Politics The Elephant in the room...The GOP today

Yes, they're the minority in population overall...but they're the majority by voting. (and by the compromise rules which give smaller states and less populous states leverage (CA has as many senators as WV...)
If you don't vote, it isn't counted...sorry, those are just the rules (and I'm just as frustrated and angry about it as you)

Also, if you let a minority gain leverage, even simply by bullying, being more organized, more consistent (right or wrong) and being louder,
then they will take advantage where they can.
Like a smaller dog with attitude going after a larger dog that's less committed.

Face it, the GOP is playing a ruthless no holds barred game.
The Dems have let too many things whiff by them. (this includes Obama)
Not that I like it...

 

OMG...I can't believe it...they actually backed down.
Boy, did they try a fast one.
After backlash, House GOP backs down from plan to gut ethics office

Not a good start if you want to ramrod your agenda.
Gotta be subtle about it.
Problem is with the GOP, when they're in charge, they tend to be ham-fisted...use a sledgehammer instead of a screwdriver.

 

And another flaming ball of the starting battle
We see where this is going.
Blast from the past: House reinstates rule targeting agency spending, employee salaries

And bonus to the GOP, it's complicated with unfamiliar words unlike "Ethics" so people will ignore it and so NOT protest it.
Cover it in obfuscation, nothing to eschew...uhh show getting screwed.
New MO: The Vader Method...just choke the bastards.

 

Yeah, I noted that too...

That's alright...you'd be amazed how those records can accumulate
and they can easily be gotten with a warrant...which tends to occur after enough corruption.
Prosecutors will have to kick it up another level...not by office request, but by the courts.

Yes, it's a dick move under principle.
But principles are not what this current GOP lives by...only on agenda and postures.

The pendulum swings back & forth...according to the convenience of those in power. (and what they've gotten caught at the time)
They're simply lucky, the most of the public has no memory.

 

An ethical double standard for Trump — and the GOP?

"It's only bad when THEY do it..."

The hypocrisy is profound.
No integrity.

Unfortunately, most of what media and opposition is doing about it...is saying "shame".

Obama had his "Audacity of Hope"
This is more like "Audacity of Hoke"

I guess spin wins.
At least until the nation learns the lesson...again.

I doubt we're going to past German or current Turkish level...but likely we're going to do some Italian Berlusconi (bunga-bunga )

 

GOP...
You break it,
You bought it.

Good luck.

 

Consumer Watchdog Faces Attack by House Republicans

But of course...screw the commoners.
Why should they need protection from white collar scam artists??

Hey, I'm all for making a buck...but not by fleecing people.
And the credit bureaus are one of the biggest scams.

If you going to do it...keep it fair, keep it clean.
But I guess that's too heavy a lift and not enough profit for some corporations and entities.

So much for the GOP looking out for the "real" Americans.

 

I've had some work inside government...I know they're all doing their job...and often doing it with very little. (as a matter of fact, most of them are this way)
If anything, the challenge is, many of them are doing overlapping tasks, because they've grown into it from their various overall focuses. (ex: Education Funding...is this Dept of Ed or Treasury? Or, or, or...)

You want glut, look at the Dept of Defense...the contracts on this are huge...and it is the biggest of "discretionary" spending. And they are the ONLY entity to have NOT satisfied an audit...by even their own deadline.
If you want waste, look at Dept of Homeland Security...they are a disorganized beast, throwing money at everything...but they got better under Obama vs. their time with GWB.
Problem is...conservatives LOVE military and security...and they're willing to fund them like a fire dept. water hose.

The rest that they complain is "big government" isn't...in relative terms very small.
It's just against their agenda and philosophy.
What they claim is regulation are typically safety measures put up because the industries fucked up before...hurt people, cost tons of money and so on...and they want to prevent the damage again.
But of course, the corporate powers which influence them...push to deregulate so they can maximize short term profits again. (and fuck what harm they do...)

Now, I'm a capitalist...I love capitalism...it's the best way to harness our self-interests and energy.
But I also know there are idiots and assholes which will harm us physically and financially to get their money on.
So I don't mind some regulation. (yes, you can go overboard...but you can rein it in without ripping it up and destroying it ALL)

Conservatives I find, have a All or Nothing attitude...so if they don't like a bit...they want to kill the whole thing.
Liberals care a bit too much...and want to go overboard on "guidance" which unfortunately in legal & law terms turns into too much.
There IS a balance.
But it's like driving...you keep your eye on the road and adjust...it's just that you're driving a train or cruise liner...so you cannot do it fast...and you have to move something big.

If you want to find out about the agencies...go online to each.
The Obama administration was good at encouraging online communication and presence...so they all now will tell you what they're doing...and what they're about.
You can also find a listing of all the departments, offices and agencies...this is public (it's just that people do NOT ask...through their own neglect)

I know we're getting our money's worth.
They just have to reduce Defense spending about 20% (and I do like a strong military with projected power, BTW) It's just that Congress pushes a lot of pork out, despite what the Pentagon recommends.
And then redistribute that to some of the other agencies.
Then get the health industry under control...that's another feeding frenzy of over-cost. (look at what other nations pay...we're getting soaked)

It's not the agencies.
It's the fuckin' management.
Congress is terrible at it.

The Obama administration, actually reduced the cost by about 2/3's
By just asking the staff and contractors where the waste was and if they had better ideas...then actually implemented them.

But now, the current administration...they think they know better.
So they're likely going to soak the budget....just like Reagan and GWB did. (Bush Sr. actually did a decent job...but he got busted for it by his own party)

I hope this helps