Why not a goal of zero inflation question?

OPM just was told they had no authority to carry out mass firings of federal employees. Judge will have hearing again March 13th - day of RIF plans required to OPM. Basically, agencies listened to OPM even though they had no authority and fired many thousands of probationary employees for unjust reasons - law was not followed. I hope they don't hire them back and then just RIF them in March on the 14th which could likely happen. There is currently much chaos at top levels now with OPM trying to direct agencies and its not going well.

Thank Steve for your rational discourse, probably more rational than mine. I'm not overly anxious for me because I could retire now (over 62) but it wouldn't be optimal (especially in my wife's eyes) but I would have time to kill a lot more wild game than I have in the last decade or so, thus my side of the grocery bill would be lessened compared to hers. I'm more upset at the probable destruction of years of government investment into things that can't be replaced in a short period of time. I guess only private companies are allowed to invest into long term, for profit only systems. What we do might never touch Tman people directly or it might, won't know for sure until its gone.

If I get axed, I walk away with an unique 25+ year gained dataset in my head that no one can take away from me. As for now, that dataset has been basically used for "free" for the American people besides their overall sunk and annual costs of my employment. Going forward, maybe some of that will still be given for "free" but maybe a good amount will go for my own profit with me as the boss. We'll see Maybe I'll get killed in a car wreck tomorrow so who knows.

I want to say think you to the people who can pull thread plugs and "vacation"/ban people on this forum for letting this thread run. We've actually had real adult debates.

I'm done. I'm going to go deliver some cat food to one of my off-gridder friends and go look for deer sheds. Maybe make some extra coin that way

Federal government interest payments 2019: 375 billion
Federal government interest payments 2025 projected 952 billion

I am very proud of the fact I missed out on working for the feds. .I have worked for state agencies all my life. (since age 15 ). Have had many chances to work for FEDs for 3 x the pay for state. Because it's impossible to get any work done, I've avoided it. Very glad I've not worked for the FEDs. Retired now.

Alaska
State & local government spending per capita: $20,668 (the highest)

No other State is even close.

Alaska is an island, is there a fair way to compare?

I mean Alaska is connected through Canada, unlike Hawaii which is an actual island. For what it's worth. But yeah Alaska doesn't compair well to continental 48.

True we don't spend a lot of money on roads like other States, fortunately we spend lots on Education and are at the bottom in testing. This States' government is truly wasteful and inefficient. Did I mention all the boondoggles? Google them!

If memory serves me correctly probationary employees can be terminated in a RIF just because they are probationary. No reason required except to reduce the number of employees.

Yes. As I understand it they don’t have any protections by the Federal Workers Union and can be terminated at any time, for any reason. Not just during a RIF.

Mandatory Spending in 2019: 2.7 Trillion dollars

Mandatory Spending in 2025 : 4.37 Trillion dollars

4.37 trillion mandatory + .952 trillion interest = 5.322 trillion dollars
Projected Federal revenues for 2025 5.48 trillion dollars

Over half of the discretionary budget ( which is basically covered by borrowing ) is defense and veteran spending.

Last year everyone complained about the 80,000 plus hired by the IRS and outfitted with weapons Now they;re worried about those getting fired????

There are no 80,000 plus new IRS hires, so it was not me.

Well in Jeff's defense, you do complain about everything, so.....

ol' dad

I guess I missed the endless complaints on here about everything that happened since Trump lost in 2020?

What's going on now with Musk is akin to doing brain surgery with an ax. Im sure there is fat that can be trimmed but most of the federal employees I deal with, and it is quite a few are hard working and carrying out task set not at the local level, but determined at the legislative and executive branch, the politicians. Musk now stating we need to raise the salary of congress, makes no sense when trying to gut the government which they are the part of. Interesting in the state of Wy which is a bit over 48% public lands used to extract minerals, oil, timber, maintain one of the largest watersheds in the nation and provide recreational opportunities for millions of people, the feds employ just under 5000 people, the state owns and manages 5.6 percent of of the land managed as state trust land. The state employs 9,340 people. Its going to be an interesting experiment that Musk and Trump are working on. I'm all for reducing the debt and always have been, but they are doing it the wrong way. I hope they don't use the same logic in cutting the military, from Korea to Afghanistan we have lost every war, I guess we should get rid of most of our military for not doing their job, they just can't win, or is it the politicians that wont let them win.

Like I said, if we could get to the budget we had 5 years ago, we'd have a surplus. What's so hard to understand about that?

It's going to get rough if we want to right the ship so to speak.

Part of the reason they have to move fast is there is another election in 2 years