Politics What is happening????

I'm hoping the new CFPB - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gains some more momentum and authority...we need it.
So far they've only been able to go after the big targets...but there's a multitude of small fish that need gutting.
And laws that need to be put in place.

 

Money is where the market is...

If you want bigger salaries make them more of a commodity

 

The Pentagon’s War on Accountability

Now, don't get me wrong...I'm all for a strong defense...projecting power...even to the point of being a bit hawkish.
However, I'm also one for doing it right...Libertarian, not to stop spending...but using money and resources efficiently. Progressive in the context of accountability. (when it comes to defense)

But when even a Republican Ex-WWII General warns the military-industrial complex decades ago
and we had the biggest build ups after Reagan and GWB...and ongoing wars and/or excursions under Obama where we still haven't tracked where BILLIONS went or what contractors did, etc
There IS a problem.

AND the fact that the DOD cannot not just "pass" an audit as the article notes...but it can NOT even finish ANY audit, even after their OWN deadline.

Now, I work in the federal government as a contractor.
I'm NOT suggesting making it a skin-flint era, where we have to work without resources or use 1970's furniture (which I've seen even at the top, in various Depts.)
You need to fairly contemporary digs just to make working sane, not repressed...and you want all the cogs to move smooth...not stop & go traffic.

But there is an obvious over-spending in certain areas with contracts. Losing where money goes. Distributing it to places that don't need it. (and I don't mind redistributing it IF it's justified and necessary or can be more useful)
Come on...
Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.

We need to get rid of this incessant waste and corruption.
And the politicians are just as complicit, because they send back money to their constituent areas and to their connections.

There really needs to be something that says two things.
Is it REALLY needed.?
And WHERE did it go?

And the review offices need to be just as accountable...actually reporting and addressing any issue.

If you can hold your taxpayers to the flame for their owed taxes,
then you can stomp on your spenders on the inside for their excessive and unnecessary expenses.

The DOD budget would go down I'd say at least another 25%, if not more.
The Obama administration has scaled it back quite a bit...but it needs to be more. (and STILL be able to do strong defense....although I don't know if we need to still have 2 front conventional war posturing...that's not needed)

 

Now, I don't think we're going to get too many riots...and certainly not beheadings. We've moved beyond this in the post-industrial West.
Anger by the masses...it is coming out in more subtle ways...

• Elites ignored concerns of voters
• Why is Europe so fed up?

And so on...

Now, it is not apparent or obvious rhetoric or ideologues that will come out and say, "We're pissed off and we're not going to take it anymore"
But the rage comes out in ALL different ways...sometimes even opposing what would truly benefit them.

They just know they aren't getting theirs...yet others are.
Life is more complicated, a constant burden.
Even if they're spending more...or have a stable job...
There's just a sensation that the system isn't working for them...the system is in chaos...and there is great waste and corruption in it.

Now, I'd say...in relative terms, we're doing better than we've done before in these cycles in the past.
But the leadership is catering to the powerful...not the common population.

It's not communism, socialism or other previous paths that are thought of for the answer.
But it's emerging in things like the Tea Party, Extremism and other "cult of personality" figures that say SOMETHING that represents their anger.
Even if the given solutions or words are not doable or realistic.

Basically, "Damn The Man"
Or "why do I have to work so hard to have less?"

Frankly, I think it's 2 things.
One, the leadership is not actually doing anything...just bitchin' at each other. A tin ear to the hollers of the people.
Two, the way the financial system is setup EVERYWHERE...and it seems that you're constantly worrying on things, negotiating things...getting fee'd to death.

So the latter is sensation of burden and death by a 1000 cuts.
And the former can't get their act together to help it, prevent it, cure it...and it seems like they even encourage it or by default support it. All the while just posturing, spinning and attacking their opponents.

So people are saying "ENOUGH!!"
And to the leaders, STFU and do something.

And if they can't, they'll put in ANYONE that promises that they will. (even though this is just BS too)

It's like I always say...I didn't vote you in to sit on your ass. I voted for you to "do something" and work your ass off.
I guess everyone else is saying the same.
Problem is...they're believing in False Prophets.

Challenge is...who's the false prophet???
Right now...I think they think they ALL are.