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Re:Ask HN: If you work for Elon Musk, what keeps you motivated? by andrei_says_ on Thursday February 27, 2025 @12:03PM (#43196204)
Just using this framing for remote workers exposes a bias which makes the conversation pointless.

DOGE Obliterating consumer protection agencies that cost next to nothing shows more about the intentions than any PR.

Re:Ask HN: If you work for Elon Musk, what keeps you motivated? by notahacker on Thursday February 27, 2025 @12:57PM (#43196712)
That and cut to orgs like the IRS that exist to reduce the size of the deficit
Re:Ask HN: If you work for Elon Musk, what keeps you motivated? by Jtsummers on Thursday February 27, 2025 @01:30PM (#43197021)
This will have major impacts on the deficit. Reducing revenue does not help close the gap when they're not also significantly reducing spending. If we aren't going to raise taxes, then enforcement needs to be maintained. Tariffs do bring in revenue, but at a cost (with the selected tariffs) to industries which will reduce income for companies and individuals so net we're likely to see reduced total revenue, but a shift in where revenue comes from. The deficit will probably go up the next few years with the current scheme between reducing IRS enforcement, reducing economic activity, and insignificant spending cuts.

This leaves only a few "natural" cuts that will be very unpopular, but needed to come close to balancing the budget: Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. DOD cuts will reduce military readiness at a time when we'll either need it (Taiwan) or be abandoning our military dominance. But even cutting DOD spending by 100% wouldn't clear the deficit itself so other things have to be cut.

This year's DOD spending is $318 billion so far, and the deficit is $839 billion. Cutting DOD spending by 100% would still have left a $500 billion deficit.

https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/feder...