Discussion on Musk's DoGE ideas, the federal deficit, and GDP

14,454 Views | 333 Replies | Last: 8 min ago by bear2034
cbbass1
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In reply to concordtom • 2:22a, 2/11/25
concordtom said:
Energy sector is 5-6% of USA GDP.

Per Musk's vision, this could be spent more efficiently.

Massive transmission line upgrades ("Infrastructure Week"!) are needed.

Eisenhower brought you the federal Highway system?
Trump can bring you a National Grid.














All of these critiques of solar & wind power assume that the solar power will be generated by some centralized utility and pumped into the grid, with huuge transmission losses.

But that's not how solar was designed to work.

The whole point of solar is that instead of the utility paying $$$ to build generating capacity, residents and ratepayers purchase & install their own!

The "problem" with residential solar, and the development of cheap LiFePO4 batteries, is that it's easy to go off-grid, or to stay on the grid, and sell power back.

When the panels & batteries got super cheap, utilities like PG&E cut their buy-back rates. A lot.

IF electrical utilities were Public, and managed for the benefit of We The People, the buy-back rates for excess power would remain generous, and residential solar would be the norm. But that's not what's profitable for private utilities.
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AunBear89
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In reply to bear2034 • 6:56a, 2/11/25
bear2034 said:

And there it is. President Musk is tipping his hand. The safety net will be severely restricted, if not outright eliminated. Big cuts to benefits and elimination of programs, all in the name of "efficiency". Efficiently freeing up money to offset huge tax cuts for 1% and corporations.
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chazzed
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12:20p, 2/11/25
Simply reprehensible actions by Musk.


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bear2034
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In reply to AunBear89 • 2:16p, 2/11/25
AunBear89 said:
bear2034 said:

And there it is. President Musk is tipping his hand. The safety net will be severely restricted, if not outright eliminated. Big cuts to benefits and elimination of programs, all in the name of "efficiency". Efficiently freeing up money to offset huge tax cuts for 1% and corporations.

Elon Musk is going to take away your mailbox to prevent you from receiving unemployment checks.
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bear2034
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3:13p, 2/11/25

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bear2034
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4:05p, 2/11/25
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chazzed
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4:21p, 2/11/25
Concerning.

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bearister
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In reply to chazzed • 5:04p, 2/11/25
The Duumvirate thinks it's quaint when people of good morals, ethics and conscience think that they give a f@uck when they get outed for a conflict of interest, ethical violation or illegality.
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Anarchistbear
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5:20p, 2/11/25
I thought Musk was smart. So far he's like an adolescent kid pulling back the curtain on some minor peep show- all titillation, little substance
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bear2034
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In reply to Anarchistbear • 5:27p, 2/11/25
Anarchistbear said:
I thought Musk was smart. So far he's like an adolescent kid pulling back the curtain on some minor peep show- all titillation, little substance

It's enough titillation for Time to put him on their cover. It's enough titillation for NBC News to refer to the damage as unprecedented in scope and scale.
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chazzed
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5:32p, 2/11/25
You can't make this stuff up.


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bear2034
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6:05p, 2/11/25
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DiabloWags
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In reply to bear2034 • 6:49p, 2/11/25
bear2034 said:

Elon Musk is going to take away your mailbox to prevent you from receiving unemployment checks.


I heard that Musk will be taking away your federally sibsidized internet access and you'll have to hang out at Starbux and sponge off their WiFi connection.

You're living the Dream.
No doubt about it.

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bear2034
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In reply to DiabloWags • 8:34p, 2/11/25
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bear2034
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In reply to DiabloWags • 9:28p, 2/11/25
DiabloWags said:


I heard that Musk will be taking away your federally sibsidized internet access and you'll have to hang out at Starbux and sponge off their WiFi connection.

You shall refer to him as Harry Bolz.

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DiabloWags
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In reply to bear2034 • 2:29p, 2/12/25
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.

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concordtom
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In reply to cbbass1 • 5:11a, 2/13/25
cbbass1 said:
concordtom said:
Energy sector is 5-6% of USA GDP.

Per Musk's vision, this could be spent more efficiently.

Massive transmission line upgrades ("Infrastructure Week"!) are needed.

Eisenhower brought you the federal Highway system?
Trump can bring you a National Grid.














All of these critiques of solar & wind power assume that the solar power will be generated by some centralized utility and pumped into the grid, with huuge transmission losses.

But that's not how solar was designed to work.

The whole point of solar is that instead of the utility paying $$$ to build generating capacity, residents and ratepayers purchase & install their own!

The "problem" with residential solar, and the development of cheap LiFePO4 batteries, is that it's easy to go off-grid, or to stay on the grid, and sell power back.

When the panels & batteries got super cheap, utilities like PG&E cut their buy-back rates. A lot.

IF electrical utilities were Public, and managed for the benefit of We The People, the buy-back rates for excess power would remain generous, and residential solar would be the norm. But that's not what's profitable for private utilities.


You bring up an interesting point I have not yet considered. So, when PGE eventually goes bust because they cannot withstand the onslaught of cheaper generation or trim the trees everywhere in the state, maybe it's a good thing when the state takes over?

Then they can invest in batteries and harvest all that excess daytime duck curve only to redistribute it at night?

I dunno. Lots of operational and economic assumptions in here.
The Moss Landing fire…I haven't digested yet, but seemingly a huge blow to the battery storage play.
Thoughts?
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bearister
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In reply to DiabloWags • 6:49a, 2/13/25
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

….. Mr. Musk is already a major government contractor. Companies he owns or controls have secured $13 billion in federal contracts over the past five years. SpaceX, the rocket company he founded, collects most of that money and is one of the biggest government contractors."

State Dept. Plans $400 Million Purchase of Armored Tesla Cybertrucks - The New York Times


https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/trump-tesla-musk-cybertruck.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/us/politics/trump-tesla-musk-cybertruck.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wk4.Xoxj.4jB3cf64wvyM&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare


That's Bill Burr with hair observing the money nap.

*We will have to keep our eye on this. Either the lads are suddenly and uncharacteristically sensitive to bad optics, or they got caught being sneaky. I say it's just three-card monte:

Tesla Removed From $400M Federal Contract Amid Scrutiny | TIME


https://time.com/7221880/state-department-2025-procurement-forecast-tesla-armored-electric-vehicles-musk/
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bear2034
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3:43p, 2/13/25
DOGE has entered the IRS building.
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bear2034
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6:17p, 2/13/25
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concordtom
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In reply to bearister • 7:18p, 2/13/25
Cyber truck is not selling as much as hoped. So, Trump can payback Elon's donations to his campaign by soaking up that excess supply of his ugly creation by using the people's money.
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AunBear89
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In reply to bear2034 • 9:28p, 2/13/25
bear2034 said:


Yeah! Elno wants his turn at the trough.
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." -- (maybe) Benjamin Disraeli, popularized by Mark Twain
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bear2034
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In reply to bearister • 9:38p, 2/13/25
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

Thie cybertruck discussions between the State Department and Tesla were initiated by the Biden administration.
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MinotStateBeav
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In reply to bear2034 • 11:19p, 2/13/25
bear2034 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

Thie cybertruck discussions between the State Department and Tesla were initiated by the Biden administration.
Welp that will be the last we hear about that topic haha
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bear2034
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In reply to DiabloWags • 11:52p, 2/13/25

Are you not entertained?
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DiabloWags
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In reply to bear2034 • 8:49a, 2/14/25
bear2034 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

Thie cybertruck discussions between the State Department and Tesla were initiated by the Biden administration.

Is that why Egg prices were up 15.2% in January?
Because Trump is now the President but it's Biden's fault?

Your intelligence knows no floor.
Zero.

lol


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bear2034
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In reply to DiabloWags • 10:43a, 2/14/25
DiabloWags said:
bear2034 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

Thie cybertruck discussions between the State Department and Tesla were initiated by the Biden administration.
Is that why Egg prices were up 15.2% in January?
Because Trump is now the President but it's Biden's fault?

Your intelligence knows no floor.
Zero.

lol

What did Biden's State Department plan to do with the Tesla cybetrucks?
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bear2034
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1:19p, 2/14/25

There's a picture of Big Balls hanging in a women's restroom at the Pentagon per the WSJ.
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bearister
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In reply to bear2034 • 2:52p, 2/14/25
bear2034 said:

What did Biden's State Department plan to do with the Tesla cybetrucks?

I heard use as rolling torpedos since they blow up at impact.

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chazzed
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In reply to bear2034 • 3:13p, 2/14/25
bear2034 said:
DiabloWags said:
bear2034 said:
bearister said:
DiabloWags said:
Guess who is still getting Govt contracts while all the contracts at the Dept. of Education and USAID got nuked?

I will give you one guess.



"Tesla, whose chief executive, Elon Musk, has been advising President Trump on how to cut government spending, is likely to receive a lucrative contract to supply armored versions of its Cybertruck pickup to the State Department, according to public documents.

The department's procurement forecast for 2025, which details purchases the agency expects to make, includes $400 million for armored Tesla vehicles.The document does not specify which Tesla model, but the electric Cybertruck, which has a body of high-strength stainless steel, would be the most suitable vehicle.

Thie cybertruck discussions between the State Department and Tesla were initiated by the Biden administration.
Is that why Egg prices were up 15.2% in January?
Because Trump is now the President but it's Biden's fault?

Your intelligence knows no floor.
Zero.

lol

What did Biden's State Department plan to do with the Tesla cybetrucks?
Well, I'm glad it never happened, because they are steaming piles.
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chazzed
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3:15p, 2/14/25
Wow, Musk is an idiot who is working against Americans.


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bearister
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In reply to chazzed • 5:39p, 2/14/25
Boys playing grownups. This is so much worse than even MSNBC predicted.
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MinotStateBeav
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In reply to chazzed • 6:25p, 2/14/25
You know, calling Elon Musk an idiot is certainly a choice.
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bearister
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In reply to MinotStateBeav • 6:37p, 2/14/25
MinotStateBeav said:
You know, calling Elon Musk an idiot is certainly a choice.

Gary Radnich once made a very astute comment: "The problem with many celebrities is that they think that their opinions on matters that they have no expertise in matters more than the next guy's."

I'd say based on the evidence so far, Musk's opinion on how to run a government is worth less than tits on a bull:

Trump's Purge Hits Nuclear Weapons AgencySetting Off National Crisis | The New Republic


https://newrepublic.com/post/191564/trump-fires-rehires-nuclear-weapons-agency-staff

"ABC News is reporting that hundreds of employees at the 1,800-person National Nuclear Security Administration were fired on Thursday. Many of them described the situation as a "national security crisis."

The Department of Energy then suddenly paused the firings on Friday, frantically calling back employees to tell them they still have a job.

"This is creating unbelievable threats to our national security. Trump, Musk, and DOGE are wiping out the employees who manage our nuclear arsenal," attorney and former Ukrainian Armed Forces member John Jackson wrote on X. "Every time someone retires, there will be no one to fill their slot."


Do you MAGAs have any Trump spin on this one?



Serious questions: Is there anyone in the Trump Administration that knows what the hell they are doing? Did they retain or hire at least one person that does that can help them with their homework?
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MinotStateBeav
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In reply to bearister • 6:45p, 2/14/25
The problem is the Biden Admin hired people based on their devotion to the party instead of competency, the only way you clear those people out of there, is to clear those people out of there.
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