# DOGE; the department of Government Efficiency **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** elon-musk\ **Created:** [November 13, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227 "2024-11-13T23:28:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/121 "2024-11-22T17:42:49Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Yep. I’m a big fan of the 10th Amendment. > > The U.S. is a federation of states. If you live in Texas, but don’t like the laws of Texas, move to a state of your liking. So let’s turn back the clock to before 1865. Before the U.S. became truly one nation it was a weak collection of states. It became a strong nation in all senses of the word because that changed. Personally I don’t want to accelerate the decline into a backwater. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/122 "2024-11-22T19:30:28Z")
I’ve been a fed for 38 years. Have seen many efforts to “privatize” aspects. Have yet to see on that has yielded significant cost savings AND equal or better quality service. I find it mildly amusing - but primarily out of touch - to hear these billionaires talking about all of the “fat cat bureaucrats.” The federal workforce is very large. But the number of employees who earn over $200k/year - not so large. I also love the prospect of these “efficiency experts” from private industry getting to work w/ MTG! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/123 "2024-11-22T20:08:35Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > So let’s turn back the clock to before 1865. Forget that, let’s go back before 1789, back to the Articles of Confederation. Then the states really **were** independent. Who needs the US Constitution or federal government anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/124 "2024-11-24T02:50:07Z")
No, the US is a Republic. The states gave up their sovereignty. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/125 "2024-11-24T06:17:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > No, the US is a Republic. And it’s a federation of states as many nations are. It just means they have a certain degree of autonomy for internal affairs despite being governed by a central authority. It’s not mutually exclusive with being a republic. That of course doesn’t mean a state can just ignore federal law, but states can and do enact and enforce laws in the manner granted to them by the US Constitution. And fortunately some clown show like this proposed DOGE wouldn’t be able to interfere with that. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/126 "2024-11-24T19:19:32Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I also love the prospect of these “efficiency experts” from private industry getting to work w/ MTG! 😃 I’ll give this merry union no more than two weeks. . ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/127 "2024-11-24T21:33:44Z")
I remember when Reagan came in back in the dark ages. He had a similiar idea to “Drain the Swamp” and improve government efficiency. As I recall, not much came of it. If the gods smile, Musk will have a similiar impact. > **[Grace Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Commission)** > > The Private Sector Survey on Cost Control (PSSCC), commonly referred to as the Grace Commission, was an investigation requested by United States President Ronald Reagan, authorized in Executive Order 12369 on June 30, 1982. In doing so President Reagan used the now famous phrase, "Drain the swamp". The focus was on eliminating waste and inefficiency in the United States federal government. The head of the commission, businessman J. Peter Grace, asked the members of that commission to "Be The G... ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/128 "2024-11-25T00:38:33Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > > [@Dinsdale](#): > > > > I also love the prospect of these “efficiency experts” from private industry getting to work w/ MTG! 😃 > > I’ll give this merry union no more than two weeks. > . Leon doesn’t play well with others. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/129 "2024-11-25T01:04:05Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Leon doesn’t play well with others Do any of them? One can only hope this time around, they emulate the Republican Party of Michigan and get too busy trying to eat each others’ faces to really accomplish anything. Except passing a budget. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/130 "2024-11-25T01:41:20Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > Leon doesn’t play well with others > > Do any of them? > > One can only hope this time around, they emulate the Republican Party of Michigan and get too busy trying to eat each others’ faces to really accomplish anything. Except passing a budget. Leon isn’t one of them. His ego won’t allow it. He thins he’s better than all of them. At some point he’s going to push Vivek around and it will get interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/131 "2024-11-25T01:46:16Z")
Just to clarify, by “Leon”, are you referring to Elon Musk? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/132 "2024-11-25T01:52:47Z")
Sorry yes. It’s a common internet nickname for him by people who don’t want to give him the satisfaction of having his name repeated. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/133 "2024-11-25T01:54:29Z")
I think their hatred of what they call woke will be stronger than anything else. They will go through tremendous discomfort to punish their perceived enemies. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/134 "2024-11-25T01:57:15Z")
Thanks. I was getting used to people calling him Elmo and now there’s a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/135 "2024-11-25T01:57:43Z")
Elmo is also acceptable. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/136 "2024-11-25T02:00:35Z")
Elonia is also trending. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/137 "2024-11-25T02:01:57Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Sorry yes. It’s a common internet nickname for him by people who don’t want to give him the satisfaction of having his name repeated. I believe Trump once refered to Elmo as Leon. I think that’s where the internet nickname comes from, since I don’t recall anyone using it before then. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/138 "2024-11-25T02:09:07Z")
I’m actually amazed that the bromance between Trump and Musk has lasted this long. Normally you wouldn’t be able to get two egos that big in the same room. Plus I thought that Musk would get bored before now. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/139 "2024-11-25T03:00:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m actually amazed that the bromance between Trump and Musk has lasted this long. Musk must really remind Trump of Putin in some way. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227/140 "2024-11-25T03:20:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m actually amazed that the bromance between Trump and Musk has lasted this long. > **[Trump Locks Bathroom Door So Elon Musk Can’t Follow Him In](https://theonion.com/trump-locks-bathroom-door-so-elon-musk-cant-follow-him-in/)** > > PALM BEACH, FL—Admitting that ever since he joined the campaign trail the billionaire tech mogul had refused to leave him alone, President-elect Donald Trump reportedly locked the bathroom door Tuesday so Elon Musk couldn’t follow him in again. “All... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doge-the-department-of-government-efficiency/1010227.md?page=8)