Just What Government Agencies Would YOU Shut Down?

January 20, 2018, 01:59 PM

Jimineer

quote:
Originally posted by darthfuster:
I'd start with the BATF for constitutional reasons. Leave a skeletal few, roll them into the FBI an with NO interpretive powers. Education department next. EPA. BLM. And finally, I'd suspend all benefits to congress except for an hourly wage for time actually working. No perks. No pension. I'd privatize NASA. I'd make the IRS disappear with a 20% tax on income after a base level.

This works for me.

January 20, 2018, 02:02 PM

smschulz

A better question might be what ones wouldn't you shut down?

January 20, 2018, 02:02 PM

Scoutmaster

quote:
Originally posted by ensigmatic:...the evidence conclusively shows that, left to itself, industry will pollute indiscriminately.

You develop a whole new appreciation for pollution when you start pumping your own water, trust me

That being said: The EPA, just like every other you-pick-the-acronym agency in the US government, has been off the reservation for years.

I wasn't questioning the reality of pollution, but wondering if with the EPA, maybe the cure is worse than the disease.

Sidenote. Solyndra was a notable Bay Area firm doing solar panels (to save the planet from greedy ugly oil companies), got ~$500M in gov't loans from Team Obama. Solyndra went bankrupt, I understand the investors got their money first, the taxpayer had to eat the loans. Then, one of their manfacturing facilities was designated a toxic waste site (I guess they didn't practice what they preached).

January 20, 2018, 02:12 PM

mbinky

The government has been shutdown for "X" hours...

How has your life changed?

Me? I'm still flush with beer and internet.

What changed?

January 20, 2018, 02:17 PM

chellim1

quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
A better question might be what ones wouldn't you shut down?

That's my thought as well....

Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

The military is enumerated.... not much else.
Most everything else should be left to the States to regulate, or not.

Getting the federal government out of social services, including welfare and Obamacare should be priority #1.

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible."
-- Justice Janice Rogers Brown

"The United States government is the largest criminal enterprise on earth."
-rduckwor

January 20, 2018, 02:22 PM

Silent

EEOC and transfer its duties to the department of justice.

Silent

January 20, 2018, 03:26 PM

flashguy

quote:
Originally posted by mbinky:
The government has been shutdown for "X" hours...

How has your life changed?

Me? I'm still flush with beer and internet.

What changed?

Well, a significant part of my income comes from the federal government--a military pension and Social Security. (Both of which I earned and don't consider to be "entitlements"!) I suppose a shutdown could eventually impact my receiving my just rewards. Fortunately, I do have other sources of funds and as long as the postal service still runs would be able to get enough money to carry on.

flashguy

January 20, 2018, 04:24 PM

Ragnar

How about liquidate congress. I do mean liquidate in the James Bond/Blowfeld definition.

January 20, 2018, 04:45 PM

mikeyspizza

Here's the US Government's own A-Z Index of Departments and Agencies. It's a wee bit lengthy.

In my opinion there are quite a few we could do without.

However, some serious cuts need to be made in major programs to make any difference.

January 20, 2018, 05:56 PM

bigdeal

quote:
Originally posted by smschulz:
A better question might be what ones wouldn't you shut down?

Beat me to it. That would definitely be the shorter list.

January 20, 2018, 06:20 PM

sigmonkey

quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
Hard to believe that it actually took eight posts to get to the IRS, and eleven to get to TSA.

Well, had to read the new tax laws,

file taxes

and get past TSA...

January 20, 2018, 06:28 PM

hudr

quote:
Originally posted by kz1000:
HUD.

I’m hurt....

Oh, wait....

January 20, 2018, 06:34 PM

Ozarkwoods

In order

IRS DOEd DOEn EPA HUD

January 20, 2018, 06:35 PM

JALLEN

USAA announced that they will advance pay to military members if they need it on next pay day.

If you are active duty and a USAA member in good standing, you can get the help.

How about that?

Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me.

When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson

"Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown

January 20, 2018, 07:10 PM

flesheatingvirus

quote:
Originally posted by 12131:
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
Hard to believe that it actually took eight posts to get to the IRS, and eleven to get to TSA.

And 12 to get to DHS.

I'm still the only one to mention the DEA.

January 20, 2018, 09:33 PM

jigray3

DOJ. We might need one, but I'd damn sure burn this one down, and start over.

January 21, 2018, 06:10 AM

Herknav

This is "back of the napkin" with my first cup of coffee. It isn't really well-thought out.

Shut down:
Homeland Security
TSA
DEA
USAF--We haven't won a war since they've been a separate service. I seriously doubt that if you asked the AF for their top 10 priorities, "winning the war" would appear among them.
VA
Social Security--Nobody cared enough to safeguard the money. Now it's gone. It's time to stop the charade.
FEMA

Drastically prune:
Congress
--As you are a representative of your state, all expenses for your position will be funded by your state.
--You will be expected to telecommute to work so that you can live in your district and represent them to DC instead of vice-versa.
--Fines and "settlement" money will NOT be paid from public funds.

Secret Service--There's no reason our Presidency has to look like a travelling circus when he goes anywhere. Most dignitaries have a minder or two and a driver at any given time.

DoD
--The number of General Officers will be cut to pre-9/11 levels.
--Any base the military wants to close gets closed.
--Any acquisition program that goes over budget as a result of contractor misfeasance or nonfeasance will have such costs borne entirely by the contractor.
--Troops will be immediately withdrawn from any hostile area or activity unless/until there is a declaration of war from Congress.
--Fire generals who have not show sufficient progress in prosecuting the war (like we used to).
--All departments will wear the same utility uniform. We're all part of the same team. It's time we act like it.

Intelligence Community--There are WAY too many agencies doing different flavors of the same thing. Consolidate them into one department.

MISC:
--Any federal agency more than 20 years old will be immediately reviewed. Any agency determined to be outdated or ineffective will be immediately closed. (This is to cover those agencies that nobody ever thinks of.)
--Anyone caught violating their oath of office, obstructing justice, abusing their authority, or refusing to perform their job will be immediately imprisoned for the maximum allowable time and permanently banned from receiving federal compensation of any kind.
--Personnel deemed to be non-essential will be thanked for their service and provided a severance pay.