Government shutdown

[Liberty]

How about we get rid of ICE, It seems as though it's one of those agencies both sides might agree on.
Department of Education. (We can dispose of a Cabinet position and the much hated Betsy DeVos

Come to think about it we could get rid of most of the Government, most of it is a pretty broad reach of what the Constitution tells us our Government's purpose is.

[Soccerdad1995]

How about we get rid of ICE, It seems as though it's one of those agencies both sides might agree on.
Department of Education. (We can dispose of a Cabinet position and the much hated Betsy DeVos

Come to think about it we could get rid of most of the Government, most of it is a pretty broad reach of what the Constitution tells us our Government's purpose is.

Let's apply a simple test.

Does the federal agency do something that is also done by state / local government agencies, or by another federal agency? If so, does the federal agency add significant value that cannot possibly be accomplished by these other agencies?

For example, I know the FBI is pretty inept, but if we could get them to stop colluding to overturn the results of our elections, then maybe they would be able to enforce laws related to alcohol tobacco, and firearms so we could get rid of the ATF. That might mean we have no one left to declare that rubber bands are suddenly machine guns, but I think we would somehow still manage to survive.

[striker55]

If I remember correctly how many times did the government shutdown during Obama's time in office? He used it to his advantage to sign bills.

[Soccerdad1995]

Let's apply a simple test.

Does the federal agency do something that is also done by state / local government agencies, or by another federal agency? If so, does the federal agency add significant value that cannot possibly be accomplished by these other agencies?

Hey, we could take governmental redundancy rejection to the extreme and eliminate state, county, and local governments instead.
Kidding, of course, but I've always wondered if the needs of the people vary that much from state to state or even city to city.

Actually the reverse process makes more logical sense. To the extent that the needs of folks differ at all from place to place, local decision makers elected by local residents will necessarily be more responsive to the needs of those local residents. They can easily get feedback and tweak policies without needing to consider unintended impacts on others who might be thousands of miles away. The natural bias should be toward only having a broad federal agency if there is compelling evidence that they are extremely better at meeting the needs of the taxpayer. Otherwise, everything should be handled by state / local government.

One area where federal control makes sense IMHO is with our national defense.

[Papa_Tiger]

Let's apply a simple test.

Does the federal agency do something that is also done by state / local government agencies, or by another federal agency? If so, does the federal agency add significant value that cannot possibly be accomplished by these other agencies?

Hey, we could take governmental redundancy rejection to the extreme and eliminate state, county, and local governments instead.
Kidding, of course, but I've always wondered if the needs of the people vary that much from state to state or even city to city.

Actually the reverse process makes more logical sense. To the extent that the needs of folks differ at all from place to place, local decision makers elected by local residents will necessarily be more responsive to the needs of those local residents. They can easily get feedback and tweak policies without needing to consider unintended impacts on others who might be thousands of miles away. The natural bias should be toward only having a broad federal agency if there is compelling evidence that they are extremely better at meeting the needs of the taxpayer. Otherwise, everything should be handled by state / local government.

One area where federal control makes sense IMHO is with our national defense.

I can also see some need for control for transportation (Highway $, construction, maintenance etc...), but many of the alphabet agencies serve a duplicative purpose with state governments.

[anygunanywhere]

SNL shows the way to end the shutdown:

https://youtu.be/0D-PRJuUDoc

I don't watch that sort of stuff, I flush it.

[anygunanywhere]

SNL shows the way to end the shutdown:

https://youtu.be/0D-PRJuUDoc

I don't watch that sort of stuff, I flush it.

Yeah, we frequently fast-forward through a lot of it too. SNL does use a lot of satire and caricature together and that can be a little hard to take but you might be missing a little humor you would have enjoyed. SNL has been around for more than 4 decades, is widely considered an American late-night institution, and continues to earn critical praise.

I watched SNL from the very beginning. After Belushi died, and all of the originals left SNL has not been the same. It originally was all about the comedy, now it is all about progressive leftist communist garbage. They have no humor that could ever interest me.

[G26ster]

SNL has been around for more than 4 decades, is widely considered an American late-night institution, and continues to earn critical praise.

Yes, and the critical praise comes from the like minded socialist, progressive media. I agree that it "used to be about comedy," but now it's all about bashing Trump and conservatives. Just because it's satire, doesn't make it less than garbage. Sorry, but bashing my values, calling me a bigot, a deplorable, or other name or implied label doesn't make it funny to me, satire or not.

[Pawpaw]

I watched SNL from the very beginning. After Belushi died, and all of the originals left SNL has not been the same. It originally was all about the comedy, now it is all about progressive leftist communist garbage. They have no humor that could ever interest me.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[G26ster]

I watched SNL from the very beginning. After Belushi died, and all of the originals left SNL has not been the same. It originally was all about the comedy, now it is all about progressive leftist communist garbage. They have no humor that could ever interest me.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Yammy 2

[Oldgringo]

SNL shows the way to end the shutdown:

https://youtu.be/0D-PRJuUDoc

SNL was funny....40 some years ago. It now SUCKS!

[anygunanywhere]

SNL shows the way to end the shutdown:

https://youtu.be/0D-PRJuUDoc

I don't watch that sort of stuff, I flush it.

Yeah, we frequently fast-forward through a lot of it too. SNL does use a lot of satire and caricature together and that can be a little hard to take but you might be missing a little humor you would have enjoyed. SNL has been around for more than 4 decades, is widely considered an American late-night institution, and continues to earn critical praise.

I watched SNL from the very beginning. After Belushi died, and all of the originals left SNL has not been the same. It originally was all about the comedy, now it is all about progressive leftist communist garbage. They have no humor that could ever interest me.

Hmm, I guess we enjoy it partly because we don't take it seriously. In fact, that SNL opening skit was hard on everyone, the president and the dems: Trump (long neckties, childish), Pelosi (wide-eyed, power drunk), Schumer (Jewish woman, flippant), McConnell (timid, bird boxer), Waters (threatening, crude), Ocasio-Cortez/King/Booker/Cardi B(dumb quotes), and Clemson Football (silly). Obviously the Trump character (Alec Baldwin) got more run time in the skit but everyone in it was well chastised. Remember, SNL is not a political program or an educational one... too silly, maybe but more relaxing than many pundit types we deal with today. By the way, we watch CNN and MSNBC as well as Fox News - different slants on the news are interesting. Try it.

I don't watch any news channel. I get my news via alternate sources. The vast majority of news sources AND anchors/reporters/editors are members of the propaganda arm the the government anyway. Enjoy yourself.

[Mel]

I don't watch any news channel. I get my news via alternate sources. The vast majority of news sources AND anchors/reporters/editors are members of the propaganda arm the the government anyway. Enjoy yourself.

Same Here!

[G26ster]

By the way, we watch CNN and MSNBC as well as Fox News - different slants on the news are interesting. Try it.

That's what's wrong with "news" today. The SLANT! There are very few straight news programs anymore. All networks are biased one way or the other, mainly and almost exclusively left. I don't want to hear the opinions. I don't need my news interpreted. I'm not a dummy. There's nothing I dislike more than a thirty-something political science major, with little to no real life experience render their "expert" opinion. Journalism in this country is on deaths door. Reporting just the facts no longer exists.

[carlson1]

By the way, we watch CNN and MSNBC as well as Fox News - different slants on the news are interesting. Try it.

That's what's wrong with "news" today. The SLANT! There are very few straight news programs anymore. All networks are biased one way or the other, mainly and almost exclusively left. I don't want to hear the opinions. I don't need my news interpreted. I'm not a dummy. There's nothing I dislike more than a thirty-something political science major, with little to no real life experience render their "expert" opinion. Journalism in this country is on deaths door. Reporting just the facts no longer exists.