And all for the ugliest, most greedy, self-righteous, lying bastard that has come down the pike. Cult is the only definition. The flim-flam man is in cahoots with the man who can destroy faster than a cadre of carpenters can build.
There is a law called the Anti-Deficiency Act that prohibits any member of the Executive Branch, including Federal employees, from obligating the government without an appropriation. I spent 42 years in Federal service, retiring from the Army Corps of Engineers (ESSAYONS!) and know of one guy in another agency who had about 20 years under his belt and was fired for violating the Act. Of the hundreds of people I worked with over my 42 years of service, I could count on one hand the number of people who were grossly incompetent and/or unethical. The people I worked with were dedicated, smart, hard-working and completely non-partisan in their work. When President Musk guts the civil service, people in every sector of our society and economy will feel some pain. It will take years to rebuild it into a functioning government again.
Like being in a vehicle with no brakes and no transmission going downhill. Sometime a stop will occur but at what cost? Disappointed and ashamed. NONE of this should be happening after the coup attempt in January, 2021. The Senate had a chance to make sure the felon never served in an elected office again...you know the rest...
Honestly, just how BAD to things have to go before those toady Republicans who support Trump wise up?! It's heartbreaking, and totally frustrating to watch. It is hard to hold the faith, but I keep trying.
I knew this administration was going to be bad, and even though these are the items straight from Project 2025 that I was fully aware of, it feels so much worse than I ever imagined. Somehow this idiot, and those who do his bidding have got to be stopped, but how? Congressional members are saying how their phone lines are overwhelmed, there are protest all over the place, and I even heard today that the courts are already swamped which is exactly what trump wants.
It hasn't even been a month into this presidency and our house is on fire and there doesn't appear to be any water to douse the blaze. As long as I live, I will never, ever understand the stupidity of all of this.
I retired from the VA as a Nurse Practitioner ten years ago. We were short staffed then and probably they still are. The effects of firing or encouraging people to quit any federal job for no reason other than purging is simply wrong.
Mr. Rather, thanks for these eye opening words bringing out a topic that hits all USA families and is often swept under the rug!
As many civil servants are trying to understand the ramifications of Trump’s re election, a grave danger is floating over them. The loss of employment is considered one of the most dangerous occurrences especially in the stability of a family’s life. Getting a layoff letter cuts the possibility of raising a family while covering all their needs with our hard earned salaries. To make it worse, the capacity to comply with financial obligations can suffer such a blow that in most instances can never be recuperated. Finding a new job, when you are competing with so many women and men possessing as good, or even more significant capacities, turns the job hunting into an uphill struggle.
I was part of an exiting governor’s staff many years ago, and witness how many employees were laid off because of their opposite political views and the repercussions of such unfair treatment did to a needed employee, to help the new administration keep the change of government as seamless as possible.
I personally witnessed the chaos brought to the whole government apparatus. The ongoing social services and health related systems (to name just two) spent years trying to recuperate their previous positions, but it was too late. Once you loose funding, even if you recuperate it later on, it never again will come back as needed or it will be turned into a different project to meet the campaign promises of the new political party taking charge. A very sad, dangerous and lacking of sensibility of many so called leaders, once they reach POWER.
I am feeling a very personal way that era all over again but, this time as an outsider looking in. Nevertheless, I feel the anguish of the uncertain future that many of our sisters and brothers are feeling at this dangerous moment in history. My heart goes to each one of them.
It might take time to revert most of the unfortunate turns that today’s history are taking, but it cannot keep us from bringing out our disgust, disappointment, desired to engage into the mainstream voices to point out what is wrong, and even when seeing something right. We must keep “steady heads” while working for a better future, “un dia a la vez”.
Thanks, Mr. Rather, you are a force of encouragement to us that feel the need to express dissent, but keep ourselves on the sidelines fearing repercussions against our loved ones. I am not afraid, I am supported by a lot of love, respect and support, but there are many others that are fighting all by themselves, we should hold them closed to our hearts. There will be other times to celebrate, but for now, this is time to humbly bow our heads and do a lot of praying!
Blessings to you and the Steady Team today and always.
What can these similarly situated civil servants do? Start a FB group to exchange ideas? A group for networking and support? A non-profit? So that everyone isn't struggling on their own.
But destroying it as is now happening is uncalled for to say the least — and dangerous for the country.. Everything was laid out in Project 2025, and the people voted—now they will face the consequences of their choice. That’s how democracy works, even when it leads to its own undoing. Ben Franklin warned of the fragility of a democratic republic when he famously said, "If you can keep it.
This is about 2 things - 1. gain control so that he and his Nazi sycophant can steal billions from the American people and 2. cause as much pain and harm to anyone with brown skin. Period.
It is very sad. I worked 40 years in Public service including two federal government departments, the Army AND Navy, two provincial ministries, two provincial crown corporations, and a major city. I also have an MPA. As a consultant, I also worked for a number of private corporations, enhancing their efficiency as well. My conviction is that most Public Servants are exactly that, and they perform better than their counterparts in private business, provided that they are not interfered with too much by elected officials having changing priorities.
What is happening now is the worst possible reaction to perceived inefficiency. It will fail everyone. There is a big difference between doing the right thing and doing a thing right. Effectiveness is more important than efficiency, and saving money is not as important as serving the people. That's the point of Public Service. And Regulation protects the public. We should all be grateful for it.
Sadly you all need to wait until the MAGA loyalists who voted for him wake up and smell the rot. Some will never change their minds but we can only hope that enough will see the light in two years and vote to turn this around. In the meantime we all have to stay strong. Canada is on the verge of a major economic disaster if/when he proceeds with his tariffs. He will not stop and when the 30 day reprieve ends he will just ask for more. I would really like to know who got threatened to vote for Bondi et al. God help all of us🙏
I’m pretty sure there is a more sinister motive behind firing FBI employees and now CIA employees.
Only 9 % ( I read this and saw a pie chart via Paul Krugman) of the federal budget goes to these agencies. Why focus on 9% when they can look at areas of our budget that has severe waste?
It isn’t about waste or saving the taxpayers money.
It is about hand picking people who will do his bidding to fill those positions. And especially about erasing any information on him and his cronies from their illegal activities and corruption.
No doubt this is guided by the authors of Project 2025. The new budget secretary was certainly chosen and approved of by the senate for this purpose.
Certainly not trump as he has absolutely no clue about how the budget works.
His threats are far reaching and he lives the fear they generate.
My hope is that most of those he “ offered” early retirement or a “pause” in their employment will not take it snd seek legal representation immediately.
And all for the ugliest, most greedy, self-righteous, lying bastard that has come down the pike. Cult is the only definition. The flim-flam man is in cahoots with the man who can destroy faster than a cadre of carpenters can build.
There is a law called the Anti-Deficiency Act that prohibits any member of the Executive Branch, including Federal employees, from obligating the government without an appropriation. I spent 42 years in Federal service, retiring from the Army Corps of Engineers (ESSAYONS!) and know of one guy in another agency who had about 20 years under his belt and was fired for violating the Act. Of the hundreds of people I worked with over my 42 years of service, I could count on one hand the number of people who were grossly incompetent and/or unethical. The people I worked with were dedicated, smart, hard-working and completely non-partisan in their work. When President Musk guts the civil service, people in every sector of our society and economy will feel some pain. It will take years to rebuild it into a functioning government again.
Like being in a vehicle with no brakes and no transmission going downhill. Sometime a stop will occur but at what cost? Disappointed and ashamed. NONE of this should be happening after the coup attempt in January, 2021. The Senate had a chance to make sure the felon never served in an elected office again...you know the rest...
It's time to watch Duck Soup, again. Hail, Fredonia. Can't hurt. Maybe a remake with Elon starring as the wealthy Mrs. Teasdale.
Honestly, just how BAD to things have to go before those toady Republicans who support Trump wise up?! It's heartbreaking, and totally frustrating to watch. It is hard to hold the faith, but I keep trying.
MAGA - MAKE AMERICA GOOD-FOR-NOTHING, ABOMINABLE.
MAGA--Morons Are Governing America.
So, that would be MAGfnA.
Actually good-for-nothing- is a singular, compound noun, so it still would be MAGA.
Cheers!
MAGA - Make America Goo -for-nothing, Abominable.
I knew this administration was going to be bad, and even though these are the items straight from Project 2025 that I was fully aware of, it feels so much worse than I ever imagined. Somehow this idiot, and those who do his bidding have got to be stopped, but how? Congressional members are saying how their phone lines are overwhelmed, there are protest all over the place, and I even heard today that the courts are already swamped which is exactly what trump wants.
It hasn't even been a month into this presidency and our house is on fire and there doesn't appear to be any water to douse the blaze. As long as I live, I will never, ever understand the stupidity of all of this.
I retired from the VA as a Nurse Practitioner ten years ago. We were short staffed then and probably they still are. The effects of firing or encouraging people to quit any federal job for no reason other than purging is simply wrong.
The VA has been short-handed enough without all this added to the mess.
Mr. Rather, thanks for these eye opening words bringing out a topic that hits all USA families and is often swept under the rug!
As many civil servants are trying to understand the ramifications of Trump’s re election, a grave danger is floating over them. The loss of employment is considered one of the most dangerous occurrences especially in the stability of a family’s life. Getting a layoff letter cuts the possibility of raising a family while covering all their needs with our hard earned salaries. To make it worse, the capacity to comply with financial obligations can suffer such a blow that in most instances can never be recuperated. Finding a new job, when you are competing with so many women and men possessing as good, or even more significant capacities, turns the job hunting into an uphill struggle.
I was part of an exiting governor’s staff many years ago, and witness how many employees were laid off because of their opposite political views and the repercussions of such unfair treatment did to a needed employee, to help the new administration keep the change of government as seamless as possible.
I personally witnessed the chaos brought to the whole government apparatus. The ongoing social services and health related systems (to name just two) spent years trying to recuperate their previous positions, but it was too late. Once you loose funding, even if you recuperate it later on, it never again will come back as needed or it will be turned into a different project to meet the campaign promises of the new political party taking charge. A very sad, dangerous and lacking of sensibility of many so called leaders, once they reach POWER.
I am feeling a very personal way that era all over again but, this time as an outsider looking in. Nevertheless, I feel the anguish of the uncertain future that many of our sisters and brothers are feeling at this dangerous moment in history. My heart goes to each one of them.
It might take time to revert most of the unfortunate turns that today’s history are taking, but it cannot keep us from bringing out our disgust, disappointment, desired to engage into the mainstream voices to point out what is wrong, and even when seeing something right. We must keep “steady heads” while working for a better future, “un dia a la vez”.
Thanks, Mr. Rather, you are a force of encouragement to us that feel the need to express dissent, but keep ourselves on the sidelines fearing repercussions against our loved ones. I am not afraid, I am supported by a lot of love, respect and support, but there are many others that are fighting all by themselves, we should hold them closed to our hearts. There will be other times to celebrate, but for now, this is time to humbly bow our heads and do a lot of praying!
Blessings to you and the Steady Team today and always.
What can these similarly situated civil servants do? Start a FB group to exchange ideas? A group for networking and support? A non-profit? So that everyone isn't struggling on their own.
But destroying it as is now happening is uncalled for to say the least — and dangerous for the country.. Everything was laid out in Project 2025, and the people voted—now they will face the consequences of their choice. That’s how democracy works, even when it leads to its own undoing. Ben Franklin warned of the fragility of a democratic republic when he famously said, "If you can keep it.
This is about 2 things - 1. gain control so that he and his Nazi sycophant can steal billions from the American people and 2. cause as much pain and harm to anyone with brown skin. Period.
It is very sad. I worked 40 years in Public service including two federal government departments, the Army AND Navy, two provincial ministries, two provincial crown corporations, and a major city. I also have an MPA. As a consultant, I also worked for a number of private corporations, enhancing their efficiency as well. My conviction is that most Public Servants are exactly that, and they perform better than their counterparts in private business, provided that they are not interfered with too much by elected officials having changing priorities.
What is happening now is the worst possible reaction to perceived inefficiency. It will fail everyone. There is a big difference between doing the right thing and doing a thing right. Effectiveness is more important than efficiency, and saving money is not as important as serving the people. That's the point of Public Service. And Regulation protects the public. We should all be grateful for it.
Read Paul Krugman’s Substack post from today.
Sadly you all need to wait until the MAGA loyalists who voted for him wake up and smell the rot. Some will never change their minds but we can only hope that enough will see the light in two years and vote to turn this around. In the meantime we all have to stay strong. Canada is on the verge of a major economic disaster if/when he proceeds with his tariffs. He will not stop and when the 30 day reprieve ends he will just ask for more. I would really like to know who got threatened to vote for Bondi et al. God help all of us🙏
Two years is too long.
I agree 100% but you may not have a choice. He holds all the cards.
I’m pretty sure there is a more sinister motive behind firing FBI employees and now CIA employees.
Only 9 % ( I read this and saw a pie chart via Paul Krugman) of the federal budget goes to these agencies. Why focus on 9% when they can look at areas of our budget that has severe waste?
It isn’t about waste or saving the taxpayers money.
It is about hand picking people who will do his bidding to fill those positions. And especially about erasing any information on him and his cronies from their illegal activities and corruption.
No doubt this is guided by the authors of Project 2025. The new budget secretary was certainly chosen and approved of by the senate for this purpose.
Certainly not trump as he has absolutely no clue about how the budget works.
His threats are far reaching and he lives the fear they generate.
My hope is that most of those he “ offered” early retirement or a “pause” in their employment will not take it snd seek legal representation immediately.
Lack of personnel who can successfully prosecute white collar crime and international influence.