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PaperclipPerfector  2d ago (text post)   1078 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for May 30, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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My prediction about DOGE from six months ago seems to have come true.

https://www.themotte.org/post/1249/culture-war-roundup-for-the-week/268523?context=8#context

My prediction is that early on Musk will run into the incredibly thick red tape that normally prevents massive cuts in government, try to cut through it anyway because that's what he's used to in the private sector, and it results in some sort of lawsuit or other scandal.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-doge-trump-lawsuit-b2759428.html

It's particularly sad because this was a great opportunity for real reform. They just needed to focus on doing it through Congress passing laws to reform stuff, or altering overly stringent requirements independent agencies have made. Just trying to fire excess government employees is pointless as long the law says you need to first fire employees with under 2 years of tenure instead of firing based on actual merit. Otherwise you're doing nothing to get rid of layabouts and just get rid of any productive new hires you have.

This is more of a CW thread post.

Was the failure of DOGE really due to red tape? It seems more like the team was out of its depth given the amount of exaggeration and inaccuracies about the level of savings. Most importantly, Musk and his team seemed not allowed or not inclined to pursue savings in the areas in which they could have had a material impact.

Though doesn't this belong in a different thread?

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