DOGE isn't about efficiency, it is about removing checks and balances. Those are there to prevent malware like the GOP to take over the system.
I hope the people behind the submission get their message across. But you shouldn't have the conversation about efficiency. That is entirely the distraction.
Don't talk me about efficient governance of autocracy. It always ends in burning down the land on which it feasts.
The efficiency comparison is interesting, since it starts relatively evenly but quickly dismisses the value of the DOGE approach. Everyone I know who worked at USDS has been talented and well-meaning, but I can't help but feel they've been hamstrung specifically by
1. Methodical improvements mostly work to improve processes as they are. They don't delete processes that shouldn't exist.
2. Agency "empowerment" often means working with a lot of incumbent teams that are simply not suited to digital work and sinks way too much time/energy into stakeholder management.
USDS has done good work, but could have done a lot more if they were actually empowered.
They should add Secure Drop support [0] - it's what Bloomberg, NYT, Washington Post, Politico, NOYB, etc use for anonymous tips.
Email runs the risk of de-anonymization, as most people don't know about Proton, and this very much falls close to whistleblowing.
Also, anyone who seriously wishes to say anything should probably NOT respond via IG or even follow the page. If you are whistleblowing, maintaining anonymity is critical.
This is interesting but very much lacking in details, it needs exact examples. I really feel for the workers at USDS. I was an engineer during the Elon Twitter acquisition and saw the thoughtless destruction first-hand.
However, the burn-it-all down approach does have some merit that critics of Elon/DOGE never admit to. How do they propose you carefully untangle the knots of fractal bureaucracy at speed and produce results if not by just cutting them off? The previous approaches of a special committee etc. just add a another fractal and yet another process.
Sometimes I feel the critics would be content if nothing was ever accomplished, if nothing ever changed, as long as thoughtful meetings were conducted and stakeholders were consulted. There is a very real layer of inertia that needs to be punched through, velocity has merit all its own.
I am very concerned about the possible outcomes of DOGE overall but business as usual just means the US goes bankrupt slowly with all the correct protocols observed. I am glad the inertia is being punctured.
I’ve been in government contracts. Been on the teams that built the websites or whatever. It’s always some massive Fortune 500 company with a VP that was college roommates with a politician or went to West Point with a general. Of course when government guys give big congrats they immediately get booked as a very well paid speaker at some useless conference.
exceptione ·22 hours ago
I hope the people behind the submission get their message across. But you shouldn't have the conversation about efficiency. That is entirely the distraction.
Don't talk me about efficient governance of autocracy. It always ends in burning down the land on which it feasts.
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morgante ·23 hours ago
1. Methodical improvements mostly work to improve processes as they are. They don't delete processes that shouldn't exist.
2. Agency "empowerment" often means working with a lot of incumbent teams that are simply not suited to digital work and sinks way too much time/energy into stakeholder management.
USDS has done good work, but could have done a lot more if they were actually empowered.
[1] https://www.wethebuilders.org/posts/a-tale-of-two-effiencies...
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alephnerd ·22 hours ago
Email runs the risk of de-anonymization, as most people don't know about Proton, and this very much falls close to whistleblowing.
Also, anyone who seriously wishes to say anything should probably NOT respond via IG or even follow the page. If you are whistleblowing, maintaining anonymity is critical.
[0] - https://github.com/freedomofpress
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pclowes ·22 hours ago
However, the burn-it-all down approach does have some merit that critics of Elon/DOGE never admit to. How do they propose you carefully untangle the knots of fractal bureaucracy at speed and produce results if not by just cutting them off? The previous approaches of a special committee etc. just add a another fractal and yet another process.
Sometimes I feel the critics would be content if nothing was ever accomplished, if nothing ever changed, as long as thoughtful meetings were conducted and stakeholders were consulted. There is a very real layer of inertia that needs to be punched through, velocity has merit all its own.
I am very concerned about the possible outcomes of DOGE overall but business as usual just means the US goes bankrupt slowly with all the correct protocols observed. I am glad the inertia is being punctured.
Show replies
chriscrisby ·23 hours ago
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