Let's talk about Elon Musk

[Kat Kid]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

[Pete]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

90% of his wealth went to it. Though I think we should acknowledge that we are on the cusp of libraries being completely obsolete apart from perhaps a concept like the seed vault that houses books in the event of a global catastrophe.

[Kat Kid]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

90% of his wealth went to it. Though I think we should acknowledge that we are on the cusp of libraries being completely obsolete apart from perhaps a concept like the seed vault that houses books in the event of a global catastrophe.

I think you and I have very different levels of trust for digital vs print records and the possibility for censorship and tampering.

[star seed 7]

Some of you need to re-watch the ending of metal gear solid 2

[Pete]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

90% of his wealth went to it. Though I think we should acknowledge that we are on the cusp of libraries being completely obsolete apart from perhaps a concept like the seed vault that houses books in the event of a global catastrophe.

I think you and I have very different levels of trust for digital vs print records and the possibility for censorship and tampering.

This is an excellent use case for Blockchain and one that I hope materializes

[Pete]

A noble use of NFT’s would be to create a vast number of NFT’s for digital books….original copies.

[Pete]

Elite gif usage there

Fabulous

[Pete]

What does the constitution say about access to the treasury payment system exactly?

messing with funds that have been allocated by congress is a pretty big one

Maxinomics pointed out that congress allocates the funds and how they can be used, but the executive likely has power over WHETHER they are used.  It’s a clever tactic, I’ll give them that.

While Congress has the constitutional "power of the purse" to allocate federal funds, the executive branch is tasked with spending those funds as directed. However, the executive branch can influence whether and how funds are spent through mechanisms like **impoundment**, which involves delaying or withholding expenditures. The **Impoundment Control Act of 1974** limits this authority, requiring the president to notify Congress and follow specific procedures when deferring or rescinding funds[1][2][4].

The president cannot unilaterally refuse to spend funds based on policy disagreements with Congress. However, there is some legal gray area for "programmatic delays," though these must comply with established criteria[2]. Ultimately, Congress retains the authority to enforce its spending decisions, ensuring that funds are used as intended[4][6].

Sources
[1] Here’s How Government Funding Works https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/trump-grants-loans-aid.html
[2] Can the Trump administration freeze federal spending? https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-the-trump-administration-freeze-federal-spending/
[3] ArtI.S8.C1.2.1 Overview of Spending Clause - Constitution Annotated https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C1-2-1/ALDE_00013356/
[4] [PDF] Congress's Power Over Appropriations: Constitutional and Statutory ... https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46417
[5] The Federal Budget Process Fact Sheet https://www.nvfc.org/the-federal-budget-process-fact-sheet/
[6] How Trump Plans to Seize the Power of the Purse From Congress https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-impoundment-appropriations-congress-budget
[7] Fact check: Presidential spending through executive order is allowed https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/21/fact-check-presidential-spending-through-executive-order-allowed/5582667002/
[8] Federal Spending | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/
[9] [PDF] Constitutional Limits on Congress's Spending Power - CRS Reports https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46827
[10] Budget Process | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/about/budget-process

[CNS]

Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly

https://bsky.app/profile/marklemley.bsky.social/post/3lhbmwfn2qc2n

Is this an offense that a pardon wouldn't cure?  If not, it doesn't matter.  I don't know the necessary arm, branch, org, etc that could stop this, but any authority there is would just run this through the courts, and Trump would pardon before anything could happen.  Then, rinse and repeat.

[chum1]

Giving access to SSNs, other data on government employees to non-employees like Musk is a violation of 5 USC 552a, and carries with it a penalty of $1000 per person whose data was accessed. We are building a case. Govt employees who want to participate should contact me directly

https://bsky.app/profile/marklemley.bsky.social/post/3lhbmwfn2qc2n

Is this an offense that a pardon wouldn't cure?  If not, it doesn't matter.  I don't know the necessary arm, branch, org, etc that could stop this, but any authority there is would just run this through the courts, and Trump would pardon before anything could happen.  Then, rinse and repeat.

It's a civil case, not criminal.

[wetwillie]

Do the federal employees KCUP's fall under the appropriations clause? I feel that is a shall not be infringed gray area.

[catastrophe]

What does the constitution say about access to the treasury payment system exactly?

messing with funds that have been allocated by congress is a pretty big one

Maxinomics pointed out that congress allocates the funds and how they can be used, but the executive likely has power over WHETHER they are used.  It’s a clever tactic, I’ll give them that.

While Congress has the constitutional "power of the purse" to allocate federal funds, the executive branch is tasked with spending those funds as directed. However, the executive branch can influence whether and how funds are spent through mechanisms like **impoundment**, which involves delaying or withholding expenditures. The **Impoundment Control Act of 1974** limits this authority, requiring the president to notify Congress and follow specific procedures when deferring or rescinding funds[1][2][4].

The president cannot unilaterally refuse to spend funds based on policy disagreements with Congress. However, there is some legal gray area for "programmatic delays," though these must comply with established criteria[2]. Ultimately, Congress retains the authority to enforce its spending decisions, ensuring that funds are used as intended[4][6].

Sources
[1] Here’s How Government Funding Works https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/us/politics/trump-grants-loans-aid.html
[2] Can the Trump administration freeze federal spending? https://www.brookings.edu/articles/can-the-trump-administration-freeze-federal-spending/
[3] ArtI.S8.C1.2.1 Overview of Spending Clause - Constitution Annotated https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C1-2-1/ALDE_00013356/
[4] [PDF] Congress's Power Over Appropriations: Constitutional and Statutory ... https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46417
[5] The Federal Budget Process Fact Sheet https://www.nvfc.org/the-federal-budget-process-fact-sheet/
[6] How Trump Plans to Seize the Power of the Purse From Congress https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-impoundment-appropriations-congress-budget
[7] Fact check: Presidential spending through executive order is allowed https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/08/21/fact-check-presidential-spending-through-executive-order-allowed/5582667002/
[8] Federal Spending | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/federal-spending/
[9] [PDF] Constitutional Limits on Congress's Spending Power - CRS Reports https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46827
[10] Budget Process | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/about/budget-process

Maybe you're referring to something other than what you pasted below, but I think it's pretty clear the executive does not have authority to determine whether allocated funds are spent. This was a pretty hot topic last Trump term when he tried to withhold Ukrainian aide until they announced a public investigation of a political rival's son.

[sonofdaxjones]

Looking at the flow charts and the way USAID and NED laundered money in order to make it look like their most favored entities (many of whom are huge neocon war mongering and censorship enterprises) didn't actually receive any government funding (Taxpayer funding). . . is like reading the stories about the forensic accounting investigations into numerous corrupt enterprises be it the mob, cartels or the Enrons of the world.

I'm frankly a little embarrassed for the Dems who showed up at the USAID door steps in the last couple of days. It looked like the bank run scene in that holiday classic, It's a Wonderful Life

Sad and pathetic

[Kat Kid]

the funniest part is that it is highly likely that the only USAID people that didn't get immediately recalled are the CIA/propaganda programs.

WASHINGTON ? About 10,000 employees of the United States Agency for International Development, excluding essential personnel, have been notified that they will be placed on administrative leave at the end of Friday as President Donald Trump moves to dismantle the foreign aid agency.

A State Department notice to USAID employees ? two-thirds of whom work overseas across 60 countries ? said all USAID "direct hire personnel" across the world will be placed on administrative leave effective Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The only exception is for designated personnel responsible for "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs."

[Pete]

the funniest part is that it is highly likely that the only USAID people that didn't get immediately recalled are the CIA/propaganda programs.

WASHINGTON ? About 10,000 employees of the United States Agency for International Development, excluding essential personnel, have been notified that they will be placed on administrative leave at the end of Friday as President Donald Trump moves to dismantle the foreign aid agency.

A State Department notice to USAID employees ? two-thirds of whom work overseas across 60 countries ? said all USAID "direct hire personnel" across the world will be placed on administrative leave effective Friday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The only exception is for designated personnel responsible for "mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs."

Of course. Neither Donald nor Elon wants to die over this.

[Cire]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

90% of his wealth went to it. Though I think we should acknowledge that we are on the cusp of libraries being completely obsolete apart from perhaps a concept like the seed vault that houses books in the event of a global catastrophe.

Libraries are/can be more than just a place to get a book.  They provide A LOT of community resources for under privelidged people and communities.

But that's because I think that those people deserve to have access to air conditioning, food/kids lunch programs, the internet, meeting spaces.

Elon would certainly cut all fed funding asap though because he doesn't care about any of that.

[Kat Kid]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/05/duffy-musk-air-traffic-control-00202611

Elon Musk’s “DOGE” cost-cutting squad will soon turn its attention to America’s air traffic control system, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday in a post to Musk’s social media site X.

“Talked to the DOGE team. They are going to plug in to help upgrade our aviation system,” Duffy said.

[wetwillie]

What does constitution say about granting access to department of transportation? Probably not for it either.

[sonofdaxjones]

In wetwillies world the government never hires any contractors.

Anecdotally - I shared adult beverages last night (and K-State Hoops) with someone who is an IT contractor, who spends his entire day buried in the USDA's IT platform.

[LickNeckey]

I am interested to see how the DOGE experience plays out.

I think there is tremendous potential for positive changes to occur.

I think there is also tremendous potential for there to be significant negative consequences both intended and unintended

[Pete]

I am interested to see how the DOGE experience plays out.

I think there is tremendous potential for positive changes to occur.

I think there is also tremendous potential for there to be significant negative consequences both intended and unintended

This is how I feel

[Pete]

The longer Elon spends time on things outside of his businesses the more allies Elon loses. I suspect his most ardent supporters are more entrenched by this, but it makes it increasingly difficult for people like me, who value the entrepreneurial approach that he brings to technical and defense related challenges.

Elon being anywhere near domestic policies (or even international politics) displeases me. I do not approve of it and I do not like it.

The richest man on Earth being greedy and wanting to enrich himself is not surprising. The skills needed to amass an unfathomable fortune also doesn't really suggest he would be good at governing in a fair, just, or democratic manner.

Completely agree. I wouldn’t of trusted Andrew Carnegie or the Rockefellers for example

Funny enough, Carnegie was pretty instrumental in standing up our incredible public library system. Thanks for that!

90% of his wealth went to it. Though I think we should acknowledge that we are on the cusp of libraries being completely obsolete apart from perhaps a concept like the seed vault that houses books in the event of a global catastrophe.

Libraries are/can be more than just a place to get a book.  They provide A LOT of community resources for under privelidged people and communities.

But that's because I think that those people deserve to have access to air conditioning, food/kids lunch programs, the internet, meeting spaces.

Elon would certainly cut all fed funding asap though because he doesn't care about any of that.

Well, I doubt Carnegie would’ve donated the money if he thought that libraries were gonna be used that way so that’s kind of ironic.

[cfbandyman]

I am interested to see how the DOGE experience plays out.

I think there is tremendous potential for positive changes to occur.

I think there is also tremendous potential for there to be significant negative consequences both intended and unintended

This is how I feel

Lots to learn from when the idiots are done. But agreed, kinda fascinating

[chum1]

tremendous potential for positive changes to occur.

Lmao

[wetwillie]

It's too bad Vivek got kicked out, would have been even more Lawlz to be had.