Earlier quoted context omitted.
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Crew-9 Returns to Earth
461–470 of 712 posts
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#462Earlier quoted context omitted.
The types of waste, fraud, and abuse matter as much as the scale. Even just a "little" (5%-10%) corruption is a moral stain on the whole thing. As it is, that "small" corruption is funding an extensive network of NGOs, nonprofits run by the families of people in government, media, etc. -- all to (a) keep a ton of money flowing to people in Washington DC and (b) protect that status quo. Politics aside, widespread corr…
> Even just a "little" (5%-10%) corruption is a moral stain on the whole thing. Timeless: https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/optimal-amount-of-fra... How about let's solve problems practically instead of having trillion dollar decisions made in the name of virtue signaling about "moral purity." > But doesn't the DC bureaucracy represent a common enemy to those on either side who value democracy? Uh, no. USAID etc…
> as prescribed by the Constitution
The constitution doesn't mention anything about any federal agencies. The Department of State didn't even exist until a 1789 law signed by George Washington.
USAID was established by the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Its express purpose is to fund U.S. foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs.
If the majority of USAID money is going towards things that do not align with the law that governs it, would you say that fits somewhere under the umbrella of "waste, fraud, and abuse"?
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#463Earlier quoted context omitted.
Per the Polish government, they’re paying $50M per year for Ukraines service. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy87vg38dnpo.amp
You are going to have to do better than some tweet battle. AFAIU from Wikipedia with decent sources the service is free, but the terminal's not, and that is what Poland paid. Also, it's not like Ukraine or even Poland has to pay, the can pay if they want, they can also not pay if they want. It's entirely elective. They can stop using any time they want. I heard that Google has a Starlink replacement in the works that…
> they can also not pay if they want. It's entirely elective.
even if they pay, he can supply it if he wants, or he can cut them off if it threatens to inconvenience Russia.
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#464Earlier quoted context omitted.
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This is an interesting misconception, I had never considered one would think authoritarians can't be fairly elected. Is the thinking that the electorate would just never elect an authoritarian?
The term was 'authoritarian regime', which is generally used for autocratic leaders.
Although 'authoritarian' is also false - political freedoms for the general population are exactly where they were prior to the election, as I'm sure you are aware.
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#465Earlier quoted context omitted.
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I would suggest reading the links. You can question the scale but suddenly disrupting food and medical aid is profoundly disruptive and will have generational impacts if it’s not reversed or others don't step in to fill the gap.
The irony of billionaires deciding it's a waste of money to feed people and prevent AIDS pandemics is lost on some.
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#466Earlier quoted context omitted.
People spending money in ways that you consider wasteful is not the same as corruption.
How much fraud and abuse has to occur before it's able to be labeled as "corruption"? Fraud literally means intentional lying in accounting or other financial representations, for the purpose of improperly benefiting someone. If people in government are benefited directly or indirectly by fraud, that's literally included in the definition of corruption.
What a long gallop.
> If people in government are benefited directly or indirectly by fraud, that's literally included in the definition of corruption.
Yup, that endpoint is fine and can be agreed with.
People in government having a job doing something you think isn't useful isn't corruption, though. And if a few percent of the money their program spends is wasted or benefits other people through fraud-- that's not corruption either.
And the blanket cuts, layoffs, offers for voluntary separation /early retirement, and contract cancellations don't seem to be aimed at the thing we agree is corruption.
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#467Hate all you want to Elon, you still need to credit to credit due.SpaceX did awesome Job.
> Hate all you want to Elon, you still need to credit to credit due.
Under no circumstances will I agree that "Elon rescued" anyone or anything. The guy has a fetish to be seen as a rescuer. It's unseemly.
> SpaceX did awesome Job.
Fulfilling a contract they've executed several times before? slow clap
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#468Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#469Earlier quoted context omitted.
How much fraud and abuse has to occur before it's able to be labeled as "corruption"? Fraud literally means intentional lying in accounting or other financial representations, for the purpose of improperly benefiting someone. If people in government are benefited directly or indirectly by fraud, that's literally included in the definition of corruption.
What a long gallop. > If people in government are benefited directly or indirectly by fraud, that's literally included in the definition of corruption. Yup, that endpoint is fine and can be agreed with. People in government having a job doing something you think isn't useful isn't corruption, though. And if a few percent of the money their program spends is wasted or benefits other people through fraud-- that's not c…
> People in government having a job doing something you think isn't useful isn't corruption, though
I didn't say anything about that; I don't think I know enough yet to have a fully formed opinion.
But I do think that the overly powerful DC bureaucracy, DC NGOs, and corruption that holds it together is a worthy common enemy for all of us - that's what I'm trying to point out.
I'm actually amazed at Democrats' position on this. I grew up in a Democratic family... We used to be the anti-establishment party! JFK was a Democrat - and he's the one who was apparently taken out by the CIA because he said he was going to destroy it. It used to be Republicans who wanted to keep the institutional status quo in DC.
Either way, I think a pro-Democracy attitude will oppose growing power of unelected officials, regardless of political leanings.
Re: Crew-9 Returns to Earth
#470Incredible story with a great ending. This used to be an apex HN discussion. It's so sad to see it devolve into a partisan flame war.
The notion of "apex HN discussion" assumes a kind of fealty to performative feuilletonism that I'm just not yet willing to submit to.