DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Government Waste- Add to the list

We are in the silly season- maybe we've been in it all along- Politics being Politics. I want to list what I think is a good example of government waste.

Here goes, Florida has a very "active" governor- Republican Ron DeSantis - he likes to fight the big boys, Trump and Disney. But that isn't what I want to complain about- my complain is about - "Office of Election Crimes and Security" - the OECS, because Florida has a HUGE PROBLEM with elections and crimes.
"To date, OECS has reviewed and investigated over 3,000 complaints and allegations of election fraud. Additionally, OECS has initiated over 1,300 independent investigations."

Results- one conviction- a plea deal and wait for it- the conviction had NO PENALTY- no fine, no community service, no prison--NADA. But politically, "they" could claim a conviction-- wonderful.

As reported- twenty cases were considered for trial or something---but problem is the GOVERNMENT of FLORIDA sent voter cards to felons who thought they could legally vote, so they did. Problem- some felons are better than other felons- so some could vote/ others nope.

So, we got over 21 million folks in Florida- we got so far 20 cases caused by government and one conviction with no penalty---- DAMN, now that is well spent taxpayer money in my book. As a convicted Felon- Mr. Trump might be able to vote, but maybe not- he should check. Vote Republican, they do a great job as shown above.

The biggest waste of tax dollars is not following through on the prosecution of Trump to the fullest extent of the law.

The biggest tax waste is giving transgender illegals in prison sex changes on the taxpayer's dime.

Where is that happening?

Yes, Eve, please post ANY reference......as Americans we have free speech and you can type what you want, please. Any reference?

Government Waste- I submit one of my favorite elected Government Representatives- Margorie Taylor Greene, twice elected from Georgia.

Recently, today or yesterday she tweeted-- "They" are controlling the weather? She gave no reference to "they", but she is sure "they" control the weather.

From wiki, her background- "In February 2022, Greene spoke at a conference hosted by white supremacist Nick Fuentes, where Fuentes called the January 6 attack "awesome" and praised Putin and Hitler. When criticized for her attendance, Greene denounced these criticisms as "identity politics" and an attempt to "cancel" her, and labelled critics "Pharisees"

So, Greene supports white supremists , thinks Trump won the 2020 election, thinks Putin and Hitler are great men, has stated lasers from Jewish bank started forest fires in California, thinks school gun shootings are sometimes "stagged" events or never happened, and claimed the Clintons killed JFK,Jr.......this woman has been elected twice from the great state of Georgia......she is an example of Government Waste.

I think I have both oars in the water, but know I don't have all the answers-- wanted to add a little to what I stated above- National security expert, NSA contractor, and former Republican U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman of Virginia blasted Greene.

“This person is in Congress,” he wrote on social media. “This ignorance, this lunacy, is why we have a government teetering and lurching. Her stupidity is a disease. She’s not alone either. Who do we blame? Well, folks.. we blame disinfo ecosystems— like here on X and we blame… voters. Mass idiocy. Stupid votes count.”
He added: “It’s dangerous how dumb she is.”

She should NOT be in Congress.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/09/poli...-surgery-to-detained-migrants/index.html

Harris also wrote that she supported taxpayer funding of gender transition surgeries for detained immigrants and federal prisoners.

Harris was asked if, as president, she would use “executive authority to ensure that transgender and non-binary people who rely on the state for medical care – including those in prison and immigration detention – will have access to comprehensive treatment associated with gender transition, including all necessary surgical care.”

Harris replied, “Yes.”

“It is important that transgender individuals who rely on the state for care receive the treatment they need, which includes access to treatment associated with gender transition,” Harris wrote in a reply expanding on her answer. “That’s why, as Attorney General, I pushed the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide gender transition surgery to state inmates,” she wrote.

Harris explained that she supported granting prisoners and detainees access to “surgical care” for gender transition.

“Transition treatment is a medical necessity, and I will direct all federal agencies responsible for providing essential medical care to deliver transition treatment,” she wrote.

Sen. Kamala Harris waves to the crowd as she rides in a car during the SF Pride Parade on June 30, 2019, in San Francisco.
Sen. Kamala Harris waves to the crowd as she rides in a car during the SF Pride Parade on June 30, 2019, in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/File
The first-ever gender-affirming surgery in federal prison occurred only recently in 2022 after years of legal battles.

Harris’ answer marked a change from her previous position as California attorney general, when she defended the California Department of Corrections’ attempts to deny gender transition surgery.

While running for president in 2019, Harris faced criticism over that previous position.

So it isn't happening and not one penny of government money is being spent on that. Thanks.

I mean...seriously? You even quoted him asking for proof and then you post an old story about her saying she supports it as proof that we are CURRENTLY wasting money on actually doing it. It isn't happening.

Fun fact about the original post, there have been an insane amount of back and forth battles on restoring the right to vote. Here is a quick link that talks about it, it’s been a massive grey area that wasn’t well explained: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-rights-restoration-efforts-florida

"My values are the same" She wants to do it. YOURE VOTING FOR IT.

The AI answer:

Yes, the government may pay for gender reassignment surgery, also known as gender affirmation surgery, in some cases:

Medicare
Medicare may cover gender reassignment surgery if a doctor deems it medically necessary. However, Medicare does not cover procedures that it considers cosmetic surgery.

State health plans
A federal appeals court ruled in April 2024 that state-run health insurance programs must cover gender-affirming surgery.

Federal health plans
Federal health plans can cover gender reassignment surgeries.

Part A, B, and C plans
These plans usually cover gender affirming surgery and pay some portion of the overall cost.

Part D
This plan typically covers hormone replacement therapy and pays some portion of the overall cost.

Federal inmates
The BOP guidelines apply to all federal inmates, and taxpayers pay for transgender transition procedures in U.S. prisons.
Individuals should check their state policies of coverage to check whether gender affirmation surgery may be covered.

Government waste? Allowing Trump to take his secret service to jail with him. Or anywhere for that matter. They should just keep him at mara-lardo with 6 tvs and a locker full of hamberders to occupy his Alzheimer's addled brain.

We can forgo the hanging for being a traitor since he’s so old, as long as the public never hears from his lying trash ass mouth again.

Do you really care if some tranny gets an addadicktome on tax money that will never again belong to you? I don’t care what they do for anyone. I’d hand out free sex change instruction brochures to all the closeted GOPers I know.

I’d rather pay for a handful of sex change surgeries than build one more bomb or wmd.

I was merely answering a question that was asked.

My usual default position is government starts as a waste unless they can prove they are actually needed. But that is me and your mileage may vary.

Sorry, that wasn’t directed at you like an accusation but more of a smh, what some people stress over. Idiots out there that can’t put food on the table, or pay rent without some kind of assistance but voting for self serving billionaires, tax cuts for the rich, and ending medicare, medicaid, and social security. Not to mention that they think Trump is one of them… you can’t make that crap up.

Eve, you've brought up trans gender issue- I'm NOT happy we'd spend a dime on that type of surgery..... but GET REAL....how many cases, what impact on country would that have- zip/none.

How about all the fraud "Building the Wall"- which Donald said Mexico would pay for- wrong. What about the Wall falling down just after it was built by Trump supported "wall builders", what about Trump wanting to put yes men and women in government- getting rid of Civil Service and appointing HIS folks so he can control all parts of government....and him stating in years to come, we won't need to vote......wonder if voting would be considered govenment waste in a Trump dictatorship...oh, sorry- I mean after he changes the laws so he can be more than a two term President....wonder if he wants a Presidency like Putin's.

Our government is at stake- greatest waste would be to re-elect Trump and lose our freedoms.

Well ranted.

Roger that.

I do think pointing out that there are billionaires that support both main parities with the idea they will get special treatment (tax breaks) is relevant at this point.

Tax breaks from Kamala for billionaires? I know nothing about that, feel free to explain what you mean, but I think under her plan their taxes are going up.

But if you mean there are big money backers that will benefit in some way, I’m sure you are right.

It’s just a way of saying that both sides give tax breaks to the rich. It’s what they do when they can’t defend a certain candidate’s tax policy.

Government waste, several posters brought up tax breaks for the super rich- that could be discussed to-- here is my answer, it is an old one- FLAT TAX- decide on a figure- 6, 7,9 percent for EVERYONE- no deductions.....and then take care of the poor. Lots of tax preparers, tax lawyers, etc. lose their jobs--sorry. Image being able to actual do your own taxes. Never happen, too many special interests.

Trump lite my fire again with his latest government waste movement- pandering to the "OLD SOUTH"- states he'd change FT Liberty back to FT Bragg- and I'm sure all the other OLD Confederate military bases would want to jump on that bandwagon. Imagine the number of signs, paperwork, etc all being changed back. Plus, maybe we should cater to the original owners, before the Confederacy- change all the names back to Indian names/ native tribes. It is the silly season and some politicians love to pander to their audience.

PS- As a registered Independent I'm overjoyed my Florida Representative Republican Luna was up in North Carolina licking boots. NOT. More government waste.

They probably kept all the old signs and paperwork in storage. Just in case. Murica.

She isn't doing it so your claim that it was a part of government waste is a lie. And I know in your world you think the president is a dictator that can do anything they want, news flash, they don't have control of the spending. Congress does. A president can't force spending without approval of the congress. Your troll routine only works on the weak minded.

The question concerned and the claim was government waste was being used to fund illegal immigrants receiving tax payer funded sexual reassignment surgery. Your reply did nothing to address that. Because that isn't happening.

You seem to have missed part of the words again, it is usual foryou to only see what you want to see though.



So I answered the prison part. Once you are in prison your immigration status really isn't part of the calculus.

But totally ignored the illegal part and trying to blame me for it. Where does it state anywhere that "Once you are in prison your immigration status really isn't part of the calculus"?

It is usual for you to make up the parts you want to make up.

Actually I did address the "illegal" part, which you ignore but want to also fight about it.

I just want you to provide evidence to your claim that, "Once you are in prison your immigration status really isn't part of the calculus." Sure you made that statement but you offered zero evidence it was correct. But then again there are a lot of people who are opposed to fact checking these days.

I'm open to looking at any evidence you have to support that statement. But "because I said so" doesn't quite do it.

And just remember who it was that started the insults here and stop blaming me for being the instigator here. "it is usual for you to only see what you want to see though."

But that's typical of you. You start throwing insults then blame those who respond in kind.

Let me guess. Next up is "childish"?

Did you see any exceptions in what I posted ?

Federal inmates
The BOP guidelines apply to all federal inmates, and taxpayers pay for transgender transition procedures in U.S. prisons.
Individuals should check their state policies of coverage to check whether gender affirmation surgery may be covered.

There isn't a "unless they are illegal aliens" in that. If you are a federal inmate, you fall under the guidelines for being a federal inmate, because ya know, federal inmate.

As usual the Trumpites try and find someone to blame and make the villain and The Root of All problems in the country. Doesn't matter how real the problem is as long as it can make people angry and feel as if there is an injustice somewhere ....Trans people make up such a tiny % of the population but get all the headlines because they make the Trumpites froth at the mouth and get AnGerY.

So when we're talking about public waste and transgender operations inside prisons and bring it (crow bar it) into the discussion while talking about govt waste and blaming trans operations in the prisons I wonder what the numbers are... I found this incredibly interesting article. The article speaks intelligently about and with a couple of people who are incarcerated for life or decades and have had this procedure - it highlights the real issues they face and their plight.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/transgender-prison-first-surgery-lawsuit-b2367563.html

It doesn't have that many statistics but it does have this quote below:

In 2020, after fighting the Idaho prison system for years Adree Edmo became the second incarcerated person in the country to ever receive gender-affirming care, following a 2017 case in California prison.

Not untypically the Republicans are barking up the wrong tree again. And sure someone might not want to accept that "Transgender" is a real thing, Many of them might want to sent homosexuality or same sex marriages.... That's fine, everyone has an a-hole too and it doesn't make them right or entitled to shout louder than the majority with different opinions.

I can almost hear it now "but one case is too many" - "but one tax dollar is too much" .... such a shame that those same people can't extend that line of thinking to Kids lives and school shootings and the gun culture problem that we have that impacts 100's of thousands of people instead of possibly a couple dozen or so people.

But .... MURICA. TRUMP. LIBTARDS.

No one said it, but hey, why not argue against it.

State health plans
A federal appeals court ruled in April 2024 that state-run health insurance programs must cover gender-affirming surgery.


And in all fairness, state and federal inmates are different. But you would try to move the goal posts.

I just know what you posted. So now you're contradicting yourself?

Taking a leaf from your playbook.

Did we ever come up with the answer to this?

Government waste is a useless argument. It is whining over minutia.

Flat tax is a useless idea. Flat tax always impacts poorer people more heavily. What would be the impact of eliminating deductions? Perhaps elimination of some deductions would be better than eliminating others.

Cut spending? What spending? What is the impact on cutting spending?

Q: Who pays for Trump’s exorbitant 14 car motorcades to and from his court appearances?

A: US citizens.

It depends on many things. States, whether they are presently incarcerated and such.

Restoration of Voting Rights for Felons

It has been common practice in the United States to make felons ineligible to vote, in some cases permanently. Over the last few decades, the general trend has been toward reinstating the right to vote at some point, although this is a state-by-state policy choice. (See "Recent State Actions" below for a chronology.)

Currently, state approaches to felon disenfranchisement vary tremendously. NCSL has divided states into four categories, as detailed in Table 1 below.

In all cases, "automatic restoration" does not mean voter registration is automatic. Typically, prison officials automatically inform election officials that an individual's rights have been restored. The person is then responsible for re-registering through normal processes. Some states, such as California, require voter registration information be provided to formerly incarcerated people.

In summary:

In the District of Columbia, Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote, even while they are incarcerated.
In 23 states, felons lose their voting rights only while incarcerated, and receive automatic restoration upon release. Note that in Maryland, convictions for buying or selling votes can only be restored through pardon.
In 15 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration, and for a period of time after, typically while on parole and/or probation. Voting rights are automatically restored after this time period. Former felons may also have to pay any outstanding fines, fees or restitution before their rights are restored.
In 10 states, felons lose their voting rights indefinitely for some crimes, or require a governor’s pardon for voting rights to be restored, face an additional waiting period after completion of sentence (including parole and probation) or require additional action before voting rights can be restored. These states are listed in the fourth category on Table 1. Details on these states are found in Table 2 below.

https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/felon-voting-rights



So yeah trump should check in with his selected scotus to confirm his eligibility. After all he’s charged with tampering with electorates. So he shouldn’t be eligible, but it’s his scotus. So he’ll be able to I’m sure.