101 Comments
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Joseph's avatar

It is much more plausible to say that the government has stolen $37 trillion dollars from the American people.

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Joseph's avatar

There is a parallel here with the refrain of "our democracy," which is to say that just as when they say Trump is a threat to "our democracy," they mean "our Democracy and not yours," so too DOGE really is stealing "their" money, but not "ours".

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AndyinBC's avatar

Truer too!

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Joseph's avatar

As Alan Ruck said in the movie Speed: "Our tax dollars pay their salary."

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Flippin’ Jersey's avatar

That Democrats think this way demonstrates their absolute lunacy. Complete and utter delusion which is eaten up by their economically illiterate moronic followers.

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Belling the Cat's avatar

Sadly, it is not just the Dems. Lots of uniparty statists in every flavor, and they all have to go.

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Flippin’ Jersey's avatar

True, but Democrats are more vocal about it. Feels like the Republicans know it’s wrong, but keep their mouths shut.

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Belling the Cat's avatar

They've gotten away with it for so long, and they're still hoping to slide through for another term or two. Smart money would take that bet, too.

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Nate Winchester's avatar

You're right, unfortunately too many have been trained to not think that deeply about it and just repeat the last headline they heard.

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JasonT's avatar

The Democrats message only works because they have run public education for the last 60 years. A literate population would not fall for the malarkey and would not tolerate it.

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Margaret's avatar

Amen. Closer to 80 years, however.

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Sam May's avatar

It's the ole OPM story - other people's money. I am happy to use other people's money, just not mine. And I am too stupid to understand basic facts of how our world operates. I am entitled to spend other people's money and not know/take responsibility that it is actually my money. It is truly shocking how ignorant people are. They just live off grants and have no idea where the money comes from.

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TheRepublicIsDead's avatar

The cash come from the stash that's somewhere. Just fill out some forms, sign here, and don't forget a third of the take goes to the Machine. We don't care how you spend the rest.

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JD Free's avatar

Orwellians gonna Orwellian.

The oligarchs pocketed this money, and then the deposits stopped. They are angry.

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Kathleen Caron's avatar

I'm terribly sorry but I can't help but blame people if they're so dumb they fall for this. How can you pay taxes and not recognize that everything the government does is paid for by YOU. I went to public school and yet I still know this.

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Valoree Dowell's avatar

You’re right. And I believe a simple nominative adjustment in all reporting would not only improve understanding, but in the bargain be the truth. It’s not “government” or “state” funding, it’s simply taxpayer largess. Maybe the “Hands Off” protests need to take a different form—a strike by taxpayers. “Withholding”takes a different turn.

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Kathleen Caron's avatar

I like that, it would change everything if we all consistently, constantly insisted that politicians and the media acknowledge that public funding comes from the people that pay taxes.

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Warthog's avatar

Good point, just don't forget that it's all those freeloaders who never pay taxes who think they are entitled to your money.

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TheRepublicIsDead's avatar

Most of what Big Gubmint spends is borrowed. No DC Bureaucratic Mafia type believes the cash needs to be paid back.

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Kelly's avatar

I had to laugh at Chris' example of giving $100 and getting $40 back--hahaha really--it wouldn't be nearly $40--maybe $10 if you're lucky! Around the year 2000, I was a mortgage banker and my boss was telling me about an article in a conservative publication. They had researched how much federal welfare money--this could be any type of public aid--actually did trickle down to the end user. They found that only a dime of each dollar of federal revenue spent got to the person being helped--the rest just fed the machine. I figure it has to be even worse now. So even for people who want to give lots of money to those in need, if they think doing it through the government is a good idea--well, I don't even know what to say.

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alwayscurious's avatar

Congress should do its job and manage the budget. When was the last time it passed a proper budget, not relying on continuing resolutions? They plug their noses, shut their eyes, and cover their ears as they ok for the past 30 years moneys appropriated without responsible oversight or sober consideration. Interesting that the last proper budget occurred 30 years ago, just as new so-called free trade deals were passed with the world, and this country was emptied of productivity.

Google answer to last time congress passed a budget, for the commenter concerned on propriety:

AI Overview

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The most recent time Congress passed a comprehensive, full-year budget was in 1996, with all 13 appropriation bills being passed and signed into law before the start of the fiscal year. In more recent years, Congress has increasingly relied on continuing resolutions to fund the government when they fail to pass all appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year.

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Leonard's avatar

Its the executive’s job to manage the budget. Congress only approves the budget that they have negotiated with the executive. Congress ought to approve a budget that is in line with realistic revenue projections.

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alwayscurious's avatar

fine, I'll clarify, manage to pass budgets within the country's means, instead of enslaving us to rogue and invisible central bankers, giant corporations, and the military/tech/pharma industrial complex

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Mitch's avatar

I'd like to take a poll...if you could only pick one, which organized crime syndicate would you rather have in control - 1) Democratic National Party 2) The Mafia?

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SnowInTheWind's avatar

I'd go for option 2. They just want to extort from us, not destroy us.

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Mitch's avatar

Less hypocrisy and they don't try to socially engineer every aspect of your behavior.

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John Dzurak's avatar

The Mafia - they usually keep their promises.

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Margaret's avatar

Funny story: an emotionally charged liberal in my family was arguing against DOGE/hating on Elon by citing our numerous family members who rely on public funds for their employment. No ideological ground that their employment contributes to the common good or even any fundamental government purpose, just that they (all of them dispensable to community well-being, imo) are employed or indirectly salaried by the public purse. The irony that she routinely criticises other segments of the US population for voting in their families’ own interests - say, folks whose jobs are jeopardised by low cost immigrant labor or nonsense environmental regulations and policies - was apparently lost on her.

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Glitterpuppy's avatar

It’s an attempt at redistribution.

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Belling the Cat's avatar

Got this post but something must be wrong only to have 20 comments!

Statists believe it's all the state's money so strongly that their eyes would probably cross if they tried to read your words. And I want 12 more years (at least) full of series of hundred days exactly in this mold (except more Congressional & DoJ follow-through).

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Luke Dornon's avatar

You're not thinking like a socialist, which is why the Democrats sounds so stupid. The unspoken argument is that the government owes you more of other people's money, preferably billionaires and Republicans.

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mileytheduchess's avatar

Over the past 2 years I've stolen ten grand from myself to buy silver. Then I hid it in my closet and refused to give it back.

Someone needs to save me from myself.

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Pelopidas's avatar

Their analysis proves they are not serious people or, they are very serious and they know their audience is just that stupid.

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