1. My main concern is the total debt and its interest, as you mentioned in point two. With DOGE, ensuring orders are followed to fix policy is crucial, but some of these cuts do seem more about installing loyal personnel than just reducing costs.
I also worry about shifting staff to contractors. From friends that work in the DOD contracting they get paid 3-4x what an equivalent gov employee does. If contracts are cut too that could be a much bigger win than the gov staff.
2. They've discussed cutting programs like the F-35 and shifting towards robotics and drones for defense and offense. The goal is to move away from expensive Cold War-era weapons that are easy targets. If this just redirects more money to Anduril and Silicon Valley, that’s unfortunate. But if it reduces overall costs, that’s a positive step.
3. Diabetes and dialysis treatments are extremely expensive. Addressing obesity could significantly lower end-of-life healthcare costs. RFK has explicitly focused on this issue.
4. Agree.
Another major issue is the sheer number of regulations involved in anything. Not all are federal, but it's revealing to count how many laws you unknowingly break. For example, where I live:
If your dog chases a squirrel—illegal.
Flying a drone and disturbing a bird’s flight path—illegal.
Using a quadcopter to photograph your house in snowy conditions (when visibility is below IFR limits for airplanes)—illegal.
Taking pictures of dolphins from a boat, even if they move away on their own—illegal.
I don’t own a business, but friends who do often describe the nightmare of dealing with regulatory agencies. They may not be police, but the experience feels just as stressful—especially since they can effectively shut down your business. Compliance is incredibly expensive for the company.
> I also worry about shifting staff to contractors. From friends that work in the DOD contracting they get paid 3-4x what an equivalent gov employee does. If contracts are cut too that could be a much bigger win than the gov staff.
Why would contracts be cut? If you're firing federal employees but the work still has to get done (as directed by the laws enacted by Congress which the president is obligated to faithully execute to the best of his ability) then the only solution is more contractors, not less. In addition as you hollow out the expertise in agencies by buying people out or letting them take early retirement you're going to have more government consultants and contractors providing that expertise at a multiple of what the existing employees cost.
Is the Stalinist purge of perceived enemies by the president and resident billionaire worth all of that extra spending? Is it worth introducing more spending and inefficiency in the name of saving money and efficiency?
I also worry about shifting staff to contractors. From friends that work in the DOD contracting they get paid 3-4x what an equivalent gov employee does. If contracts are cut too that could be a much bigger win than the gov staff.
2. They've discussed cutting programs like the F-35 and shifting towards robotics and drones for defense and offense. The goal is to move away from expensive Cold War-era weapons that are easy targets. If this just redirects more money to Anduril and Silicon Valley, that’s unfortunate. But if it reduces overall costs, that’s a positive step.
3. Diabetes and dialysis treatments are extremely expensive. Addressing obesity could significantly lower end-of-life healthcare costs. RFK has explicitly focused on this issue.
4. Agree.
Another major issue is the sheer number of regulations involved in anything. Not all are federal, but it's revealing to count how many laws you unknowingly break. For example, where I live:
If your dog chases a squirrel—illegal.
Flying a drone and disturbing a bird’s flight path—illegal.
Using a quadcopter to photograph your house in snowy conditions (when visibility is below IFR limits for airplanes)—illegal.
Taking pictures of dolphins from a boat, even if they move away on their own—illegal.
I don’t own a business, but friends who do often describe the nightmare of dealing with regulatory agencies. They may not be police, but the experience feels just as stressful—especially since they can effectively shut down your business. Compliance is incredibly expensive for the company.