Ronald Reagan once said: “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the Government, and I’m here to help.” He was right, the government’s not your friend and it most certainly isn’t here to help you.
The dirty little secret about government is that its purpose is not really to make the lives of citizens better, but rather, to accumulate power at the expense of citizens. Not sure about that? Ask yourself, how many government agencies have put themselves out of a job because they succeeded? There’re a few who technology left behind, like the Steamboat Inspection Service, others that served their purpose like the Defense Homes Corporation, while others were merged into other agencies like the General Land Office, subsumed into the Department of Interior. In our history there have been less than 100 federal agencies that have actually been shuttered, and most of those existed in the early 20th century to deal with the Depression or the two world wars.
According to the Federal Register there are 457 different agencies of the federal government. That’s 457 agencies covering virtually every aspect of American’s lives, most of which are staffed by unelected bureaucrats, all of whom spend your money and many of whom write regulations that carry the force of law enforced by the police power of government. This includes everything from the State Department to the Geographic Names Board to the International Broadcasting Board to the ATF. And that 457 is misleading. While it includes a dozen organizations tied to Defense, there are dozens more agencies that come under it that are not listed in the Federal Register such as the DoD Education Activity or the Office of Naval Research. Wikipedia lists a more realistic, but still lacking 1,500.
The American government has become a leviathan. It’s everywhere, involved in virtually every aspect of Americans’ lives, and it’s perpetual, regardless of its record of dismal failure. Two examples:
1) The War on Poverty, AKA the Great Society. The brainchild of LBJ, the Great Society programs were created to address poverty in America. They included things like food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Headstart, and others.
When the Great Society programs were passed in 1964 the poverty rate was 15%, dropping to 13.9% the next year. By 1969 the rate was 9.7%. Exactly 50 years later, in 2019 the rate was 8.7%. That means that as a result of fighting the War on Poverty for half a century, after spending over $30 trillion, the poverty rate dropped by a rounding error, by literally 1%!
Yet somehow the War on Poverty goes on, with more programs, more money, more regulations, and of course, more employees. Indeed, DHHS, which manages many of the programs, has a staff of 80,000 and an annual budget of over $1 trillion.
2) Public education. American public education is really just a jobs program and a revenue-generating program for unions. William McGurn over at the WSJ looks at the performance of schools in the largest school districts. The level of failure is extraordinary. For example, in 2019 Atlanta public schools spent $17,112 per student and the result of all of that spending was that only 10% of students were proficient in math and 15% in reading. So for all of that expenditure, fully 90% failed basic math proficiency and 85% reading. And this dynamic has been going on for decades across the country. New York City spends $28,004 per student and 75% of them lack proficiency in math and 81% in reading, while Boston spends $25,653 and has similar marks with 88% failing math and 85% reading.
On average the US spends approximately $14,000 per student in education, (Elem – HS) more than any nation in the world other than Luxemburg. And what do we get for that extraordinary spending? Not much. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2018 American students ranked 15th in the world for reading literacy, 18th in science and 37th in math! Of all of the things that drive a society to prosperity, particularly in the technologically advanced world we live in today, education is easily one of the most important, and on that score government has failed miserably, spectacularly and perpetually.
If the actual goal was to educate students, the government would give that money to parents in the form of vouchers to kickstart a private / charter school revolution. Sure, there’d be failures, but it’s hard to imagine how they could fail more spectacularly than the current systems are. But that’s not the goal…
The government spends $30 trillion over half a century and reduces poverty by 1%. The government spends more on education than virtually every nation on the planet yet 85% of the students in its biggest (and most minority filled) school districts fail basic reading and math, the building blocks for success in our dynamic society. And we’re supposed to believe government works for us?
American governments spend more money on education and social programs than anything else, more than the GDP of most countries. Yet they fail, year after year, decade after decade, but the funds keep growing, regardless of their catastrophically abysmal track record. And that tells you everything you need to know about the nature of governments. Their goal isn’t to solve problems. They’re not here to make life better for citizens. Their goal is not to protect the lives and liberties of citizens. No, the government is the borg. Its raison d’etre is simple: Grow revenue and increase power for themselves and unions. Proof? Despite the fact that the United States has 3,143 counties in 50 states spread out over 3,796,742 square miles, nine of the twenty richest counties are in a circle less than 100 miles across with Washington DC at its center. And what is the industry that drives that wealth? Finance? No. Entertainment? No. Steel or autos or high tech? No. One thing: Government power.
Accumulating power is the fundamental nature of government, and our Founding Fathers understood that, which is why they gave us the Bill of Rights and particularly the 9th and 10th Amendments. For the first 150 years of our nation those guardrails stood relatively firm, but today they are simply gone. Sadly, America has become so detached from our Constitution that 90% of what our government does is unconstitutional.
Unlike in economics where the solution to driving prosperity is baking more pies, the government is a zero-sum game. They win you lose. The more power the government takes, the more influence it exerts, the less freedom citizens have and less control they have over their lives. At some point, the expanse of government will spark a civil war between those who remember freedom and value prosperity facing off against those who seek to shelter themselves from cradle to grave under the blanket of government security, support themselves via government benefits that someone else pays for and use the police power of government to control what others think and do. What that civil war will look like is anybody’s guess, but like most civil wars it will not be pretty, and whatever emerges from the ashes will be a shadow of the greatness that once was America.
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FBI Admits They Don’t Track Violence Of Radical Left Antifa (VIDEO)
During the spring and summer of 2020, the radical left rioted in multiple cities across the country.
Did it seem to you that they were basically being allowed to do it? You weren’t imagining things.
In fact, the FBI recently admitted that they don’t keep track of violence from the radical left.
The FBI doesn’t have to track Antifa they take their marching orders from them
Then there is this;
AG Merrick Garland Instructs FBI to Mobilize Against Parents Who Oppose Critical Race Theory, Covid Mandates in Public Schools
Herr Mueller was made FBI head 9/4/01 to make it America’s STASI; for the persecution of conservatives. and for the last 20 years it has been Stasi; with primary mission of conservative persecution.
Jus a few egs from the last 6 years:
Mike Flynn
Carter page
Paul manafort
It is no accident that Herr mueller persecuted not liberals; he was/is on their side.
Deep state is on Stasi’s side. It has been clear they. broke many laws going after conservatives; at least for 3 years. But none are in “Grey Bar Hotel”!
But don’t cha remember? We were all told he was a “republican “
I remember he sais do himself!
SAID. not
sais
Whatever semblance of credibility Gateway Pundit had was lost when they deliberately falsified Cyber Ninja’s audit report.
You falsified it, not GP.
greggie, it was only those who committed the voting fraud deliberately falsified the Ninja’s audit report.
Flashback to August 2020 – The President Has Openly Declared He’s Destroying the Post Office to Suppress Votes
(You can file this the the drawer labeled “Why I came to hate the lying bastard”, though it may be too full to fit much more in.)
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a33594580/trump-post-office-vote-by-mail/
Louis DeJoy, the smarmy little creep that Trump installed as Postmaster General to facilitate this particular angle of his (unsuccessful) election theft project, is STILL on the job.
You’d think his blatant conflicts of interest alone would be sufficient to eject him—he had extensive financial interests in private delivery services that directly compete with the USPS, and is suspected of setting up a sham divestment scheme—but his removal can only be done by a majority of the Post Office Board of Governors—six of nine being Trump appointees. The other two bringing the Board total up to eleven are DeJoy himself, and Douglas Tulino, who reports directly to Louis DeJoy.
So, the U.S. Post Office—a governmental service was brought into existence by decree of the United States Constitution itself—continues to be rendered increasingly dysfunctional by intention. Another deliberate postal delivery slowdown was put into effect October 1, 2021, pursuant to DeJoy’s 10-year plan. In return for a slower delivery schedule, postal customers will be getting a fee hike—both of which will predictably be blamed on postal worker inefficiency.
President Biden CAN fire Trump’s Board of Governors appointees. He should do so.
You should be aware that just because a lie is a year or so old, it is still a lie. The program of upgrading the USPS was begun BEFORE Trump.
The FACT is the Democrats relied on the USPS to cooperate with their election fraud assault on the Constitution.
DeJoy’s postal plan involves slower delivery at higher rates. Anyone who thinks that’s “an upgrade” is an idiot.
You mean… “self-sustaining”? Maybe we should do something about the USPS’ constantly losing money.
The USPS was not created to make a profit. It was created to PERFORM AN ESSENTIAL FUNCTION. The enormous profits that result from access to the services the USPS provide appear elsewhere.
Highways and bridges are very expensive to build and maintain. Can you name a single highway or bridge that directly produces a profit? You can’t because they don’t, but all profitable commerce depends on them.
I didn’t say “make a profit”, did I? How about not loose billions a year? Is that too much to ask?
Making or losing money was SPECIFICALLY what you mentioned. That’s a profit/loss standard you’re wanting to apply, Bub. It makes no more sense to apply such a standard to the United States Postal SERVICE’s budget than it would to apply it to an essential road, bridge, or highway. The benefits—many of which DO entail profits—DO NOT appear on the USPS balance sheet. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They DO, and they outweigh the “losses” of maintaining the service ENORMOUSLY.
That’s not to say that we should expect a high level of efficiency, but a high level of efficiency isn’t DeJoy’s goal. DeJoy is, in fact, applying profit/loss bean-counter logic to provide a rationalization for his actions—which are DIMINISHING postal speed and efficiency, and making the USPS less competitive with privately owned delivery services that want nothing more than increased profits.
That’s not to say that we SHOULDN’T expect a high level of efficiency…
Not if it’s a government agency.
“Making or losing money was SPECIFICALLY what you mentioned. That’s a profit/loss standard you’re wanting to apply, Bub.” Maybe you should read it again, scooter. I never said anything about making money. I just said it shouldn’t LOSE money, since they charge for a service. You need to either learn how to read or how to admit to a mistake. As long as it loses money and the taxpayer picks up the tab, why not make it “free”?
Again, all that was begun under Obama.
Profit and loss are both parts of a single way of looking at things. They’re only an honest measure of effectiveness or efficiency when you’re considering an activity that’s primarily concerned with profit as a result. The primary mission of the U.S. Postal Service is not to make money. It’s to deliver the mail.
No they aren’t. There’s “break even”. Non-profits do that. But, you keep trying to prop up your swing and a miss. It’s funny.
Does the Department of Defense “break even”? The DoD sucks up about 716 Billion taxpayer dollars per year.
Does U.S. Customs and Border Protection “break even”? Does the DoJ “break even”? What about Homeland Security, or the Veterans Administration?
The first paragraph of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970; read the last sentence:
“The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.”
Only the post office provides a service for which they charge a fee for that service. Providing that service is its entire function. Tell me… what is the amount in the federal budget for the USPS? Is the USPS funded by taxpayers or is it supposed to sustain itself with the fees for services?
“The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.”
That means it will be funded to the extent necessary to to fulfill its designated mission. It DOES NOT mean that fees charged should fully cover all costs of “prompt, reliable, and efficient services”.
You keep your record consistent; you NEVER answer the question.
Are you too lazy to look up your own answers? The USPS isn’t included in the federal budget. It doesn’t run on taxpayer dollars, despite the fact that it is a constitutionally mandated federal entity. They’re even required to fund their own pensions.
No, you are too lazy and dishonest to back up your own comments. I already looked up the answer; you think I rely on you for a fact?
So, the USPS is expected to be self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Just like I said. You had to disagree out of ignorance. But, it, like every other government agency, is bloated and inefficient. The only solution you and everyone else on the left can conceive, because you are totally stupid in economics, is just throw more money at it.
“The USPS was not created to make a profit.”
You’re f*cking idiot.
Stop talking about business and finance. You have ZERO understanding…
…which is why your a dyed in the wool Marxist.
That hardly addresses the logic of what I’ve said, does it?
greggie, did you say something logical? We as a country living in the 21st century should expect more than 17th century service. I can order a part from most companies and have it the next day cheaper than the USPS can deliver it in a week. Must be because the USPS is run by the same people who blundered Afghanistan.
BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Doug Logan NOW ADMITS Draft Report Published by The Gateway Pundit Was Authentic and Legitimate After Telling Gateway Pundit the ‘Decertification’ Language Was a Fake
And another straw Greg was grasping slips from his grip.
Employing unemployable people as gov’t workers is pretty common, thus the high price tag for getting anything done, really accomplished by them.
In 74 countries the per capita incomes is below the $3,600.
Joe is handing out $3,600 a year to everyone in the U.S., illegally, for nothing more than having kids!
On top of that, you’d get free health care, free education, other cash benefits for the kids, and this doesn’t even include the benefits handed out by states such as California, such as free housing and cash transfers.
On top of THAT, you’d be allowed to work or commit crimes to add to your bottom line!
Joe is willing to hand out all that just so he can give unionized liberals gov’t jobs and add new dem voters to his party’s side.
The cost is irrelevant to him.
The fact his giveaways draw more illegals to our “border” is a “feature,” not a “bug.”
Cloward-Piven is the goal: destroy America under the weight of heavy costs then be the lead dogs when the commies take over.
(Oh, btw, then kill all the useful idiots – potential charismatic leaders – who got you into power.)
Parents worried about their kids re-breathing the horrid global warming pollutant CO2 and strep and other dangerous bacteria that builds up in masks when worn for extended periods of time.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/national-school-board-group-cites-oshkosh-disruption-in-asking-for-federal-protection/ar-AAP7GO7
CRT can be a subtle thing https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/disney-plus-bans-children-from-watching-peter-pan-dumbo-the-aristocats/video/581ea15176029c045b89f2bfedc1ccfa, Oh FSS I have these racist titles in my collection, try to find a copy of Song of the South, also included is Fantasia and Swiss Family Robinson the list of classics grows by the day. Let Disney raise your kid and end up with a Miley Cyrus daughter.
Grandama Kitt will keep her copy of Lady and the Tramp and Lion King.
God created an idiot for practice, than he created a school board.
And to think, antifa and blm having created so much mayhem, violence, death and destruction, are less of a threat than parents concerned for the schooling of their children.
For 20 years the Feds have equated conservatives with terrorists. Antifa and BLM are liberals; hence OK! Parents, on the other hand, are conservative so hound them like terrorists!
Trump’s followers ARE NOT conservatives. The assertion that they are is a fundamental part of the deception.
As if you would know. You do not know jack shit. Shove your moronic views and absurd statements up your ass.
I’m old enough to remember what traditional conservative principles and values actually were. Once upon a time, the GOP was not a party of lies, hypocrisy, and mindless social media propaganda memes.
Oh…that’s right….Amazon, Google, Facebook, Twitter….all those “social media propaganda meme” companies….they all gave billions to Trump and helped him with free advertising, and censored/cancelled Biden by citing “hate speech”…
Oh wait, other way around.
I’m old enough to remember when the Democrat Party promoted Jim Crow and segregation, being their history of slavery and having been defeated by the first Republican President.
The Democrats have ALWAYS been a party of lies, hypocrisy, and mindless propaganda.
Times and roles have changed, haven’t they?
“Times and roles have changed, haven’t they?” Actually, no, they haven’t. Democrats, while moving further and further left, remain the party that promotes and utilizes racism and violence.
“Times and roles have changed, haven’t they?”
I think you believe that, but I’m praying the scales fall from your eyes eventually.
How much would you pay for a black or brown person’s vote by the way? Your party pays billions.
That’s slavery by any other name.
Well, Biden’s followers ARE NOT liberals, either.
Enough with the parsing of words.
Trump had 75 million legal votes from people who didn’t need a beer, amazon gift card, or unmonitored ballot box to get their vote in.
That a sizable, and most like the majority, of Americans.
Whatever you want to call us is irrelevant. We only want free and fair elections, smaller government, and we don’t suffer tyrants getting pharma companies rich by shoving a vaccine that isn’t effective enough against a virus that isn’t deathly enough for such measures.
Trump didn’t tell me what to think.
You and Biden do.
“Trump’s followers ARE NOT conservatives. ” Oh, but we are. Idiot Biden and Obama followers, however, are not Americans. They are globalist socialists that hate and wish to destroy America.
“An impartial investigation of the last war, of what preceded it and what has come out of it, would show beyond a doubt that there is in the world a group of men with vast powers of control, that prefers to remain unknown, that does not seek office or any of the tokens of power, that belongs to no nation whatever but is international—a force that uses every government, every widespread business organization, every agency of publicity, every resource of national psychology, to throw the world into a panic for the sake of getting still more power over the world.” ― Henry Ford
Pretty much. I’d say Trump peeled back that curtain more than most, given he got into office against their wishes: Hillary was being installed and that failed.
That’s why turds like greg have to keep making it about Trump. He works for these guys.
Remember that Henry Ford was so admired by Hitler that he was eventually awarded the Order of the German Eagle w/o Swords. It was also largely due to Ford’s efforts that The Protocols of the Elders of Zion gained traction both here and in Germany. Looking at your quote in that light places a meaning on it far different than the one you intended.
Hitler was also pretty impressed in Ford’s manufacturing capabilities, too. He fashioned his “Volkswagen” agenda after it.
Absolutely true. As a result Ford of Germany enjoyed a bit more freedom than rival Opel to be innovative and invest overseas.
Biden is a Globalist there is no doupt aboutt aht anymore and the whole world don’t want him maybe Chicagos double ugly Mayor Lightfoot could use him in her haunted castle on the hill
The postal service is an inefficient agency that loses billions upon billions of dollars every year. It would be one thing if it broke even just once in awhile.