Ever heard of the "Big 54" Accounting Firms? If so, do you know why the 5 is crossed out and there are now 4? Who are they? Does it matter?
Source: Malone News post - "Sunday Strip: Don't Believe..."
Hint: Read up on Arthur Andersen and its handling of investigating the Enron scandal.
This will help you answer every question above, with perhaps the exception of the last one. Which is the focus of today's post on accountability and consequences, in dealing with "waste, fraud, and abuse."
D.O.G.E. versus "Waste, Fraud, and Abuse"
Touched on in the introduction to this post, we understand the biggest enterprises on earth, both public and private, rely on competent, independent auditing firms to come inside their organizations and conduct a thorough investigation of how they are doing. Note well, these audits are sanctioned by the governing bodies of these organizations and they are conducted with their full authority behind them.
Is there any enterprise on earth bigger than the government of the United States of America? At least in any country the makes any pretense of being free?
With estimates of it having as many as 3 million employees, how is it doing?
D.O.G.E. came into being to answer the question, given the serious lack of faith of many of the American people, in the answers received on this fundamental question for so long.
Within literally days of going to work, the American people were exposed to its initial findings on USAID. Does the phrase "waste, fraud, and abuse" even begin to adequately describe these findings?
A key finding? The amount of money being siphoned off into NGOs, where God only knows what it would take to truly account for exactly where it went and on what it was actually spent.
Why is that?
Source: Malone News post - "Friday Funnies: Chainsaw Massacre"
Many other examples could be cited. With more or less the same questions accompanying each. And D.O.G.E. is only getting started.
The response of the American people? Particularly the portion of them no longer in power?
That is why this post has been written. The selective outrage of this portion of them is hard to portray in any sort of positive, constructive light.
-
Light. A key word whose importance can hardly be overstated. How does one go about having an honest conversation about anything hidden away? Hidden away by accident? Or by design? To what end?
Unelected 4th Branch of Government
Hypocrisy. What does that word bring to mind, when reading it? Is there any word which can unite an otherwise diverse group of people around how much it is despised?
Maybe, but not in my experience in life.
Source: Malone News post - "Friday Funnies: Chainsaw Massacre"
At least so far, the Democratic Party in America has shown a remarkable ability to overlook the obvious, in its attempts "demonize" the efforts to rein in what seems to be a bureaucracy that is out of control.
Elections have consequences. In this case, to begin to assert some accountability, when all of the previous years of Congressional "Oversight" Committees, from the outside, and "Inspector Generals" from the inside of these massive bureaucracies have accomplished what? Anything?
And least anything of substance beyond the typical "window dressing?"
If nothing else D.O.G.E. is driving the debate over answering these questions out into the light. Which, in and of itself, has to produce at least some accountability. And, with it, almost certainly some consequences.
Source: Malone News post on "Sunday Strip: Don't Believe..."
The hypocrisy of how the Democratic Party is choosing to address any of this would seem to be obvious. That said, at least publicly, good luck with trying to find anyone willing to even begin acknowledging that.
The American people may now be closer to acknowledging that one of the key 2024 election slogans might have had some merit after all:
Trump is an existential
threat to our
democracy bureaucracy!
threat to our
One only need change a few letters. As well take a close look at to whom "our" is referring!?
Yes, a little tongue-in-cheek there, but I am hoping to stimulate a little reflection and food for thought with it.
Now about to publish my first RCT community post, since entering the Hive portal, I'll emphasize the "T", in hopes of stimulating some conversation about this topic. And close with some final points which may serve as food for thought.
Consider that the President of the United States of America is the only individual person who is voted on by every citizen across the country. Big job? Of course it is, so this person surrounds themselves with their appointed and confirmed Cabinet members, each responsible for their portion of the massive Federal bureaucracy.
Think of this group of people like the well understood Board of Directors overseeing most any public or private enterprise. Think of D.O.G.E. as the competent, independent agency brought in from the outside to audit all this is happening inside.
Nothing is ever perfect, but can it be acknowledged some serious accountability is unfolding, as a direct result?
At a minimum, combining my "Freedom of Expression" post published yesterday with this one, can agreement at least be reached on the truth of a well known phrase?
Sunlight is the best
disinfectant!
It is refreshing to experience a restored ability to at least talk about all that is going on. We know there is a lot of passion on both sides of discussions about all that is at stake. While full agreement between them is unlikely, will not open, honest, reasonable conversations help with at least closing the gap?
What are your thoughts?
Best wishes, until we meet again,
QT
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