Musk Now Controls the US Checkbook

@moonbus said
It takes a special kind of stupid to elected a billionaire to appoint more billionaires to 'fix' the system which made them billionaires.

Any country in history that I can think of where something like it has happened collapsed into chaos, with the oligarchs being either exiled, imprisoned, or executed.

@spruce112358 said
Yeah, actually, it is control.

"Exclusive: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency, sources say"

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/

Oh a hostile takeover then. Cool.

@Soothfast said
Any country in history that I can think of where something like it has happened collapsed into chaos, with the oligarchs being either exiled, imprisoned, or executed.

The question has been posed many times, "How could such normal, rational people as Germans allow Hitler and the Nazis to take over?" 😆

I never really knew the answer to that, but I do now. It has to be that EVERY society consists of both Nice People and Nazis, and there is push and pull between them. Nice People winning is the norm because Good>>Evil.

But in any society, statistically, at some point, the Nice People can lose their way, get weak, and fumble. And when that happens, the Nazis immediately take over and raise a new Hitler. The flavors change, but 1933 happens all over again. History repeats. 😆

@Sleepyguy said
Oh a hostile takeover then. Cool.

Their motto of 'move fast and break things' is coming into play. 😆

There isn't any objection to them balancing the Federal budget - this is not the way to do it, but... well, it is true that it wasn't happening any other way.

There is a very serious concern, though, when people take power like this to 'do good things.'

IT.NEVER.STOPS.THERE.

And I'll just say they don't die in their beds. 😆

@spruce112358 said
Their motto of 'move fast and break things' is coming into play. 😆

There isn't any objection to them balancing the Federal budget - this is not the way to do it, but... well, it is true that it wasn't happening any other way.

There is a very serious concern, though, when people take power like this to 'do good things.'

IT.NEVER.STOPS.THERE.

And I'll just say they don't die in their beds. 😆

Last time around the bureaucracy defeated Trump by slow walking everything he tried to do, ignoring his orders, bogus lawsuits, impeachments, leaks, lies and subterfuge. Then to keep him from winning again they smeared him, tried to put him in prison, and left him on stage 100 yards from a rooftop rifleman. Looks like he learned his lesson. This is what its going to take. And now here you are talking about people being murdered with that little smiley face.

All to stop a democratically elected leader from fulfilling a mandate to return control of a corrupt government to the people. And you think you're on the right side of history here? I think you should reevaluate.

@Sleepyguy said
Last time around the bureaucracy defeated Trump by slow walking everything he tried to do, ignoring his orders, bogus lawsuits, impeachments, leaks, lies and subterfuge. Then to keep him from winning again they smeared him, tried to put him in prison, and left him on stage 100 yards from a rooftop rifleman. Looks like he learned his lesson. This is what its going to take. A ...[text shortened]... o the people. And you think you're on the right side of history here? I think you should reevaluate.

Yeah… No more Mr Nice Democrats going forward! 😆

@spruce112358 said
Yeah… No more Mr Nice Democrats going forward! 😆

OK I guess we're just waiting for the murders to start then. That seems to be about where you're at smiley guy.

@Sleepyguy said
OK I guess we're just waiting for the murders to start then. That seems to be about where you're at smiley guy.

You voted for ineligible traitor as dictator (and we let you - shame on us!) But really - what were you expecting? 😆

@spruce112358 said
You voted for ineligible traitor as dictator (and we let you - shame on us!) But really - what were you expecting? 😆

This, but not really from you. Thought you were smarter.

@Sleepyguy said
This, but not really from you. Thought you were smarter.

What you should expect from history is that the Allies take a long time to wake up and get going; but once it happens the Axis is crushed. 😆

Don't think you quite comprehend which side you are on - you will though.

@Sleepyguy said
Last time around the bureaucracy defeated Trump by slow walking everything he tried to do, ignoring his orders, bogus lawsuits, impeachments, leaks, lies and subterfuge. Then to keep him from winning again they smeared him, tried to put him in prison, and left him on stage 100 yards from a rooftop rifleman. Looks like he learned his lesson. This is what its going to take. A ...[text shortened]... o the people. And you think you're on the right side of history here? I think you should reevaluate.

It's a stunning level of self-delusion for a grown man to actually believe that Donald Trump's agenda is to "return control of a corrupt government to the people,"

I don't know whether to laugh at such utter nonsense or just shake my head in pity for you.

@no1marauder said
It's a stunning level of self-delusion for a grown man to actually believe that Donald Trump's agenda is to "return control of a corrupt government to the people,"

I don't know whether to laugh at such utter nonsense or just shake my head in pity for you.

OK so what is his agenda no1? Do you have something more original than just Nazi Nazi Nazi?

@Sleepyguy said
OK so what is his agenda no1? Do you have something more original than just Nazi Nazi Nazi?

His policies aren't coherent enough to make him a Nazi. Sure, he's perfectly willing to toss a few bones to those who hate and fear some disadvantaged minority groups, but I doubt he cares about any of that in reality.

Outside of those which feed his personal vanity and lust for power and adulation, there's little but standard ones which are designed to increase the already excessive economic and political domination of the wealthy.

Name one thing he's proposed that would actually tend to give greater control of government to the People. Like abolishing the Electoral College? Nope. Ending gerrymandering? Nope. Etc. etc. etc.

@no1marauder said
His policies aren't coherent enough to make him a Nazi. Sure, he's perfectly willing to toss a few bones to those who hate and fear some disadvantaged minority groups, but I doubt he cares about any of that in reality.

Outside of those which feed his personal vanity and lust for power and adulation, there's little but standard ones which are designed to increase the al ...[text shortened]... the People. Like abolishing the Electoral College? Nope. Ending gerrymandering? Nope. Etc. etc. etc.

‘Has coherent policies’ is not really on my punch list for deciding ‘Is he a Nazi?’ Just sayin’ 😆

The first indicator of a fascist is populism: exciting emotions and gaining control of the media - in this case he owns Fox by ensuring their ratings. Second is the tone and content which gets increasingly nationalistic, militaristic, racist, etc. Third is how he goes about things - ignoring democratic process, issuing decrees and exacting loyalty and obedience with threats and purges. Fourth and final - he won’t let go of power. Which we already saw.

‘Coherent policies?’ Why bother with those? 😆

@spruce112358 said
I wonder if he will just keep writing checks? Or will he stop? 😆

"Officials affiliated with Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” have been asking since after the election for access to the system, the people said — requests that were reiterated more recently, including after Trump’s inauguration.

A spokeswoman for DOGE declined to comment. Lebryk could not ...[text shortened]...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems

Musk has no control over spending. DOGE is an advisory panel and nothing more.

You are making a mountain out of a mole hill.