Are you ready? I think this is gonna be a rough couple years.

[poltiregist]

Then why don't they do better jobs for far less cost to taxpayers? I have never seen that--NOT ONCE--in nearly 30 years in the military and in the civil service. Matter of fact, here's an example... I can do 4 projects PLUS collateral duties in one year. To have a contractor do ONE project of the same type I do costs the equivalent of ONE YEAR OF MY SALARY and TAKES A FULL YEAR. You're out to lunch. Is Musk a friend and do you work for one his companies that'll get the federal contracts after the civil service is gutted? Again, if you thought civil servants are expensive, just wait till you see the cost of replacing us with contractors.

The jobs where people are being let go are backed in the USG's Constitutional authority...it's going beyond DEI (which should be cut) and into the heart of the actual work that gets done.

I say cut em all or eliminate them all together . It would be fine with me if every road in the U.S. went to nothing but dirt and pot holes , fun trips , if there was anywhere to go . Ain't no need for transporting food to the lazy . If they can't or won't grow their own food , they will die . It says something to that effect in the bible . I am hunkered down on my survival grounds and watching the show . -- For a few S.H.T.F. has already occurred . more will fall into that bucket of unprepared that never thought S.H.T.F. would happen to them but was just a crazy bunch of paranoids that fell into the " run to the rural areas " and prepare culture .

 

[mml373]

When I worked as an engineer in Florida, I saw government waste at it's best
They start a "stormwater" tax, because the EPA demanded they do things about stormwater and because some areas flood when there is a hurricane
Fine. They do what the EPA asks ( a lot of it is nonsense) , and the fix the major problems. It gets paid for by this stormwater tax ( paid by property taxes). What do you think happens next? They remove the stormater tax and dissolve that department? Hell no! They raise the stormwater tax, hire more employees and use the money to do things like fix puddles in front of a city commissioners house and such. The EPA is the worst. I did some of the stormwater annual reporting for that. They wanted to know the amount of snowfall in Orlando Florida. Ok then....I replied " NA" , they sent and RFI " what exact amount did you get?" . I had to put zero in there instead of NA. Some EPA lab tested a fish and found mercury in it , in a lake. So an entire system gets started to test all the lakes for mercury. No mercury found anywhere. Below detection limits, not even the muck had mercury in it.
I could go on for pages.

My point: government waste of tax money! And this was just a relatively small issue. Imagine the big ones. This is not even the corruption!

Government is like cancer. It just spreads and gets bigger

I agree with that kind of thing being waste and abused, but I don't agree with things such as land management and weather warnings being waste. Managing lands and keep people safe isn't the same as regulating people, and these are needed functions of government (the National Weather Service not only has roles and responsibilities to citizens but also to fire agencies, NASA, etc., so it really goes beyond what the public sees on a day to day basis).

I think there's a problem with people hating on "government" without really acknowledging that not all government is the same, such as the regulatory overreach you mention vs provision of needed services.

 

[mml373]

I say cut em all or eliminate them all together . It would be fine with me if every road in the U.S. went to nothing but dirt and pot holes , fun trips , if there was anywhere to go . Ain't no need for transporting food to the lazy . If they can't or won't grow their own food , they will die . It says something to that effect in the bible . I am hunkered down on my survival grounds and watching the show . -- For a few S.H.T.F. has already occurred . more will fall into that bucket of unprepared that never thought S.H.T.F. would happen to them but was just a crazy bunch of paranoids that fell into the " run to the rural areas " and prepare culture .

OK. Then let's get it on.

I'll just quit spending for everything but essentials (which is fine by me) and the rural community where my kids go to daycare and private school can suffer, close down the school, etc. I'd never wish job loss on anyone, because everything depends on everything else.

But if we must, then yes...let's get it on and just break everything and let the cowchips fall where they may.

 

[Tirediron]

We are entering a new paradigm, stuff is going to get really weird, authority, be that religion, government the university heirarchy (degrees in science based on opinion and product pushing and or control) are being exposed as control systems and never in anyones best interest except the controlers and some of their minions (until the minion know too much then the get suicided0

 

[mml373]

We are entering a new paradigm, stuff is going to get really weird, authority, be that religion, government the university heirarchy (degrees in science based on opinion and product pushing and or control) are being exposed as control systems and never in anyones best interest except the controlers and some of their minions (until the minion know too much then the get suicided0

Product pushing and control...have you seen the ads for JUNK...EVERYWHERE? This is why I got rid of my smart phone, quit watching YouTube and Rumble, etc. Constant ads.

 

[sonya123]

I agree with that kind of thing being waste and abused, but I don't agree with things such as land management and weather warnings being waste. Managing lands and keep people safe isn't the same as regulating people, and these are needed functions of government (the National Weather Service not only has roles and responsibilities to citizens but also to fire agencies, NASA, etc., so it really goes beyond what the public sees on a day to day basis).

I think there's a problem with people hating on "government" without really acknowledging that not all government is the same, such as the regulatory overreach you mention vs provision of needed services.

I don't have a problem with government doing something constructive that benefits everyone. I am for government running health insurance for example and have no problem with government run utilities either, but there are SO many useless wasteful things they do. There are just too many bad laws out there that shouldn't exist at all. Like affirmative action type rules that forces all government agencies to hire women and minorities even if they are less qualified. The problem I have is the waste, and the putting people in categories, so some people pay and some people get. Everyone should be treated the same.
The weather pinheads can all just go away for all I care. It's not like they can do anything about it, and half the time their forecasts are wrong. ALL the time their forecasts beyond a few days are wrong. Then all the money they waste on the bs climate change crap.
The military is way too big also. Why does the US need to control the entire planet and have hundreds of bases all over the planet? They should focus more on protecting this country from the illegals and stop letting undesirable people in

 

[sonya123]

Product pushing and control...have you seen the ads for JUNK...EVERYWHERE? This is why I got rid of my smart phone, quit watching YouTube and Rumble, etc. Constant ads.

just because there is an add for something doesn't force anyone to buy it. I don't, I just mute my Netflix adds until they are over
youtube ones are blocked

 

[Magus]

I agree with that kind of thing being waste and abused, but I don't agree with things such as land management and weather warnings being waste. Managing lands and keep people safe isn't the same as regulating people, and these are needed functions of government (the National Weather Service not only has roles and responsibilities to citizens but also to fire agencies, NASA, etc., so it really goes beyond what the public sees on a day to day basis).

I think there's a problem with people hating on "government" without really acknowledging that not all government is the same, such as the regulatory overreach you mention vs provision of needed services.

A society can have rules without rulers, corrupted leaders are the core of the issue. skimming the top, gifting plumb jobs to friends and family, graft, money laundering, etc. the insanity has to stop for the nation to heal a few decades. it'll be back and the leeches will be on the teat again in no time. they have almost r***d the golden goose to death!

 

[sonya123]

A society can have rules without rulers, corrupted leaders are the core of the issue. skimming the top, gifting plumb jobs to friends and family, graft, money laundering, etc. the insanity has to stop for the nation to heal a few decades. it'll be back and the leeches will be on the teat again in no time.

true but I think every society is like that unless you somehow disconnect government from money
not sure how to do that
I think best would be maybe make political jobs totally volunteer and unpaid and make it illegal to have any sort of donations to them also
Plus term limits for all
or just have a direct democracy ( that would be my choice) and just let people vote on the issues, and government is just there to enforce the laws the population voted on
It would get rid of a lot of crap in government. If a majority of the population does not want the illegals here ( I bet they don't!) , the government would just make it happen
If a majority does not want to pay for welfare, make it happen ( and let charities take care of poor people)
It would be interesting to see what sort of laws we would actually have

 

[Magus]

true but I think every society is like that unless you somehow disconnect the government from money
not sure how to do that

Easily. A committee decides on a list of the most qualified to do XXX job and says: this is your job until the next election, during that time your needs and the needs of your family will be taken care of.

Voting is another thing. if you don't contribute, you don't vote.

 

[Tirediron]

Easily. A committee decides on a list of the most qualified to do XXX job and says: this is your job until the next election, during that time your needs and the needs of your family will be taken care of.

Voting is another thing. if you don't contribute, you don't vote.

you forgot about the hanging part if you promise to do something and don't make every effort to do it, goes for the committee too.

 

[Tirediron]

true but I think every society is like that unless you somehow disconnect government from money
not sure how to do that
I think best would be maybe make political jobs totally volunteer and unpaid and make it illegal to have any sort of donations to them also
Plus term limits for all
or just have a direct democracy ( that would be my choice) and just let people vote on the issues, and government is just there to enforce the laws the population voted on
It would get rid of a lot of crap in government. If a majority of the population does not want the illegals here ( I bet they don't!) , the government would just make it happen
If a majority does not want to pay for welfare, make it happen ( and let charities take care of poor people)
It would be interesting to see what sort of laws we would actually have

probably starts with the adoption of money, it is really hard for bankers to control a barter system.

 

[Tirediron]

I don't have a problem with government doing something constructive that benefits everyone. I am for government running health insurance for example and have no problem with government run utilities either, but there are SO many useless wasteful things they do. There are just too many bad laws out there that shouldn't exist at all. Like affirmative action type rules that forces all government agencies to hire women and minorities even if they are less qualified. The problem I have is the waste, and the putting people in categories, so some people pay and some people get. Everyone should be treated the same.
The weather pinheads can all just go away for all I care. It's not like they can do anything about it, and half the time their forecasts are wrong. ALL the time their forecasts beyond a few days are wrong. Then all the money they waste on the bs climate change crap.
The military is way too big also. Why does the US need to control the entire planet and have hundreds of bases all over the planet? They should focus more on protecting this country from the illegals and stop letting undesirable people in

Maybe somewhere in europe a "public health care system works a bit. if the doctors push drugs, it does not. Canukistan has "public health care", they dont care about peoples health they the doctors or at least most of them are just pharmas' well paid pushers.

 

[montanabill]

Then why don't they do better jobs for far less cost to taxpayers? I have never seen that--NOT ONCE--in nearly 30 years in the military and in the civil service. Matter of fact, here's an example... I can do 4 projects PLUS collateral duties in one year. To have a contractor do ONE project of the same type I do costs the equivalent of ONE YEAR OF MY SALARY and TAKES A FULL YEAR. You're out to lunch. Is Musk a friend and do you work for one his companies that'll get the federal contracts after the civil service is gutted? Again, if you thought civil servants are expensive, just wait till you see the cost of replacing us with contractors.

The jobs where people are being let go are backed in the USG's Constitutional authority...it's going beyond DEI (which should be cut) and into the heart of the actual work that gets done.

So in all seriousness could you get a work at home job with a private contractor doing your same type of work for more money and benefits?

 

[montanabill]

A recession is when your neighbor loses his job....a depression is when you lose your job....a revolt and complete reorganization is when you both die.....

 

[Michele My Belle]

I don't have a problem with government doing something constructive that benefits everyone. I am for government running health insurance for example and have no problem with government run utilities either, but there are SO many useless wasteful things they do.

Government started "running" insurance and mandatory VAX - - and half of my beloved doctors retired early.
When government "steps in"...competition, and common sense, gets thrown out the window.

 

[Ekatarina]

Ooops...

 

[sonya123]

Maybe somewhere in europe a "public health care system works a bit. if the doctors push drugs, it does not. Canukistan has "public health care", they dont care about peoples health they the doctors or at least most of them are just pharmas' well paid pushers.

I think I have given up trying to convince Americans that some sort of public health insurance is better than what we have here ( I have lived in both systems, and prefer Germany's healthcare system). No system is perfect but somehow I think health insurance should be non profit and not have CEOs that make billions while all it takes for the average person to lose a job , and get sick to be bankcrupt
The system here only benefits big pharma, hospital administrators and the poor that get everything for free, the rest of the people pay and if lucky never get into a situation where they have no insurance ( job loss, self employed, part time jobs without insurance ) and need to go to a hospital.
The system in the US is designed to destroy the middle class all the way around. That is why we left it, and became poor, so we got a head start...LOL

 

[sonya123]

Government started "running" insurance and mandatory VAX - - and half of my beloved doctors retired early.
When government "steps in"...competition, and common sense, gets thrown out the window.

what health insurance do you have now? Medicare? ( um that IS government insurance) Employer paid? None? Obamacare?
Just curious
Do you like your current insurance? I like ours very much. We pay nothing

 

[Michele My Belle]

what health insurance do you have now? Medicare? ( um that IS government insurance) Employer paid? None? Obamacare?
Just curious
Do you like your current insurance? I like ours very much. We pay nothing

I like my insurance...it's not free....it's double than before Obamacare. But, I don't have to wait very long to be treated. The problem is finding the best doctors...it's slim pickins since Covid, and the mandatory VAX dictated by the hospital conglomerates.

What free insurance do you have? Any problems with it?

 

[sonya123]

I like my insurance...it's not free....it's double than before Obamacare. But, I don't have to wait very long to be treated. The problem is finding the best doctors...it's slim pickins since Covid, and the mandatory VAX dictated by the hospital conglomerates.

What free insurance do you have? Any problems with it?

nobody forced us to get vaccinated
So you have insurance through your job? What would you do if you got laid off and then got sick before getting another job?

We have Medicaid and no problems at all. It's probably the best health insurance we have ever had
( and the government runs it, so there you go....that is exactly my point, some stuff is better non profit)

 

[Michele My Belle]

nobody forced us to get vaccinated
So you have insurance through your job? What would you do if you got laid off and then got sick before getting another job?

We have Medicaid and no problems at all. It's probably the best health insurance we have ever had
( and the government runs it, so there you go....that is exactly my point, some stuff is better non profit)

Great. And if you get the top doctors with it and you're satisfied that's good news.
Upon your recommendation....when I retire within 2 years...I'll apply for Medicaid.
I hope my remaining beloved doctors will accept it.
There's a 50% malpractice rate in this country according to the insurance companies.
So, I only want my trusted doctors.
If I lost my current insurance before that (job/or sickness) ....basically I'd be screwed.

I took a religious exemption on the VAX. But my doctors were REQUIRED to get it in order to have hospital privileges.
Which I know is un-Constitutional.

Like with the military....they were forced to get the VAX in the last 4 years in order to keep their commission.
Ones who quit because of it, are currently being re-instated with full back pay - - due to Trump. Hooray !!!

 

[Robert Stewart]

Definitely looks to be an even bumpier ride for you guys shortly due to Europe seeing America and trump as an adversary/threat hopefully Vance and Trump can de-escalate the situation in all fairness European countries should be better prepared in event that old mate putin does launch an unprovoked attack on NATO so they can hold their own until at least USA decides to join any skirmish but to get the most out of economic and trade relationships both sides must see eye to eye not one country kowtowing and bending over backwards to a provocator like Putin

 

[poltiregist]

Fun year for preppers . For others , not so much . -- The entertainment is just getting started . By the end of the year 2025 we will be seeing a different situation in terms of jobs open for workers and financial solvency for many households . Be alert for desperate actions by desperate people .

 

[Mountain trapper]

From everything that I can see, this looks like it's going to be a great 4 years. Even longer if Vance gets elected after Trump.
Gold is approaching $3000, which is great if you own gold, the stock market has gone up by over 2100 points YTD. This is great news for anyone with a retirement or investment account. Real estate values have continued going up, good news if you own property.
Trump and his team are doing a fantastic job of exposing government waste and corruption and cutting the size of the federal workforce (civil servents). They have got the border secure and have started deporting the illegal aliens out of our country. There's still a lot more to be done, but we are making great progress so far.

 

[sonya123]

Great. And if you get the top doctors with it and you're satisfied that's good news.
Upon your recommendation....when I retire within 2 years...I'll apply for Medicaid.
I hope my remaining beloved doctors will accept it.

how do you know what a top doctor is? I just go to the local clinic to get my blood pressure meds refilled or the hospital if it is an emergency
So far nobody has not accepted it. I even went to a specialist once to have my heart checked and that was no problem either
What's weird is that you can go to the ER around here and there is literally nobody there. You go to the ER in Orlando ( used to live there) and you are lucky if they see you the same day! And then there is usually massive chaos at any hospital. One time I went there with an injury and some crazy guy knocked out a doctor and ran off , stole an ambulance
So probably depends on where you live
The lady that sowed my foot back together in the Roanoke hospital did a great job too

 

[Mountain trapper]

Just read where Trump is going to fire all US attorney's left over from Bidens regime. Keep up the good work Don.

 

[Snowman]

Like with the military....they were forced to get the VAX in the last 4 years in order to keep their commission.
Ones who quit because of it, are currently being re-instated with full back pay - - due to Trump. Hooray !!!

Great News Indeed, Thanks for that tidbit...!!!

 

[Michele My Belle]

how do you know what a top doctor is? I just go to the local clinic to get my blood pressure meds refilled or the hospital if it is an emergency
So far nobody has not accepted it. I even went to a specialist once to have my heart checked and that was no problem either
What's weird is that you can go to the ER around here and there is literally nobody there. You go to the ER in Orlando ( used to live there) and you are lucky if they see you the same day! And then there is usually massive chaos at any hospital. One time I went there with an injury and some crazy guy knocked out a doctor and ran off , stole an ambulance
So probably depends on where you live
The lady that sowed my foot back together in the Roanoke hospital did a great job too

Yes. It depends on where you live. I've had some weird ER experiences too. The ER doctor that saw me after I leaned into a utility knife during an inground plumbing job, never got close enough to actually see the injury, chatted a bunch, then backed up into the open double doorway and did an Irish Jig with a kick into the air at the end, and took off.

When my longterm doctors retired due to Obamacare and the mandatory Jab, I had to really research to find my new longterm doctors.
Perhaps you are more trusting of healthcare providers than I am. My mom was a head nurse at Baptist Hospital for 40 years. She advised me on what to look for, pretty much throughout my life. And after working as a paralegal, summarizing medical records for 20 years, I try not to make myself into another horror story.

 

[Snowman]

Just read where Trump is going to fire all US attorney's left over from Bidens regime. Keep up the good work Don.

https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/01...es-involved-with-prosecuting-president-trump/