This great Republic and her people has suffered worse, several times over, and yet we prevail.

If it all goes to absolute shit tomorrow, by the day after, we will be on the way up again.

New opportunities will abound.

I stared out, nearly 6 feet under, and have been staying at 0 feet, AGL ever since.

It may be turtles all the way down, but we ain't no where near down.

I think the money should be put into a USA savings account and a USA bank set up. The money could be lent out to US citizens that qualify, at competitive rates, and lent for student loans or other loans that are currently offered through 3rd party banks. The lending institutions that do this now seem to be raking in the money for offering this type of service.
Of course a strict over site would need to be put in place to insure this fund would not be compromised like every other gov agency.
At a certain point dividends could be given to the TAX PAYERS that paid into the original bank account.

My fear of a $5000 re-payment to each tax payer is ALL the politicians would take credit for it even though almost all of them stole the money to begin with.

About half the people in this country don't like Trump or the Republicans, they will agree with the Dems that they are given this money because the Dems found a away to give it to them despite the Republicans efforts to block it.
The Dems will also insist that EVERYBODY gets the money.
I would rather not get a cent then to give it out to everybody, especially those that NEVER paid a dime in.

I think they should pay down the debt with it, let me opt out of SS and invest my $$$ correctly

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I think they should pay down the debt with it, let me opt out of SS and invest my $$$ correctly

Sounds great, but the Ponzi scheme would fall flat a lot faster if they let folks opt out.

Troll master sent leftists into meltdown!

https://x.com/WhiteHouse/statu...house-trolls-long%2F

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Ok, so you hate the fact that they hate Trump. I get it, because so do I. Irony and all that. But, you have to agree, it doesn't change the reality that they, as taxpayers, are entitled to the same "refund" as we MAGA do. Anything less would be un-American.

You still aren't getting the point of my post. Let me lay it out differently

Liberal: "TRUMP SUCKS, ARREST ELON!"
Liberal: "ARREST ALL REPUBLICANS"
Liberal: "DESTROY DOGE!!! "

IRS Agent: "Here is your $5,000 refund on behalf of the work done by Trump, Elon, and DOGE"

Liberal: "Oh, son of a bitch.... <benefiting significantly from the actions I've been protesting>"


On another note, the potential $5K refund is great. I'm really waiting to see how much of a tax reduction this will drive. If they're cutting all this spending, that's less I have to support through taxes.

I'll take the $5K but I want to see a decrease in withholding and an increase in my take home every payday.

"Refund", Pt 2.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ne...-musk-taxpayers.html

By BRITTANY CHAIN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 21:21 EST, 19 February 2025 | UPDATED: 22:51 EST, 19 February 2025

Donald Trump is considering Elon Musk's pitch to give American taxpayers a 'DOGE dividend' amid ongoing efforts to claw back billions of dollars of wasteful spending.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has taken an ax to government departments with an edict to do whatever it takes to root out waste and fraud.

On Tuesday, the billionaire Tesla founder and 'First Buddy' vowed to 'check with the president' after investment firm CEO James Fishback suggested giving taxpayers a slice of the savings in the form of a tax refund.

Trump responded on Wednesday to confirm he was weighing its benefits, which Fishback had calculated could result in every taxpayer receiving $5,000.

Speaking from Miami Beach, Trump said: 'There's even under consideration a new concept where we give 20 per cent of the DOGE savings to American citizens.'

He said another 20 percent would go toward 'paying down debt.'

'The numbers are incredible, Elon, so many billions - hundreds of billions - and we're thinking about giving 20 per cent back to the American citizens,' he added.

If it goes ahead, the policy has the potential to put thousands of dollars back into the pockets of taxpayers at a time when rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for middle Americans to stay afloat.

'If you look at value, if it were real estate, the balance sheet debt is tiny but we still want to pay it down.'

Trump said the initiative could encourage Americans to 'report where there's waste. They'll be reporting it themselves and participate in the process of saving money.'

DOGE revealed Tuesday that Trump has saved taxpayers a staggering $55 billion in less than a month.

The bulk of the savings were reportedly found through a combination of detecting and deleting fraud, canceling contracts and leases, and selling assets.

In response to the achievement, Fishback wrote on X: 'President Trump and @ElonMusk should announce a 'DOGE Dividend'—a tax refund check sent to every taxpayer, funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE.'

Musk responded, assuring Fishback he would 'check with the President.'

Fishback added: 'American taxpayers deserve a 'DOGE Dividend': 20% the money that DOGE saves should be sent back to hard-working Americans as a tax refund check.

'It was their money in the first place! At $2 trillion in DOGE savings and 78 million tax-paying households, this is a $5,000 refund per household, with the remaining used to pay down the national debt. Elon Musk, let's do this! This is how we rebuild trust in our government.'

DOGE has vowed to provide updates on savings figures twice a week, promising additional information and improvements with time.

To date, savings have mostly been made in the US Agency For International Development (USAID), the Department of Education, the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ending diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) targets, programs and training days across the entirety of federal government accounted for a huge saving, and was among the first tasks DOGE conducted after Trump returned to the White House.

Elon Musk and DOGE's efforts to reduce government waste have sparked outage among Democrats and government workers, who are protesting in the streets.

Critics maintain Musk is an unelected oligarch who should not be trusted to access data from the federal government.

On Monday, the White House clarified in court papers that Musk's title was 'senior adviser to the president' and that he is 'not the U.S. DOGE Service Administrator.'

'In his role as senior adviser to the president, Mr. Musk has no greater authority than other senior White House advisers,' the court filing noted, adding that he had 'no actual or formal authority' to make government decisions by himself.

Trump has endorsed Musk's work as a result of his election mandate to cut government spending and reduce the federal workforce.

'We got elected to, among other things, find all of this fraud, abuse, all of this horrible stuff going on,' he said in the Oval Office last week.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by parabellum:
[...."Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s Counterrevolution in Washington" ....

The revolution is/was really Obama's "fundamental change"

"We are going to Fort Knox"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q0azOkBeXg

Trump Agenda Slowed by Flood of Lawsuits
Some cases could reach the Supreme Court and result in major precedents that clarify the scope of executive authority.

Within the first month of President Donald Trump’s second term, he has encountered more than 70 sometimes overlapping lawsuits challenging his actions on spending, federal employment decisions, immigration, and other issues.
Some of these issues are expected to reach the Supreme Court and could result in major precedents that clarify the scope of executive authority.
Most of the lawsuits have targeted various executive orders that Trump signed after entering office, but some have been initiated in response to standalone firings of public employees, such as the former chair of the National Labor Relations Board.
Here is a breakdown of the cases that have resulted in court orders halting the administration’s actions through a series of decisions by federal judges. The administration has already appealed multiple decisions.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/...eyMeAHspy%2BR6sGI%3D


I think PDJT anticipated every one of these and is ready to come out on top. Especially Birthright.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
I think they should pay down the debt with it, let me opt out of SS and invest my $$$ correctly

Sounds great, but the Ponzi scheme would fall flat a lot faster if they let folks opt out.

Yep. It's not healthy to run debt that exceeds a nation's GDP. We did it briefly to fight WWII but quickly reversed course and brought the debt down to around 20-25% of GDP. It now exceeds WWII levels.

US Debt-to-GDP Ratio Worsens Further, Despite Solid Economic Growth, as Government Debt Balloons at a Scary Pace
https://wolfstreet.com/2024/01...ons-at-a-scary-pace/

Fantastic EO, and I hope it results in the Spontaneous Combustion of many democRATS!

This looks and sounds like a Stephen Miller ‘Special’!

Thank you President Trump!!

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/.../1892392499404054608



“BREAKING: President Donald J. Trump just signed an executive order to TERMINATE all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens and END the subsidization of open borders.

Here is the text of the order:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose. The plain text of Federal law, including the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) (PRWORA), generally prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining most taxpayer-funded benefits. Title IV of the PRWORA states that it is national policy that "aliens within the Nation's borders not depend on public resources to meet their needs," and that "[i]t is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits." But in the decades since the passage of the PRWORA, numerous administrations have acted to undermine the principles and limitations directed by the Congress through that law. Over the last 4 years, in particular, the prior administration repeatedly undercut the goals of that law, resulting in the improper expenditure of significant taxpayer resources.

My Administration will uphold the rule of law, defend against the waste of hard-earned taxpayer resources, and protect benefits for American citizens in need, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Sec. 2. Preserving Federal Public Benefits. (a) To prevent taxpayer resources from acting as a magnet and fueling illegal immigration to the United States, and to ensure, to the maximum extent permitted by law, that no taxpayer-funded benefits go to unqualified aliens, the head of each executive department or agency (agency) shall:

(i) identify all federally funded programs administered by the agency that currently permit illegal aliens to obtain any cash or non-cash public benefit, and, consistent with applicable law, take all appropriate actions to align such programs with the purposes of this order and the requirements of applicable Federal law, including the PRWORA;

(ii) ensure, consistent with applicable law, that Federal payments to States and localities do not, by design or effect, facilitate the subsidization or promotion of illegal immigration, or abet so-called "sanctuary" policies that seek to shield illegal aliens from deportation; and

(iii) enhance eligibility verification systems, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits exclude any ineligible alien who entered the United States illegally or is otherwise unlawfully present in the United States.

(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, shall further:

(i) identify all other sources of Federal funding for illegal aliens; and

(ii) recommend additional agency actions to align Federal spending with the purposes of this order, and, where relevant, enhance eligibility verification systems.

(c) Agencies shall refer any improper receipt or use of Federal benefits to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for appropriate action.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

February 19, 2025

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
"Refund", Pt 2.
<snip>
Trump responded on Wednesday to confirm he was weighing its benefits, which Fishback had calculated could result in every taxpayer receiving $5,000.
<snip>

That’s better than “every American”, but I’m dubious of the refund scheme in general. Better to use that money for debt reduction.

quote:

Originally posted by Carpentermaass84:
Sorry. You guys are correct. Admittedly there's some frustration knowing I am paying into a pot that will be empty by the time I'm eligible to receive it but others shouldn't suffer here and now because of that.

I'm 66 and I started taking my SS benefits in August of last year after my birthday. I needed to wait till 66 and 7 months for full payments. I was going through some family stuff with my oldest daughter being in the hospital and hospice that kept me from working.

I always felt the same as you, Carpenter. I looked at it like they were stealing from me because I thought I would never see a thing from it. I started working and paying into SS when I was 15. The story always was the system would fail before I saw it. All I can really say now is thankfully I was in a position to get my benefits that I was in dire need of.

If the government decides to pay me $5K I would gratefully accept that as well.

SS will always be saved. No politician will let it fail. But I'm pretty sure it will eventually involve means testing and, when I become age-eligible, I will be means tested out of ever seeing anything from SSA.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
"Refund", Pt 2.
<snip>
Trump responded on Wednesday to confirm he was weighing its benefits, which Fishback had calculated could result in every taxpayer receiving $5,000.
<snip>

That’s better than “every American”, but I’m dubious of the refund scheme in general. Better to use that money for debt reduction.

If it is coming, I would prefer to see it be a non-refundable tax credit. If you are due to pay $5,000 or more on April 15th, you get to deduct $5,000 from what you owe. If you had $5,000 or more withheld during the 2024 tax year, you get $5,000 returned to you. If you owe, or had withheld less than $5,000, your credit or refund is limited by what you owe or had withheld. If you had no tax withheld and you have no tax due, you get nothing.

Sure, we could go back over several years, but that would just complicate things. This years DOGE dividend applies to this year’s taxes. No taxes this year, no dividend.

I’d still rather see it used to pay down the debt, but I could support this.

ETA: I’ll admit that I am a little surprised by the timing of the “No benefits for illegals” EO. My first thought on reading the above post was, “Gee, it has been a whole month already! Why did it take this long (in the midst of all this blitzkrieg of winning) for this EO?” My immediate second thought was, “4D chess. I’d bet the ranch that PDJT and his team thought of this long before November 5th and I’m sure they had a reason for waiting. Hmmm, I wonder what the strategy was, ‘cause I know sure as G-d made little green apples that there was a strategy behind this timing.” Oh well, back to enjoying the winning…

This is GLORIOUS! What a concept, a Prez with balls looking out for his own citizens and not letting invaders pour through the border.

On the border, federal agents now outnumber illegal crossers — and migrants cry when they get caught