Government Waste, from the bottom up

[Drake Tungsten]

Current interest rates are nowhere near the historical average.

[Theben]

The current interest rate on regular savings accounts has fallen so far that it's approaching zero.

I know that, I just want to know how it stands compared to SS savings, and the ratio over time.

[Theben]

I'm thinking something more approaching long-term CD rates or MM accounts, but with more security.

[Elok]

Yes, the tiny cuts are wasteful; however, I'd rather focus on the gigantic tears of the bilateral carotids: the complete political pandering of the ever-escalating Pentagon budget, to no real purpose; and the ever-rising amount of money spent on Medicare/Medicaid, without any increasing benefit in either health outcomes or the number of people covered.


We can focus on the minor, superficial, oozing lacerations if you'd like, but the patient will have bled out by the time we get them all sutured.

While those are greater problems, the thing is, there are serious obstacles to offing them. Defense has the Military-Industrial Complex (TM), while Medicare has armies of vote-happy seniors. I'm not aware of any "****wit Foundation" that would block attempts to keep the gummint from wasting time with "training" consisting of one person reading aloud verbatim a manual given to all the trainees (BK, there's your answer; even the instructor agreed it was a waste of time, but mandated by regs of one sort or another).

Now, you couldn't do it with one law or anything. But each little fix could be executed with only minor opposition, I'd think. I'm not familiar enough with Federal protocol (thank God) to know whether they'd all need laws to fix, even. Maybe Executive Orders would do.

[Guynemer]

I'm not aware of any "****wit Foundation"

Dude: do you live in this country? The whole goddamn place is the ****wit Foundation.

[Elok]

Far be it from me to scold a cynic, but can you think of any reason for objection to doing away with this junk? Or any powerful interest group in favor of keeping inefficient and nonsensical practices around?

[BlackCat]

Dude: do you live in this country? The whole goddamn place is the ****wit Foundation.

BS. US isn't Terminus

[David Floyd]

Far be it from me to scold a cynic, but can you think of any reason for objection to doing away with this junk? Or any powerful interest group in favor of keeping inefficient and nonsensical practices around?

You mean, bureaucrats who like the petty exercise of authority and feel that passing regulations justifies their jobs?

[OzzyKP]

Yea, I'm with Elok. This stuff isn't sexy, but I think it is the number 1 thing to cut the size and cost of government. People of either party has a sense that government doesn't work. One side really wants it to work, the other not as much, but both generally recognize the problem. This is something that would appeal to all.

Even I, as someone who hates the size and scope of government, when looking at programs and departments as large chunks don't have any very clear ideas on what to cut. Lots of things that philosophically I'd like to cut, but practically see their use and can't imagine the steps it would take to get rid of them politically and replace them with some private entity.

This is the same reason when any semi-sensible politician proposes cuts they are talking about cutting programs that are tiny portions of the budget. Obama's "spending freeze" that won't really affect that much. Or McCain's pledge to cut pork, which again isn't a huge part of the budget.

If you can't lop off giant things like social security, or the defense department, then you need to do what you can to make them efficient and cut the every day waste Elok talked about that bloats these big ticket items larger and larger.

The trouble is just the sheer size. I don't think the private sector is immune. My co-worker formerly worked for an environmental non-profit with like a $30-50 million budget. He is always impressed with how much less crap we have to worry about as a small, streamlined two-man shop than the countless hoops and bureaucracy he had at the environmental group. Scaling up to the US Federal Government is worse by several more degrees.

The guys at the top can't see to the bottom since there are too many layers of middle-men between and the people at the bottom who may recognize the problem (like Elok and his trainer) don't have any power to do anything about it.

So how to untangle this web of inefficiency?

[Arrian]

It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative and everything to do with **** or non-****. Any non-****** can look at the federal budget and see that Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security and defense spending are the three major drains on the country's finances.

Yup. The question is what to do about that. There are a variety of options, but one party, the other, or both would reject most of the sane ones. I think we should attack from all angles: entitlement cuts, defense cuts and tax increases. Soon.

Elok,

Hey, I've no objection to fixing the problems you mention. Go forth and do it, and I'll appreciate it.

Seriously, there are what, thousands of little inefficiencies like that (this happens in the corporate world too, of course, but likely happens less). It would indeed be better for us all were there less. But how would you propose fixing it? The only systematic method that occurs to me is to hire better managers (and making sure they have the authority to stop stupid wasteful ****, and also giving them the proper incentives to find savings).

-Arrian

[Drake Tungsten]

A point I should have made earlier about the battle between ***** and non-***** is that it only applies to people under 45. Baby Boomers are actually being smart (if horribly selfish) by not cutting Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security or defense spending; why would they want to reduce their benefits from social programs or their ability to exert power in the world when they aren't going to have to pay for any of it? People under-45 who don't support reduced spending on these budget-busting items are *****, however, and should be forced to pay a regressive share of the increased tax burden that will be the inevitable result of the Baby Boomer's profligacy.

[DinoDoc]

Seriously?

Seattle fortune cookies hold census message
The U.S. Census has launched a unique way of urging people to be counted: Tsue Chong Co. of Seattle is inserting five different messages urging census participation into 2 million fortune cookies being shipped to restaurants and groceries across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

....

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2011111456&zsection_id=2003925728&slug=censusfortune18m&date=20100217

[Ecofarm]

Get rid of career politicians. 1 term limit, all offices. If people cannot save their job by kissing ass, they will make the necessary cuts. Also, they will not owe political favors from generations ago.

If one term is not long enough to get stuff done, then streamline the office.

[kkinelle]

It has nothing to do with liberal or conservative and everything to do with **** or non-****.I do agree with this statement.
_______________
Outdoor Equipment

[Jon Miller]

A point I should have made earlier about the battle between ***** and non-***** is that it only applies to people under 45. Baby Boomers are actually being smart (if horribly selfish) by not cutting Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security or defense spending; why would they want to reduce their benefits from social programs or their ability to exert power in the world when they aren't going to have to pay for any of it? People under-45 who don't support reduced spending on these budget-busting items are *****, however, and should be forced to pay a regressive share of the increased tax burden that will be the inevitable result of the Baby Boomer's profligacy.

I wonder if the vote should be removed for those over 50.

JM