I live in northern Virginia in a neighborhood with many federal workers and contractors and can attest to what you’ve observed. The ripple effect will be enormous.
DOGE-Death of Government Expertise. Most of us probably know someone working for the federal government. The stress put upon these folks is undeniable and undeserved. My son is a lawyer at HHS in SF. He’s been off for a quick 2 week paternity leave. The bulk of his earned leave is 6 months and starts when his wife returns to work in June. He doesn’t know if he’ll even have a job then, especially since his expertise is the Indian Health Service. He has to return to the office next week which is in the worst area of SF. His building, the one named after Nancy Pelosi, is allegedly going to be sold. He really wants the time with his family so is reluctant to quit even though he disapproves of everything this government does. It’s a moral and ethical quandary at a time of heightened anxiety. It’s just not right. We should really appreciate what this is doing to so many people and families. I can understand why there was so much darkness.
Clearly the potential for multiple catastrophic events exist when you have only unqualified sycophants occupying such important positions in the administration. Pandemics, terrorist attacks, domestic violence, world war, financial disaster, needless death and suffering and such are now a reality. I never thought this would or could happen in America.
Foolishly, I had faith in the social contract, morality, and humanity of the voters. No words.
Thank you for this update of current events in the District. And your mention of the Fletcher School of Diplomacy (as I remember the name) took me way back in time. I was an intern at a newspaper and somehow wrote an article which featured your school. But 50 plus years on, I can’t remember the details (although as I wrack my brain it may have been about the founder?). Anyway, thanks again.
Dan, what can we say the first 30 days have been outstanding. I can tell from your commentators that most of them have never worked in government. Truth be told a 15 percent reduction in the number of seat holders in DC is a very very reasonable goal. Heck Dan, every agency I was at I could have cut 15 percent and only scratched the surface of the dead beats and do nothings that keep chairs warm. The DOD even has a whole division dedicated to holding the civilian employees that are Retired In Place (RIP). Our President is what the young people we call a “disruptor” and a lot of Americans have said, it’s about time.
The disasters that are coming will feel so much worse because they're going to happen FOR NO GOOD REASON.
Bryan Fichter: You hit the nail on the head.
Entropy.
When will this create pain for them instead of us?
When?
How will the turnabout come to correct this entropy?
Or is this the new swerve in our history, to prevail for the next forty years until some other monstrosity upends it?
Spot on, as usual. Outstanding young people I know well are having their lives ruined. It pisses the hell out of me.
The USA is going through the same experience as Russia did post-1917 and Germany post-1933.
Maybe, it will learn something in the process and - just maybe- pass it on to its children via multiple choice history exams.
I live in northern Virginia in a neighborhood with many federal workers and contractors and can attest to what you’ve observed. The ripple effect will be enormous.
Also, Go, Jumbos!
DOGE-Death of Government Expertise. Most of us probably know someone working for the federal government. The stress put upon these folks is undeniable and undeserved. My son is a lawyer at HHS in SF. He’s been off for a quick 2 week paternity leave. The bulk of his earned leave is 6 months and starts when his wife returns to work in June. He doesn’t know if he’ll even have a job then, especially since his expertise is the Indian Health Service. He has to return to the office next week which is in the worst area of SF. His building, the one named after Nancy Pelosi, is allegedly going to be sold. He really wants the time with his family so is reluctant to quit even though he disapproves of everything this government does. It’s a moral and ethical quandary at a time of heightened anxiety. It’s just not right. We should really appreciate what this is doing to so many people and families. I can understand why there was so much darkness.
Clearly the potential for multiple catastrophic events exist when you have only unqualified sycophants occupying such important positions in the administration. Pandemics, terrorist attacks, domestic violence, world war, financial disaster, needless death and suffering and such are now a reality. I never thought this would or could happen in America.
Foolishly, I had faith in the social contract, morality, and humanity of the voters. No words.
The cruelty is definitely part of the point. Sadists are in charge.
And now I’ve watched the video and thoroughly enjoyed the discussion. It’s giving me hope this afternoon (and your socks were a bright spot too).
Thank you for this update of current events in the District. And your mention of the Fletcher School of Diplomacy (as I remember the name) took me way back in time. I was an intern at a newspaper and somehow wrote an article which featured your school. But 50 plus years on, I can’t remember the details (although as I wrack my brain it may have been about the founder?). Anyway, thanks again.
Hubris…then nemesis as the ancient Greeks used to say
Dan, what can we say the first 30 days have been outstanding. I can tell from your commentators that most of them have never worked in government. Truth be told a 15 percent reduction in the number of seat holders in DC is a very very reasonable goal. Heck Dan, every agency I was at I could have cut 15 percent and only scratched the surface of the dead beats and do nothings that keep chairs warm. The DOD even has a whole division dedicated to holding the civilian employees that are Retired In Place (RIP). Our President is what the young people we call a “disruptor” and a lot of Americans have said, it’s about time.
Can’t wait until you’re blindsided.