That all of this was known is not as important as it being well publicized now. A GAO or IG report is easily buried on page 12 or completely ignored. Musk putting it out to millions of voters on X cannot. Having Trump looking over everyone’s shoulders should provide all the impetus needed to affect real change.
That all of this was known is not as important as it being well publicized now. A GAO or IG report is easily buried on page 12 or completely ignored. Musk putting it out to millions of voters on X cannot. Having Trump looking over everyone’s shoulders should provide all the impetus needed to affect real change.
The significance that this was known is that Congress especially should have known, and has no defense for not knowing.
People need to wrap their brains around the reality that as much as $521 Billion of fraud against the US government is perpetrated every year right under Congress’ noses.
They are the stewards of the public fisc. They hold the pursestrings. They have a legal, Constitutional, and moral duty to pay close attention to everyone who dips into the public purse, and they have not done so.
That should be a question posed to each and every one of the 535 members of Congress—why didn’t they know and why didn’t they do anything about it?
Exactly! Congress should be held accountable. And individuals, as agency heads, should be held accountable. Musk is right - start firing people for not doing their jobs properly. The rest of America’s workers get fired if we do our work as poorly as government employees have been doing theirs. No more excuses - fire them, restructure or eliminate agencies, clean everything out!
Term limits: yes! And we also need to pass laws regarding the lobbying system.
I have been dismayed that my generation has been blamed for so many things. I want to grab younger people by the collar and say, we DID vote for fiscal responsibility! We DID vote for smaller government, efficiency, better schools, etc. - but once in office, the politicians had to bow to lobbyists in order to be reelected. Whole books have been written about the ways that the lobbying system has undermined the voters’ will. Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Food, and so on have destroyed so much of what was great about America. I sure hope we’ve hit bottom now and can start to claw it all back. (And maybe that’s where you will really shine, Peter!)
One lobbying fact that really got me is that lobbyists have security badges that get them into places in the U.S. Capitol that are denied to average citizens! This should be stopped.
I have long advocated that lobbying should only take place within a Congressman's district. Make lobbyists physically travel to all fifty states, and all 435 Congressional districts.
That way lobbyists are physically in the same playing field as Constituents.
That all of this was known is not as important as it being well publicized now. A GAO or IG report is easily buried on page 12 or completely ignored. Musk putting it out to millions of voters on X cannot. Having Trump looking over everyone’s shoulders should provide all the impetus needed to affect real change.
Bringing the receipts makes it real
The significance that this was known is that Congress especially should have known, and has no defense for not knowing.
People need to wrap their brains around the reality that as much as $521 Billion of fraud against the US government is perpetrated every year right under Congress’ noses.
They are the stewards of the public fisc. They hold the pursestrings. They have a legal, Constitutional, and moral duty to pay close attention to everyone who dips into the public purse, and they have not done so.
That should be a question posed to each and every one of the 535 members of Congress—why didn’t they know and why didn’t they do anything about it?
Anyone of the House Oversight committee should be removed and investigated, regardless of party.
Unless they can show that they were on the floor of the House calling these things out and demanding reform, absolutely.
Would there be anyone left?
Would there be any member of Congress left? Possibly not. Probably not.
The down side of that would be.....?????
Hmm... Ya gotta point there!
Exactly! Congress should be held accountable. And individuals, as agency heads, should be held accountable. Musk is right - start firing people for not doing their jobs properly. The rest of America’s workers get fired if we do our work as poorly as government employees have been doing theirs. No more excuses - fire them, restructure or eliminate agencies, clean everything out!
This should be a reason for voting out every member of Congress in both Houses when they are up next for re-election.
Term limits: yes! And we also need to pass laws regarding the lobbying system.
I have been dismayed that my generation has been blamed for so many things. I want to grab younger people by the collar and say, we DID vote for fiscal responsibility! We DID vote for smaller government, efficiency, better schools, etc. - but once in office, the politicians had to bow to lobbyists in order to be reelected. Whole books have been written about the ways that the lobbying system has undermined the voters’ will. Big Pharma, Big Ag, Big Food, and so on have destroyed so much of what was great about America. I sure hope we’ve hit bottom now and can start to claw it all back. (And maybe that’s where you will really shine, Peter!)
One lobbying fact that really got me is that lobbyists have security badges that get them into places in the U.S. Capitol that are denied to average citizens! This should be stopped.
I have long advocated that lobbying should only take place within a Congressman's district. Make lobbyists physically travel to all fifty states, and all 435 Congressional districts.
That way lobbyists are physically in the same playing field as Constituents.
Money talks. And opens doors.