem to forget about it - Please don't!

[flesh]

53 minutes ago, Saluki said:

 

I don't have a person in mind, but I have a system in mind. A system with career civil servants that are hired based on merit. A system where congress and people in charge of agencies should not be open to corruption and using their influence to grow their wealth. A system where they would be banned from insider trading, and actually prosecuted for it. Does that sound so unreasonable? 

 

It's not difficult at all. How?  

• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may not own individual stocks. They may not have blind trusts either. They may only own publicly traded ETFs or mutual funds that are available to the public. 
• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may only have one bank account with [a specified bank].  Fidelity does all the retirement stuff for federal employees by being the lowest bidder, we can find someone to do all their banking. 
• No member of Congress or head of an agency is permitted to make or receive payments in cash.  A digital trail to root out corruption. No more freezers with cold bars and cash. 
• Change the constitution so that the President's power to pardon does not apply to members of his family, or to members of Congress charged with corruption. 

Use the Singpore model:  well paid public servants, judges and politicians, along with severe punishments for corruption and bribery. 

I’ll second all of this. I’d add term limits. Not sure what they’d be but way too short to be a career and therefore no pensions, unless proportional to the shortened term limits. 6-8 years max for anyone at any level. Additionally , any high ranking politicians isn’t allowed to work in any area post service that can influence directly future politics. Like lobbying and joining boards that hire lobbyists etc. 
 

Regarding what to cut and where I love it all! Yes cut all stupidity and with what’s at stake now cut every dpt. Defense as well. We don’t need fighter planes we need drones at 1/100 the cost. Etc. 
 

Cutting 10-20% of our current bloated spending is not difficult in govt.. you could do it in most private companies as well. 
 

these ideas could go on forever and I had totally given up on all of them. Now I see some light for some of them for the first time. 
 

The reality is none of this will get done unless it’s done now. 

[cubsfan]

^^^ Term limits and restrictions on post-private sector jobs would be awesome.

Edited February 27, 2025 by cubsfan

[73 Reds]

1 hour ago, Saluki said:

 

I don't have a person in mind, but I have a system in mind. A system with career civil servants that are hired based on merit. A system where congress and people in charge of agencies should not be open to corruption and using their influence to grow their wealth. A system where they would be banned from insider trading, and actually prosecuted for it. Does that sound so unreasonable? 

 

It's not difficult at all. How?  

• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may not own individual stocks. They may not have blind trusts either. They may only own publicly traded ETFs or mutual funds that are available to the public. 
• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may only have one bank account with [a specified bank].  Fidelity does all the retirement stuff for federal employees by being the lowest bidder, we can find someone to do all their banking. 
• No member of Congress or head of an agency is permitted to make or receive payments in cash.  A digital trail to root out corruption. No more freezers with cold bars and cash. 
• Change the constitution so that the President's power to pardon does not apply to members of his family, or to members of Congress charged with corruption. 

Use the Singpore model:  well paid public servants, judges and politicians, along with severe punishments for corruption and bribery. 

@Saluki I'd agree with all of your suggestions.   

[Blugolds]

@Saluki these are excellent recommendations, and they seem like common sense for the avg joe. 

 

The problem is that you would have to convince a very large group of very wealthy people to vote for change that is not in their best interest. As ideal as this is (and I want to believe) the chances of this happening are slim to none. 

 

I'd also repeal Citizens United...although if you set the constraints correctly as you outlined above, that would do a lot to reduce the damage Citizen United was able to do.  

[Parsad]

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/27/business/elon-musk-faa-air-traffic-control-failing-spacex/index.html

 

He wants Verizon's traffic controller contract for Space X.  But of course he's not getting paid for his work at DOGE.  Cheers!

[cubsfan]

Musk haters have real impact!

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-25/tesla-sales-fall-45-in-europe-as-rivals-ev-registrations-soar

 

Congrats!

[Hektor]

Law firms should see a lot of business during this administration, I guess. Are there publicly traded law firms? 

[73 Reds]

6 minutes ago, Hektor said:

Law firms should see a lot of business during this administration, I guess. Are there publicly traded law firms? 

LOL, that's a good one.

[Saluki]

22 minutes ago, Hektor said:

Law firms should see a lot of business during this administration, I guess. Are there publicly traded law firms? 

 

That's an interesting question and the answer is no. Lawyers have an ethical duty to put their client's interests ahead of their own, so the American Bar Association does not want business people involved in owning law firms. There is one jurisdiction that had a pilot program (DC maybe?) where they allowed an accounting firm to own an interest in a law firm. I don't think it ever caught on.

 

There was a lot of controversy when the Wall Street firms went from partnerships to corporations and went public. Ditto for consultants. It may happen eventually for law firms too. 

 

[73 Reds]

14 minutes ago, Saluki said:

 

That's an interesting question and the answer is no. Lawyers have an ethical duty to put their client's interests ahead of their own, so the American Bar Association does not want business people involved in owning law firms. There is one jurisdiction that had a pilot program (DC maybe?) where they allowed an accounting firm to own an interest in a law firm. I don't think it ever caught on.

 

There was a lot of controversy when the Wall Street firms went from partnerships to corporations and went public. Ditto for consultants. It may happen eventually for law firms too. 

 

I think the issue is that Lawyers are not permitted to share fees with non-lawyers.

[DooDiligence]

4 hours ago, Saluki said:

 

I don't have a person in mind, but I have a system in mind. A system with career civil servants that are hired based on merit. A system where congress and people in charge of agencies should not be open to corruption and using their influence to grow their wealth. A system where they would be banned from insider trading, and actually prosecuted for it. Does that sound so unreasonable? 

 

It's not difficult at all. How?  

• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may not own individual stocks. They may not have blind trusts either. They may only own publicly traded ETFs or mutual funds that are available to the public. 
• All members of Congress and heads of agencies may only have one bank account with [a specified bank].  Fidelity does all the retirement stuff for federal employees by being the lowest bidder, we can find someone to do all their banking. 
• No member of Congress or head of an agency is permitted to make or receive payments in cash.  A digital trail to root out corruption. No more freezers with cold bars and cash. 
• Change the constitution so that the President's power to pardon does not apply to members of his family, or to members of Congress charged with corruption. 

Use the Singpore model:  well paid public servants, judges and politicians, along with severe punishments for corruption and bribery. 

 

I watched a bit of CNA recently and saw a documentary that covered anti-corruption efforts in Singapore over the decades. Pretty draconian at times. Let's do it and let's start with everybody in DC left and right, now.

 

https://www.cpib.gov.sg/about-corruption/legislation-and-enforcement/prevention-of-corruption-act/

 

 

[lnofeisone]

5 hours ago, james22 said:

 

You could well be right (we'd probably save more by eliminating the Post Office, rather than giving it more responsibilities), but the fact that it didn't pencil out once before doesn't convince me it isn't worth trying again (technologies and politics both change).

 

The current state isn't sustainable.

Sure. There will be contracting firms happy to support this effort and in the end it will look just like McKinsey's NYC trashcan value-add (https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-orders-4-million-mckinsey-study-on-whether-trash-piles-would-be-better-inside-containers) but it will somehow be sustainable.