The Next President is...

[Sua Sponte]

2 hours ago, Smokin said:

Sure could.  I honestly averaged about 20 min on my OPRs on writing the actual bullets, which was more difficult than this because there were far more than 5 and you had the standard character BS to deal with.  So, yes, absolutely.

Everyone in the executive branch works at the behest of the President.  At the end of the day, if his team wants to fire you, then a list of 5000 things you did that literally saved the world and was written by Shakespeare won't save you.  I know it's unemotional for me to say this, but I do say this as someone that was notified that my unit was shutting down and 90% of the unit would essentially be fired, so I do understand the emotions involved.  

If they basically randomly downsize, then what you write is irrelevant.  If they are really just doing a pulse check, then what you write is irrelevant.  If they are going to do layoffs based on performance, then I have little doubt that everyone on here is in the top 10% of government employees and you'll be good.

This is 100% spot on. It doesn't matter what people write, they're just going to fire you (right after they upload the data you sent them). Any federal employee's performance is irrelevant unless you're an "easy kill" by being on a performance improvement plan.

[17D_guy]

34 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

This is 100% spot on. It doesn't matter what people write, they're just going to fire you (right after they upload the data you sent them). Any federal employee's performance is irrelevant unless you're an "easy kill" by being on a performance improvement plan.

Or probationary, which has zero to do with performance or how long you've worked. But I guess all the civ's are poor performers, or that one guy one time did fraud for a long time, so it's worth it.

Also, VA just announced cutting 15% of the work force without any impact to care or services. Guess that's going to be just as successful as these tariffs.

[BFM this]

2 hours ago, 17D_guy said:

Or probationary, which has zero to do with performance or how long you've worked. But I guess all the civ's are poor performers, or that one guy one time did fraud for a long time, so it's worth it.

Also, VA just announced cutting 15% of the work force without any impact to care or services. Guess that's going to be just as successful as these tariffs.

Given my limited experience with the VA, 50% of the VA workforce could be Thanos-snapped off the books and I would imagine the impact to care or services would not be measurably different.

[HeloDude]

3 hours ago, 17D_guy said:

Also, VA just announced cutting 15% of the work force without any impact to care or services. Guess that's going to be just as successful as these tariffs.

Was VA care not adequate in 2019?

[Smokin]

5 hours ago, icohftb said:

So the president can fire anyone who didn't vote for him?

They have and do.  Trump fired every single Biden appointed US Attorney.  And before anyone gets upset and screams how terrible it is for King Trump to do that, Biden did the same thing four years ago.  And Trump fired Obama's on his first term.  And Obama did the same thing.

Trump's first term showed him, and anyone that was paying attention, that the executive branch needs to clean house when a new President takes office as career bureaucrats and people that disagree with his agenda will actively sabotage the agenda from within.  There's a reason the Constitution was amended to make the Vice President part of the Presidential ticket rather than the runner up.  Turns out that people put their own agenda ahead of that of the President.  Mass replacements typically haven't gotten very far down the food chain, but the principle is there and has been executed by both parties.

It sucks for the people that get fired.  I totally get that and feel bad for them.  But at the same time, the government was not designed to be an employment service and has grown so much that it is unrecognizable from our Federal government 70 years ago.  It needs to be cut.  Unfortunately, some good guys that are genuinely doing good work for America will get caught in the cross fire.  But the alternative is realistically to do nothing.  Wikipedia claims that the US has a higher percentage of the work force in the public sector than four Western European countries.  That's pretty crazy.

[icohftb]

8 hours ago, Smokin said:

They have and do.  Trump fired every single Biden appointed US Attorney.  And before anyone gets upset and screams how terrible it is for King Trump to do that, Biden did the same thing four years ago.  And Trump fired Obama's on his first term.  And Obama did the same thing.

Trump's first term showed him, and anyone that was paying attention, that the executive branch needs to clean house when a new President takes office as career bureaucrats and people that disagree with his agenda will actively sabotage the agenda from within.  There's a reason the Constitution was amended to make the Vice President part of the Presidential ticket rather than the runner up.  Turns out that people put their own agenda ahead of that of the President.  Mass replacements typically haven't gotten very far down the food chain, but the principle is there and has been executed by both parties.

It sucks for the people that get fired.  I totally get that and feel bad for them.  But at the same time, the government was not designed to be an employment service and has grown so much that it is unrecognizable from our Federal government 70 years ago.  It needs to be cut.  Unfortunately, some good guys that are genuinely doing good work for America will get caught in the cross fire.  But the alternative is realistically to do nothing.  Wikipedia claims that the US has a higher percentage of the work force in the public sector than four Western European countries.  That's pretty crazy.

You said previously the entire executive branch. You mean appointees? 

[17D_guy]

13 hours ago, HeloDude said:

Was VA care not adequate in 2019?

PACT act passed since then which opened requirements for additional services/claims.

[HeloDude]

1 hour ago, 17D_guy said:

PACT act passed since then which opened requirements for additional services/claims.

So in your opinion, it takes 80K more VA employees just to take care of the additional work to enforce the PACT act?  Can you please explain your math to me?

[Sua Sponte]

26 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

So in your opinion, it takes 80K more VA employees just to take care of the additional work to enforce the PACT act?  Can you please explain your math to me?

https://news.va.gov/press-room/in-two-years-of-the-pact-act-va-has-delivered-benefits-and-health-care-to-millions-of-toxic-exposed-veterans-and-their-survivor/

[disgruntledemployee]

16 hours ago, BFM this said:

Given my limited experience with the VA, 50% of the VA workforce could be Thanos-snapped off the books and I would imagine the impact to care or services would not be measurably different.

My dad gets 100% of his health care from the VA.  It has gotten better than in years past.  He needed to do daily visits for a treatment and VA farmed it out to a local hospital, complete with transportation.  I imagine a lot of those overlapping VA contracts doge is cutting are open agreements like this (local treatment) because hauling down 90 minutes to the big VA hospital isn't efficient. 

Also, the VA chief's emailed vid regarding cuts is some good spin. 

1 hour ago, HeloDude said:

So in your opinion, it takes 80K more VA employees just to take care of the additional work to enforce the PACT act?  Can you please explain your math to me?

I got a phone call from the VA about my status in the program.  Internet says that 4.7M vets are in the program.  Also, in the past, the VA was heavily lambasted for poor care, resources, etc.  Just spitballing here that those calls and efforts take people to do the work.  Maybe you have an a specific item the VA should stop doing?

[HeloDude]

1 hour ago, Sua Sponte said:

https://news.va.gov/press-room/in-two-years-of-the-pact-act-va-has-delivered-benefits-and-health-care-to-millions-of-toxic-exposed-veterans-and-their-survivor/

So it took 80K employees to do this what you’re saying…can you please provide data to show this?  And likewise, are you saying that if the VA is returning to 2019 that the PACT Act will not be enforced?

[Sua Sponte]

39 minutes ago, HeloDude said:

So it took 80K employees to do this what you’re saying…can you please provide data to show this?  And likewise, are you saying that if the VA is returning to 2019 that the PACT Act will not be enforced?

Why would I provide the data? I literally sent you a link to the VA discussing the increase in medical care and claims associated with the PACT Act. Were you a veteran in 2019 using the VA? I was and the claims and healthcare (VBA and VHA) have ran much smoother than prior to 2020.
 

Do you always argue in bad faith? I’m not the first to notice that trend of yours on this forum.

Edited Thursday at 09:06 PM by Sua Sponte

[HeloDude]

Just now, Sua Sponte said:

Why would I provide the data? I literally sent you a link to the VA discussing the increase in medical care and claims associated with the PACT Act. Were you a veteran in 2019 using the VA? I was and the claims and healthcare (VBA and VHA) have ran much smoother than prior to 2020.
 

Do you always argue in bad faith? I’m not the first to notice that trend of yours on this forum.

I’ve been on here since the days when most of us left studentpilot.net lol, so if you want to start your own forum, then by all means, go ahead. On this issue, you’re just arguing for more government spending, shocking since you’re government employee.  
 

You made a claim, and I asked for specifics, and instead you posted a link…from the same government agency saying how many great things they’re doing.  Call me skeptical, but I remember when government agencies were bragging about how well we were doing in Afghanistan and how well the Afghan military was doing.  So yeah, I’m very skeptical of these kinds of government reports patting themselves on the back.
 

Side notea—the few times I would check out the AmnNCO page on FB, I remember seeing quite a few enlisted members talking about how much better and smarter they they they were than the officers…so I’m not shocked by your comments, especially with the one saying how you thought most helo pilots were stupid lol.  Fortunately the legacy airline I fly for thought a little differently.

[HeloDude]

1 hour ago, disgruntledemployee said:

My dad gets 100% of his health care from the VA.  It has gotten better than in years past.  He needed to do daily visits for a treatment and VA farmed it out to a local hospital, complete with transportation.  I imagine a lot of those overlapping VA contracts doge is cutting are open agreements like this (local treatment) because hauling down 90 minutes to the big VA hospital isn't efficient. 

Also, the VA chief's emailed vid regarding cuts is some good spin. 

I got a phone call from the VA about my status in the program.  Internet says that 4.7M vets are in the program.  Also, in the past, the VA was heavily lambasted for poor care, resources, etc.  Just spitballing here that those calls and efforts take people to do the work.  Maybe you have an a specific item the VA should stop doing?

I’m all for finding efficiencies…more spending/employees doesn’t necessarily equate to better service.  We’re running a $2 TRILLION deficit in what the Dems recently called a “good economy”…what is your plan to fix it?  Of course pro-big government types don’t want to see any reductions…why would they?

[17D_guy]

7 hours ago, HeloDude said:

So in your opinion, it takes 80K more VA employees just to take care of the additional work to enforce the PACT act?  Can you please explain your math to me?

I'm telling you what was reported as the reason.

[17D_guy]

4 hours ago, HeloDude said:

I’ve been on here since the days when most of us left studentpilot.net lol, so if you want to start your own forum, then by all means, go ahead. On this issue, you’re just arguing for more government spending, shocking since you’re government employee.  
 

You made a claim, and I asked for specifics, and instead you posted a link…from the same government agency saying how many great things they’re doing.  Call me skeptical, but I remember when government agencies were bragging about how well we were doing in Afghanistan and how well the Afghan military was doing.  So yeah, I’m very skeptical of these kinds of government reports patting themselves on the back.
 

Side notea—the few times I would check out the AmnNCO page on FB, I remember seeing quite a few enlisted members talking about how much better and smarter they they they were than the officers…so I’m not shocked by your comments, especially with the one saying how you thought most helo pilots were stupid lol.  Fortunately the legacy airline I fly for thought a little differently.

Boomer is a cunt, go figure. 😆🤣

[Sua Sponte]

5 hours ago, HeloDude said:

I’ve been on here since the days when most of us left studentpilot.net lol, so if you want to start your own forum, then by all means, go ahead. On this issue, you’re just arguing for more government spending, shocking since you’re government employee.  
 

You made a claim, and I asked for specifics, and instead you posted a link…from the same government agency saying how many great things they’re doing.  Call me skeptical, but I remember when government agencies were bragging about how well we were doing in Afghanistan and how well the Afghan military was doing.  So yeah, I’m very skeptical of these kinds of government reports patting themselves on the back.
 

Side notea—the few times I would check out the AmnNCO page on FB, I remember seeing quite a few enlisted members talking about how much better and smarter they they they were than the officers…so I’m not shocked by your comments, especially with the one saying how you thought most helo pilots were stupid lol.  Fortunately the legacy airline I fly for thought a little differently.

Cool man, I was married to a pilot when I was enlisted and flew when I registered here eons ago. I didn't make a claim, I responded to your response to someone else with a link from the agency about data concerning the PACT Act. You then responded with a ridiculous follow-on question asking data you know no one but the VA would have. No one cares about your skeptical conjecture. Feel free to post your CV for grading, though. I didn't know Spirit counted as a legacy...

[disgruntledemployee]

5 hours ago, HeloDude said:

I’m all for finding efficiencies…more spending/employees doesn’t necessarily equate to better service.  We’re running a $2 TRILLION deficit in what the Dems recently called a “good economy”…what is your plan to fix it?  Of course pro-big government types don’t want to see any reductions…why would they?

Firing VA workers that were hired to right the ship doesn't sound hunky dory either.  I easily admit that the VA system still need improvements, but it takes people to do those changes.  Side bar anecdote, the Mrs often talks to a certain govt agency for her job.  That agency has multiple data systems, offices that don't answer the phone, relies upon the fax system, and on.  You think doge can just waltz in, wave their chainsaw, and merge those data systems, fire someone so that there's less people answering the phone, and magically transform their data systems off the fax system?  I'm told stuff like that takes people, like IT pros, and probably even legislation (fax system).

My plan to fix the deficit?  Lets see how the Trump plan plays out.  I hear he's going to make every other country pay for our budget, paraphrasing, after he goes slash and burn to the govt worker, and then goes more deficit for tax cuts.  That's the plan you want because that's what you voted for, assuming of course, based on your avatar and words for the last 200 posts, that you voted for the guy. 

And there you go again, the thinly veiled tag of calling me, or anyone, a big government type because I go counter to the Trump plan of cutting VA staff, which probably wasn't even thought out.  They just came up with a number.

[HeloDude]

1 hour ago, Sua Sponte said:

Cool man, I was married to a pilot when I was enlisted and flew when I registered here eons ago. I didn't make a claim, I responded to your response to someone else with a link from the agency about data concerning the PACT Act. You then responded with a ridiculous follow-on question asking data you know no one but the VA would have. No one cares about your skeptical conjecture. Feel free to post your CV for grading, though. I didn't know Spirit counted as a legacy...

Spirit haha.  Well, enjoy your government job.

[HeloDude]

6 minutes ago, disgruntledemployee said:

Firing VA workers that were hired to right the ship doesn't sound hunky dory either.  I easily admit that the VA system still need improvements, but it takes people to do those changes.  Side bar anecdote, the Mrs often talks to a certain govt agency for her job.  That agency has multiple data systems, offices that don't answer the phone, relies upon the fax system, and on.  You think doge can just waltz in, wave their chainsaw, and merge those data systems, fire someone so that there's less people answering the phone, and magically transform their data systems off the fax system?  I'm told stuff like that takes people, like IT pros, and probably even legislation (fax system).

My plan to fix the deficit?  Lets see how the Trump plan plays out.  I hear he's going to make every other country pay for our budget, paraphrasing, after he goes slash and burn to the govt worker, and then goes more deficit for tax cuts.  That's the plan you want because that's what you voted for, assuming of course, based on your avatar and words for the last 200 posts, that you voted for the guy. 

And there you go again, the thinly veiled tag of calling me, or anyone, a big government type because I go counter to the Trump plan of cutting VA staff, which probably wasn't even thought out.  They just came up with a number.

Why should government civilian employees have some special luxury of not being let go when cuts need to be made?  

[Boomer6]

2 hours ago, Sua Sponte said:

Cool man, I was married to a pilot when I was enlisted and flew when I registered here eons ago.

7 hours ago, HeloDude said:

so I’m not shocked by your comments, especially with the one saying how you thought most helo pilots were stupid lol.

 

How many helo dudes did she cheat on you with? Where's Biff..

[disgruntledemployee]

4 hours ago, HeloDude said:

Why should government civilian employees have some special luxury of not being let go when cuts need to be made?  

Why do cuts need to be made to VA care to fund a Trump tax cut?  Back atcha.

[Banzai]

13 hours ago, HeloDude said:

I’m all for finding efficiencies…more spending/employees doesn’t necessarily equate to better service.  We’re running a $2 TRILLION deficit in what the Dems recently called a “good economy”…what is your plan to fix it?  Of course pro-big government types don’t want to see any reductions…why would they?

Hes right about finding efficiencies! Of course we need the planned $4.5T tax cuts while trimming just $1.5T in spending (it only adds a ton to the deficit, but I’ve been told to support this by Truth, so I obey). I especially support things like cuts to IRS staff - who return 5-6 times ROI for every dollar spent. Why collect billions in unpaid taxes when we can just complain about the deficit (which we are increasing) instead? This plan is flawless, checkmate libs.

[busdriver]

5 hours ago, disgruntledemployee said:

Why do cuts need to be made to VA care to fund a Trump tax cut?  Back atcha.

Just so everyone is on the same page.  This is a continuation of a previous cut, right?

So spending cuts are required to prevent a tax increase. 

 

While increasing the deficit and saying you're decreasing it.

 

Anyways

Continue flinging poop at each other boys!

[HeloDude]

Well, sadly there are big government types on here who believe more government is better…even after having been in the military and seeing how horrible and inefficient government can be.  But oh well.  I’m supporting Trump in wanting to reduce the overall size and scope of government and allow people to keep more of their money (yes, even those evil billionaires). 
 

Since we have a foundational difference in opinions and values, it’s silly to go back and forth with the progressives on here, at least on this issue.  Maybe you guys will get what you want in 2 or 4 years.