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From: Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org>
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech
Subject: Re: [OT] How to live like a Doge
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:37:54 -0500
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On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:00:22 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:15:59 -0500, Catrike Ryder
><Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:07 -0500, Frank Krygowski
>><frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>>>On 2/20/2025 8:57 AM, AMuzi wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> So far, Mr Musk, and others including Mr Zeldin, seem to have made good 
>>>> progress. But the problem is many times larger than results to date.
>>>
>>>Good progress? It's been chaotic in the extreme, most of it done with 
>>>little rational analysis other than "We can pull off cutting this," much 
>>>of it likely illegal, often generating "Oops, we didn't mean that," with 
>>>negative consequences sure to appear.
>>
>>Nonsense. Why are you against getting rid of wasteful spending by the
>>federal government?
>
>Perhaps it's because Musk and accomplices are looking in the wrong
>places to cut government waste?  Oddly, the following report, which
>has been released annually by senator Rand Paul (R-KY) isn't
>mentioned:
>
>"DOGE Subcommittee’s First Hearing Uncovers Billions Lost to Fraud and
>Improper Payments, Launches "War on Waste""
><https://oversight.house.gov/release/hearing-wrap-up-doge-subcommittees-first-hearing-uncovers-billions-lost-to-fraud-and-improper-payments-launches-war-on-waste/>
>"The Festivus Report 2024"
><https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/FESTIVUS-REPORT-2024.pdf>
>
>I haven't found an up to date list of the "waste" that the Doge has so
>far attacked but I suspect that none of the items listed in the 2024
>report will be on the list.  Why?  Because they are all "sacred cows",
>"pork barrel", payoffs for political favors, etc.
>
>The 2024 list is itemized on Page 3 and 4 of the report.
>
>>>And I haven't met anyone who voted for Musk.
>
>You didn't buy a Tesla automobile or one of the companies owned by
>Elon Musk?
><https://www.madisontrust.com/information-center/visualizations/everything-elon-musk-owns/>
>Voting on a ballot with your pen has limited effect.  Voting with your
>dollars through the products you purchase as a much larger and more
>immediate effect.  
>
>>You never met anyone who voted for whoever was making Presidential
>>decisions for the last four years, either. I must have missed where
>>you complained about that.
>
>You don't like the electoral college and their voting methods?  Well,
>I don't like it either, but all the solutions I've seen will only make
>things worse.  
>
>Did you read about the voting system used to select the Italian Doges?
>It makes todays US electoral college voting system look comparatively
>simple:
>"How to live like a Doge"
><https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/fodors/top/features/travel/destinations/europe/italy/venice/fdrs_feat_163_7.html>

1) I'm well aware that there's wastefull spending by both political
parties. Hopefully, Doge is indeed outside the political framework and
will nail all the offenders.

2) There are no solutions to the electoral college. It takes the
ratification of 3/4the of the states to change it to what the high
population states want. That's not likely to happen and I'm perfectly
Ok with that.

3) I'm not Ok with the fact that for four years the elected President
was being instructed on what to do and say.

--
C'est bon
Soloman