4 days ago
- Elon Musk criticized New York's Fire Department appointment, despite having no qualifications to judge public service experience.
- DOGE, created as a political project by right-wing billionaires, aimed to modernize federal tech but was used to cut services and push ideological agendas.
- DOGE claimed to cut fraud but it was a mirage; actual cuts targeted programs like Social Security and USAID, leading to loss of life and trust.
- DOGE functioned as state capture, benefiting Silicon Valley interests in crypto, AI deregulation, and government contracts under Trump.
- Key allies like David Sacks and Scott Kupor were appointed to government roles, reflecting Silicon Valley's new political power.
- DOGE did not save money; it cut the federal workforce by about 220,000 employees, weakening state capacity without reducing the deficit.
- Cuts followed a partisan pattern, targeting liberal-leaning agencies and protecting conservative ones, with contract cancellations favoring Republican donors.
- DOGE misunderstood government finances, as personnel costs are minor compared to spending on military and entitlements, and dismissed public service value.
- DOGE lied about achievements, lacked accountability, and potentially violated laws, with little oversight from Congress or elected officials.
- Overall, DOGE caused significant disruption and harm, including deaths from USAID cuts, without delivering meaningful public service improvements.