undefined | Better HN

0 pointsxvector1y ago0 comments

I am thrilled that Elon is doing this. Our government doesn't get anything done. Taxes are a fucking scam with how much gets wasted.

Finally someone with a "just ship it" mindset has entered the govt and is getting shit done for the first time in forever.

0 comments

apawloski1y ago

I brought this on myself for making a political comment on a forum, but I'm curious how much spending you think goes to this. Like of every $1 in taxes you pay - how much do you think goes to USAID (or the entire federal workforce)?

When you see the answer you might question the honesty of the cost-savings argument here.

xvectorOP1y ago

I'd ballpark USAID at maybe half a percent? It's an easy win. A few more of these and Elon will have made a meaningful dent in the wastage of my tax dollars.

I'd consider even a 3% reduction in spend a massive success. The percentage of money being wasted is much higher, somewhere between 30% and 70% (estimates vary.)

If you've ever worked for a government contractor you've seen the immense waste/scam firsthand.

loeg1y ago

> The percentage of money being wasted is much higher, somewhere between 30% and 70% (estimates vary.)

Any cut of 30% or above involves cutting entitlement spending (social security, medicare, medicaid).

1 more reply

jalapenos1y ago

There's a great dishonesty in this argument, because it intentionally ignores the fact that this is only the opening couple of weeks in something that's going to continue for 4 years, Milei-style.

So obviously it's not a matter of what percent savings comes from closing USAID specifically, but in what total savings the posture behind that is going to create over the next 4 years.

apawloski1y ago

What do you expect the total savings to be?

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

apawloski1y ago

When you see the answer you might question the honesty of the cost-savings argument here.

xvectorOP1y ago

I'd ballpark USAID at maybe half a percent? It's an easy win. A few more of these and Elon will have made a meaningful dent in the wastage of my tax dollars.

I'd consider even a 3% reduction in spend a massive success. The percentage of money being wasted is much higher, somewhere between 30% and 70% (estimates vary.)

If you've ever worked for a government contractor you've seen the immense waste/scam firsthand.

loeg1y ago

> The percentage of money being wasted is much higher, somewhere between 30% and 70% (estimates vary.)

Any cut of 30% or above involves cutting entitlement spending (social security, medicare, medicaid).

1 more reply

jalapenos1y ago

There's a great dishonesty in this argument, because it intentionally ignores the fact that this is only the opening couple of weeks in something that's going to continue for 4 years, Milei-style.

So obviously it's not a matter of what percent savings comes from closing USAID specifically, but in what total savings the posture behind that is going to create over the next 4 years.

apawloski1y ago

What do you expect the total savings to be?

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse