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CitizenZero

(695 posts)
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:44 PM Apr 3

The System Basically Works

The federal government is not perfect and could always be improved, but it basically works. Slashing it arbitrarily on a whim with no plan is foolish and destructive. The Trump Musk economy is going to be terrible, between tariffs and federal job cuts. One example is the intent to cut Medicaid. Millions of people, including children, depend on the program for health care. Furthermore, many doctors and hospitals depend on Medicaid and Medicare as a major source of revenue. Cutting these programs will not just harm the patients, it will also harm the economy.

I know a guy who owns a small fleet of non-emergency medical transportation taxis. These vehicles take Medicaid patients, often with mobility problems, to and from essential doctor appointments. The trips are funded by Medicaid. So if Medicaid is slashed, not only will patients suffer, this man and his company will be out of business. His drivers will lose their jobs. Multiply that over millions of Medicaid recipients and you have a big economic problem. So the system basically works, and slashing it will do nothing positive but will bring destruction to people's lives and livelihoods. Killing essential services so billionaires can have even more tax cuts is just evil.

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The System Basically Works (Original Post) CitizenZero Apr 3 OP
The system does not work when it can be completely destroyed so quickly. Irish_Dem Apr 3 #1
I'm just waiting for trump to put Senator Rick Scott on a plane to Bluethroughu Apr 3 #4
People with money can get away with all their crimes. Irish_Dem Apr 3 #5
That's the problem with the system. Bluethroughu Apr 3 #7
Yep, all paths lead back to the greedy, corrupt rich. Irish_Dem Apr 3 #9
It used to work before trump got reelected and let musk and his clown car cabinet loose. brush Apr 3 #6
I never thought I'd be nostalgic for Mike Pence central scrutinizer Apr 3 #12
We have found the system is only held together by gentlemen's agreement and the honor system. Irish_Dem Apr 3 #14
Yep, the Constitution, a great document of high ideals, but is worthless if a... brush Apr 3 #18
The System CitizenZero Apr 3 #13
Oh yeah, he should be in jail. He and his crooked cabal of lawyers knew to appeal, appeal, appeal... brush Apr 5 #19
Nope - If you look at US history going back to it's founding and see the system walkingman Apr 3 #2
I Agree CitizenZero Apr 3 #15
I also agree - not only do those programs work but most are more efficient than walkingman Apr 3 #16
Correct about the founders being white men. The Constitution is a brilliant document... brush Apr 5 #20
We have the evidence in real time. Dictatorships are Disastrous delisen Apr 3 #3
The strengthing comes from equal justice FOR ALL Bluethroughu Apr 3 #8
I fully agree. nt delisen Apr 3 #10
Me too ... just not so well put Lawjo Apr 3 #11
Those agencies worked fine but there was no protection for them in the system Meowmee Apr 3 #17

Irish_Dem

(67,787 posts)
1. The system does not work when it can be completely destroyed so quickly.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:45 PM
Apr 3

And no one can or will stop the destruction.

Bluethroughu

(7,098 posts)
4. I'm just waiting for trump to put Senator Rick Scott on a plane to
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:57 PM
Apr 3

El Salvador for the medicaid/care fraud.

The system does not work because people like eloonitic get 10s of billions from the government for his waste and fraud, like Rick Scott, then they pay a small fine and become Senators and defacto presidents, and continue the grift.

All the while they send gay hairdressers and dads with autistic kids to gulags in foreign adversary prisons with more of our millions of tax dollars.

There is no consequences for these scumbags.

Bluethroughu

(7,098 posts)
7. That's the problem with the system.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 06:00 PM
Apr 3

Not the workers
Not the services
Not the salaries
Not the benefits
Just the greedy rich slopping at the trough, it's never enough.

brush

(59,496 posts)
6. It used to work before trump got reelected and let musk and his clown car cabinet loose.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:58 PM
Apr 3

trump 2.0 doesn't have any of the generals like Kelly, Matis, Espel and Milley who were the adults in that first trump admin who protected the nation from his foolish power impulses.

Instead we haven Patel, Gabbard, Hegseth, Bondi and Vance.

We're so screwed.

Irish_Dem

(67,787 posts)
14. We have found the system is only held together by gentlemen's agreement and the honor system.
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 07:02 PM
Apr 3

There is really no other structure.
The checks and balances are worthless.

All it takes is one psychopath to destroy it all, no one will stop him.

brush

(59,496 posts)
18. Yep, the Constitution, a great document of high ideals, but is worthless if a...
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 08:36 PM
Apr 3

a psychopath like trump who ignores it and has cowed the rethugs in the House, the Senate, and owns the corrupt SCOTUS 6.

There is much doubt that the federal district and circuit courts can stop trump's lawlessness because we know him and his cabal are going to appeal, appeal to get everything to SCOTUS, which gave the fucker immunity.

CitizenZero

(695 posts)
13. The System
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 06:56 PM
Apr 3

When I say "the system basically works", I mean the federal government, not the electoral system. There is a persistent right wing myth that government bureaucracy does not work. That is just a lie and a pretext for cutting vital programs so the rich can have a tax giveaway.

I agree with you that there is a problem with our electoral system though. When a billionaire can buy the presidency, that is a problem. When someone convicted of multiple felonies can become President, that is a problem also.

Trump should have been stopped with a court conviction and imprisonment prior to the election of 2024. And there should be an amendment to the Constitution. No convicted felon should be able to be President.

Frankly, Trump should have been found guilty of insurrection, and that would have disqualified him from ever being President again. So the electoral system is flawed and that is a problem. But when I said "the system basically works", I meant the federal government and federal workers, not the electoral system.

brush

(59,496 posts)
19. Oh yeah, he should be in jail. He and his crooked cabal of lawyers knew to appeal, appeal, appeal...
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 01:45 AM
Apr 5

Last edited Sat Apr 5, 2025, 02:35 AM - Edit history (1)

to run out the clock before the '24 election, and/or until cases got to the corrupt SCOTUS 6 who gave him immunity and were waiting as his backstop.

And there was that pudgy-faced judge presiding on the MAL docs case who kept ruling against SC Smith, also the crooked state court apparatus in Georgia. DA Bragg in NYC and NY state AG James got convictions but the rigged system delayed and delayed and the insurrectionist we all saw try to overthrow the government on J6 got away with it.

And is now president again. I never thought it could happen in America.

walkingman

(9,055 posts)
2. Nope - If you look at US history going back to it's founding and see the system
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:55 PM
Apr 3

that was designed to discriminate against anyone other than white land owners, then consider the cruelty against Native Americans, Slaves, Women, anyone that stood in the way of those in power or control - how can you say the system works?

To bring everything to current times - after the corruption and disgusting things that Trump did and he was never held accountable....excused....re-elected...the system does not work.

CitizenZero

(695 posts)
15. I Agree
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 07:04 PM
Apr 3

I agree with your point about the history of the country. I need to clarify- when I said "the system basically works", I meant federal programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. Those systems are not perfect, but they are good and they work. I also meant that federal workers are effective as well, despite right wing talking points to the contrary. But your point about the historical shortcomings of the American way is well taken.

walkingman

(9,055 posts)
16. I also agree - not only do those programs work but most are more efficient than
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 07:33 PM
Apr 3

than private competitors. The danger we now face is will they continue to work. After all,, we all know that the right has been trying since their implementation to stop them in an effort to privatize everything in America.

For whatever reason, the people do not support solutions that put citizens interests above profit - seems strange to me?

brush

(59,496 posts)
20. Correct about the founders being white men. The Constitution is a brilliant document...
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 01:52 AM
Apr 5

but has loopholes that clever lawyers use to keep Native Americans, POCs, women, LGBTQ+ and others down. Even with all the amendment, the system is still so established that it still works for the mostly for the white male establishment.

delisen

(6,912 posts)
3. We have the evidence in real time. Dictatorships are Disastrous
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 05:57 PM
Apr 3

A strong democracy is what we need going forward… and it needs a lot of strengthening.A

Meowmee

(8,498 posts)
17. Those agencies worked fine but there was no protection for them in the system
Thu Apr 3, 2025, 07:37 PM
Apr 3

Last edited Fri Apr 4, 2025, 12:06 AM - Edit history (1)

However the system of government has put an insane mass murderer in charge again and there was no way to stop him from running again or to hold him accountable. The system also lets an unbalanced electoral college decide who wins the election. And much more.

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