BLOAT, BLOAT, BLOAT YOUR BOAT
By Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
We have bloated, out-of-control, and unresponsive government agencies that need to be reined in and focused by Congress to deliver results. - Elizabeth Emcee
One of Merriam-Webster's definitions for bloat is "to fill to capacity or overflowing."
Another is "unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement."
But one of my favorite of the definitions is "digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments."
I have learned watching a couple different veterinarian programs the condition can be fatal.
That last one aligns rather nicely with today's government - an unwarranted overfilled bag of gas that can be fatal especially to 'we the people' (cattle).
Coming to mind from some years ago is a unit someone I know was assigned to command because there was dire need for fresh leadership.
In short, there was a senior enlisted Sailor present but not need for much less line number/billet on the T/O (Table of Organization).
Asking about the situation came answer, "Oh, 'the unit Master Chief'."
There's not such thing.
Previous commanding officers, for whatever reasons, did not have the Sailor assigned specific responsibilities.
So, the Sailor floated - drifted about the unit.
When told of the situation I laughed aloud.
Just what a military outfit needs - a senior person in excess of the T/O floating about (the unit) offering counsel and advice (bullshitting) with no responsibilities thus accountable for nothing.
The new commanding officer quickly fixed it - go find a unit that, by T/O, requires your rank, skills, and experience.
That a micro case of bloat.
Our government is a macro case of bloat.
What happens is without mission essential constructive things to do, for the greater good, bloat invents things to do which typically prove destructive.
To point, during this morning's walk listening to an interview about government bureaucracy was described case of a rancher out west who created four ponds, as resource on his massive property, to fight wild fires.
For his common sense preventative effort and initiative he went to jail.
Courtesy of the EPA.
What came to mind? Bloat at the EPA. What judicial authority does the EPA have?
And so goes bloat throughout every faction of government.
A not-so-funny conclusion struck ... instead of government tending to the peoples' business, which is the whole point of government, and improving life for the greater good of society, the bloat is government finding ways to give the people the business.
When government is attacking the people it's time the people counterattack.
Enter DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency.
It's President-elect Trump's temporary bloat to clean up decades of built up permanent bloat.
Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk tapped by President-elect Trump to chair with report out date in time to celebrate America's 250th birthday; President Trump's gift to America.
No government agency immune from scrutiny for government bloat is not representation but oppression.
Considering Ramaswamy and Musk both astute, successful businessmen (e.g., Musk, after buying Twitter, cut an estimated 80% of the workforce and in less than two years with a leaner team has fielded the world's most powerful conduit protecting free speech) there's every reason to hold faith and confidence they will succeed.
I pray they will solicit public input.
One way ...
On X, with complete transparency, poll the citizenry.
Publish lists of federal government agencies, large and small, and ask the if and how they (the everyday citizen) have been harmed by bloat - bureaucracy.
There must be millions of pond builders out there.
Aggregate data by complaints, frequency, costs of harms, etc.
And let the people have a big hand, directly, in fixing the bloat.
Bloated boats cannot sail nor be rowed.
Bloated government cannot float.
Election Day's massive vote, in so many words, "Enough! with bloat."
Else we sink.
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2 comments:
Just for warm ups, Musk and Ramaswamy could recommend Depts of Education and Energy be eliminated. Don't think we'll lose anything there...
While out of their marching orders, and a much tougher nut to crack, would be eliminating the IRS. "How?," you ask? Shift from an income-based tax to a consumption-based system. No more April 15th. What a concept!!
Oh dear Lord, watch the fireworks. My very first choice would be the Deot of Education. Created by none other than the infamous and once referred to the worst POTUS ever, that is until Sleepy Joe got elected, and Jimmy lost his status. Jimmy signed off on creating the U.S. Department of Education in 1979, which used to be grouped with health and welfare. The goal was not to control schools and universities but to advise and assist. Really? That didn't work out very well. Best research states they have 4,400 employees with a $68 billion budget. WOW. Thanks Jimmy.
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