Politics Thread

[XU_Lou]

Senator Kennedy on the Social Security administration:

The social Security administration has 6.5 million people that are listed as saying they are 112 years old or older, that are receiving benefits!

Supposedly, there are only 35 Americans that are 112+ right now.

https://x.com/gracieback2/status/1887545103713292698


Can Paul explain why he and his fellow travelers are fighting to correct this?

[Xville]

Here's the problem I have. I have no doubt there is a spending problem in washington. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, but going in and putting 13k workers on administrative leave at USAID and completely dismantling it is irresponsible and reckless. It's not necessary, and there is no way that Musk and his cronies, did their due dilligence to fully understand what was going on there.

[xuwillie]

Here's the problem I have. I have no doubt there is a spending problem in washington. It doesn't take a rocket scientist, but going in and putting 13k workers on administrative leave at USAID and completely dismantling it is irresponsible and reckless. It's not necessary, and there is no way that Musk and his cronies, did their due dilligence to fully understand what was going on there.

I agree with some of this but def not when it comes to usaid and fema. Just do a little research and you'll find about 90% of this crap is wasteful spending. So it seems Musk has done plenty of due diligence to start with these two departments

[GoMuskies]

Go fast, break things and then go back and fix what should be fixed. Probably not a bad way to run a company (if yoir people can handle the chaos). Probably not a great way to run a government.

I want to see how this all shakes out, though. There are some third rail issues in government that we've all (not literally all, but a lot) agreed needed to "change" (spending, illegal immigration, food supply, fentanyl, Middle East, extreme "wokeness", etc), and term-limited Donald Trump with a Republican Congress, conservative Supreme Court, and a decisive election victory in hand has come in swinging a fucking sledgehammer on all those issues and more. Some of it is good, and some of its a huge fucking mess, but a shake up was certainly in order. Let's see where things land when they shaking stops.

[Xville]

I agree with some of this but def not when it comes to usaid and fema. Just do a little research and you'll find about 90% of this crap is wasteful spending. So it seems Musk has done plenty of due diligence to start with these two departments

I don't think any of us are really privy to the spending at usaid and fema. And i doubt anyone has gone line item by line item to figure out what is waste and what isn't. I highly highly doubt Musk has done due dilligence on those two departments. In what a couple of weeks' time? I doubt it.

As stated, I have no problem going in and doing audited work in these agencies, but my concern with Musk is the current way in which he is doing things, which was my concern with him in the first place.

[hoopster68]

I agree with some of this but def not when it comes to usaid and fema. Just do a little research and you'll find about 90% of this crap is wasteful spending. So it seems Musk has done plenty of due diligence to start with these two departments

Please offer citations that "about 90% of this crap is wasteful spending." Was it wasteful to those folks in FL and SC during the recent hurricane season? Was it wasteful for the folks in MS and TN struck by tornadoes? "Talking points" may score points on FAXX NEWS, but I'd like to see your sources.

[xuphan]

Please offer citations that "about 90% of this crap is wasteful spending." Was it wasteful to those folks in FL and SC during the recent hurricane season? Was it wasteful for the folks in MS and TN struck by tornadoes? "Talking points" may score points on FAXX NEWS, but I'd like to see your sources.

I am curious what people think about Trump wanting Canada to be the “51st” state? Do you think this will actually happen and how would you feel about the United States expansion? This would give us a seat at the artic table and bring a lot of resources in the hands of America. Not sure how Canadian would feel about it but it would be a potential big get for the United States.

[GoMuskies]

Are we acquiring Gaza, Panama and Greenland just so we can trade them for Canada? Sort of a sign and trade type deal?

Seems like a bit of an overpay to me.

[hoopster68]

I am curious what people think about Trump wanting Canada to be the “51st” state? Do you think this will actually happen and how would you feel about the United States expansion? This would give us a seat at the artic table and bring a lot of resources in the hands of America. Not sure how Canadian would feel about it but it would be a potential big get for the United States.

Imperialism by any other name is still imperialism. How can any sane American support the proposal to take over Canada, Greenland, + "remove" 2M Palestinians from Gaza/West Bank? As a country have we lost our collective minds? "America First" is rapidly becoming "America Worst."

[waggy]

Supposedly there have been talks with Alberta. Who knows if that is true, but one video I watched, the comment section was filled with Albertans who support the move.