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Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

reuters.com

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Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#121

Post by throw0101a »

mrits wrote: post #5
archagon wrote: post #3

I'm sure this will be flagged soon enough, but people need to know that there is an unprecedented, hostile, and (seemingly) illegal blitzkrieg happening against the federal civil service. Doors are being barricaded. Strange servers are being installed by unknown individuals. People with decades of institutional experience are getting pushed out the door. First-hand accounts can be found here: https://old.reddit.com/r…

[flagged]

> I'm not sure why you think most US citizens aren't happy about the federal government getting smaller.

The level of federal employees has been stable for ~30 years, even with a growing population and arguable more complex world:

* https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES9091000001

It can also be argued that more bureaucracy is actually needed:

* https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-needs-a-bigger-better-...

Programs still need to be implemented, laws and regulations need to be enforced: if there is no in-house manpower or expertise then outside consultants will be hired. Do you think those will be more or less expensive?

And if you thought that the FAA's oversight of (e.g.) Boeing was weak at current staffing levels, wait until the cuts come.

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#122

Post by AlecSchueler »

scarab92 wrote: post #91
archagon wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Regardless of your thoughts about the size of the federal government, there is zero oversight to this "transition." https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-federal-inspectors-genera...

[flagged]

You didn't learn any German history in high school?

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#123

Post by AlecSchueler »

ffsm8 wrote: post #106
cdme wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He also acts like a child. An uninspired edgelord like Musk shouldn't be in government.

Doesn't change the fact he cannot be involuntarily celibate after fathering 9 kids. The usage of the term in this vain is basically the same as if I called cyanydeez "retarded" over the usage of this term. A word with a negative connotation that inapplicable by definition, but used anyway because they consider people that are such to be lesser people.

Etymology and definition are different things.

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#124

Post by ty6853 »

throw0101a wrote: post #121
mrits wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> I'm not sure why you think most US citizens aren't happy about the federal government getting smaller. The level of federal employees has been stable for ~30 years, even with a growing population and arguable more complex world: * https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES9091000001 It can also be argued that more bureaucracy is actually needed: * https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-needs-a-bigger-better-... Programs…

[flagged]

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#125

Post by ty6853 »

vFunct wrote: post #26
mrits wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

It’s because most Americans want a bigger government, not a smaller government. Americans like the socialized services a larger government can provide. They want government to be useful to them, not useless to them. You don’t really believe people want a small government, do you? They see a small government like Somalia. They don’t want Somalia. Remember a large government services the people. A small libertarian gov…

Somalia by most measures was more prosperous without a government than with one. So yes we want, metaphorically, somalia.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01475...

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#126

Post by throw0101a »

ty6853 wrote: post #124
throw0101a wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm not sure why you think most US citizens aren't happy about the federal government getting smaller. The level of federal employees has been stable for ~30 years, even with a growing population and arguable more complex world: * https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CES9091000001 It can also be argued that more bureaucracy is actually needed: * https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/america-needs-a-bigger-better-... Programs…

[flagged]

> Post civil war boom was roughly as big as the post WW2 boom with a way lower federal burden and no income tax.

Also without Medicare, minimal Social Security, without an airforce, without a standing army, and desires for a ≥350-ship navy:

* https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/02/25/trump-called-fo...

How are you going to pay and run all that without staff? You think it's going to be cheaper to outsource it to consultants? Or is privatization the point/goal perhaps?

Further, the early 20th century was also a period of rapid technological change that allowed for all kinds productivity gains, which is unlikely to be repeated:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_American_...

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#127

Post by cherry_tree »

dang wrote: post #109
jdgoesmarching wrote: post #51

Why is this flagged? This seems like a pretty damn important tech story.

Users flagged it. We can only guess why users flag things, but in this case it seems unlikely to have any chance at a thoughtful conversation. It has the Ultimate Troll Ingredient but little actual information.

How many users? Is it the same group of users flagging every political post? You seem to agree with their take openly, are you flagging these as well?

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#128

Post by ebcode »

mostlysimilar wrote: post #110
dang wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Users flagged it. We can only guess why users flag things, but in this case it seems unlikely to have any chance at a thoughtful conversation. It has the Ultimate Troll Ingredient but little actual information.

You have the ability to unflag stories. This is critically important. Please do the right thing here.

seconded

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#129

Post by slater »

dang wrote: post #109
jdgoesmarching wrote: post #51

Why is this flagged? This seems like a pretty damn important tech story.

Users flagged it. We can only guess why users flag things, but in this case it seems unlikely to have any chance at a thoughtful conversation. It has the Ultimate Troll Ingredient but little actual information.

Not disagreeing, but it shouldn't be flagged.

Re: Musk aides lock government workers out of computer systems at US agency

#130

Post by heartbreak »

rayiner wrote: post #94
mcphage wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the President gets elected promising to fire executive branch employees, then his doing so is literally democratic. You seem to think the President can do whatever he wants, in constrained by laws. Which may be true in this case, but because the laws aren’t being followed, not because they don’t exist.

What I think is that electing the president is the only way the constitution provides for democratic control of what’s become the largest and most powerful branch. And ensuring democratic responsiveness of the executive—a civil service that will diligently execute the agenda of whomever is elected President—is of overriding importance to the health of democracy. A country where the same people are in charge regardles…

I am so embarrassed on your behalf, Rayiner.
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