thirdperson

Musk and Ramaswamy propose propose spending cuts that have resulted in economic calamity in other countries.  For example, Argentina austerity lead to higher unemployment and poverty.  History has lessons on how to reduce budget deficits.  Best way is to combine tax increases and spending cuts.  However tax increases work better than spending cuts.  Eliminating entire departments is politically hard and requires congress to pass laws.  Also risk of downsizing not really saving money because functions are still necessary. Since benefits of some regulations outweigh costs, deregulation could make country worse off.  Best way to reduce spending is to mandate a percentage cut in all departments instead of eliminating departments.  10% cut in big department is more significant than 100% cut in small department.  Of course, least painful way to reduce deficits is through economic growth.

Trump wants to be a dictator by replacing professional experts with amateur loyalists to weaken checks and balances against his power grab.  That would be dangerous because it would increase the risks of illegal, impractical and unwise policies.  For example, blocking funds to federal agencies that have been authorized by congress.  The twice impeached convicted felon ranks last in moral authority among all presidents in survey of historians.  Senate should reject any unqualified appointee.

US is a democratic republic according to declaration of independence.  Democracy and republic mean the same.  A government where people elect the leaders.  Unlike a monarchy.

Authoritarian expert Timothy Synder exposes the purpose of Trump's bad cabinet picks.  He wants to make government dysfunctional.  Not only are his appointees unqualified, they can sabotage federal agencies to make them ineffective and vulnerable to dismantling. 

Senator Warren warns that Trump team is already breaking the law by refusing to comply with Presidential transitions act.  He continues an astonishing amount of corruption from first term. Previously,  "Citizens for responsibility and ethics in Washington" recorded over 3000 conflicts of interest.  Survey of historians rank Trump last in moral authority among presidents.

No evidence Biden cabinet is the most unqualified in US history despite Fox news propaganda.  Siena survey of historians rank Biden 10th and Trump 45th best in executive appointments.

Trump is still a convicted felon because he has been found guilty in court.  Constitution doesn't prevent convicted felons from running for public office.  Records show he is still a twice impeached president despite no senate removal.  No punishment doesn't mean Trump is innocent. 

Influence of big money in politics is one of the reasons why US has a failing democracy.  Problem is the best fundraisers elected instead of the best policies.  What's best for billionaires may not be best for most Americans.  In more democratic countries, parties are funded by tax payers with limits for donations from private sector.  

Trump wants to hire crackpots to run government agencies.  Main criterion is blind loyalty.  Qualities such as competence or experience have no bearing whatsoever.  In first term, adults prevented Trump from implementing his worst policies.  No other president has such a high turnover rate in cabinet.  DeSantis said that Trump achieved nothing of legislative significance.  Survey of historians rank him as the worst president in executive appointments.

Putin has made many threats but never implemented them.  Russia is unlikely to attack NATO because it would be foolish.  For years, US has restrained from providing better weapons for Ukraine but there are good reasons for a strategic change now.  First,  long range missiles could help deter North Korea from sending more troops.   Secondly, enabling Ukraine to hit Russian targets could put Ukraine in a better position for potential negotiations according to Foundation for defense of democracies.

CNN found that the election was closer than indicated by flawed electoral college.  Trump margin of victory was just 1.7% of the popular vote.  Low margin ranks 44 out of 51 elections since 1824.  Since voter turnout rate is 60%, almost 70% of all eligible voters didn't vote for Trump.  This shows no strong support for project 2025 mandate.

Unlike Trump, normal for presidents to have cabinet picks confirmed by senate.  For example, Biden has all 26 positions confirmed in 2021.  Unlike 2017, key difference is Trump's controversial hiring based on loyalty instead of merit.  Oddly, he favors unqualified appointees without job experience.  Survey of historians rank Trump as the worst president in executive appointments.

According to Harvard research, 40 of 54 incumbent governments have been removed from office in western democracies since 2020.  Pandemic has lead to surge in disruptions, inflation, immigration, cash scrapped governments and unhappy voters.  Problem for democracy is that both angels and devils are voted out whether they are innocent or guilty.

Signs of failing democracy in US.  For examples, low ranking in voter turnout when compared to many countries.  Voter suppression in states making voting harder.  Extreme gerrymandering of electoral map enables politicians to choose voters instead of voters choosing politicians.

Biden is a true professional and honorable man of integrity who has always been under appreciated.    But most presidents would envy his list of legislative accomplishments.  History will be kinder to him than voters in the end.  Survey of historians already rank him above average among all presidents.

National security expert Metzl warns that Gabbard is unfit to be director of national intelligence.  She has no intelligence experience but has been a booster for autocrats such as Putin and Al Assad.  Allies should be reluctant to share secrets that threaten national security because of Americans sympathetic to enemies.  Another expert Bolton calls for FBI investigation but Trump may try to appoint people without senate confirmation.

International ban on chemicals allow nature to repair ozone.  Since humans can damage environment, they can fix it to avoid the worst scenarios.  Over decades, scientists started the movement to reduce carbon emissions despite efforts by fossil fuel industry to delay climate actions.    In the long term, the costs of extreme weather have been estimated to exceed the costs of climate actions.  Now almost all countries have signed Paris accord to fight climate change.  There has been much progress so far.  China is a world leader in renewable energy.  The future is the world working toward more renewable energy.  Polls show most Americans want governments to do more to fight climate change.

Even republicans are baffled by Trump's controversial picks.  Bypassing more experienced people, he chooses Gaetz as attorney general despite being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.   Fox news host as defense secretary?  Or two Trump loyalists with no government experience appointed to department of government efficiency.  Meanwhile experienced Hailey and Pompeo aren't invited back to cabinet.  In a corrupt organization, blind loyalty is more important than competence. No surprise if future historians still rank Trump as the worst president in executive appointments.

99% of top climate scientists worldwide realize that current global warming is caused by burning of fossil fuels.  They found that only greenhouse effect can explain current climate change.  Not sun, volcano, orbit or natural cycle.  Oddly, climate science deniers promote the conspiracy theory that hurricanes can be directed against US despite no evidence.

Warren Buffett is again selling stocks for more cash.  His famous philosophy is to be afraid when others are brave and to be brave when others are afraid.  Of course, stock market is not the economy.  Economists believe there is a risk of recession if all of Trump policies are implemented.