GOVERNMENT: Agencies exist for a reason

Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy have decided what to cut out of the federal bureaucracy. These two have acknowledged that moving agencies out to D.C. and reducing the bureaucratic headcount by 50% is needed. All without ever serving in any government agency. This appears to be similar to the investigative technique where we have the criminal now let’s find the crime.

Meanwhile, some economists opine that “Downsizing the Bureaucracy Won’t Crash The Economy” in a report by Brian Wesbury and others with First Trust Portfolios. Just to be clear, Chief economist Brian Wesbury tweeted that COVID-19 vaccine mandates were similar to slavery, George Floyd protests were riots done by thugs and that every clerk should be fired as a result of the leak regarding Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. This is not meant to discredit the report but rather an indication of potential bias. First Trust is an Exchange Traded Fund, not a work force analysis group.

Wesbury’s report discusses why the proposed downsizing will not create skyrocketing unemployment. Except that’s not really the issue. Are these government agencies unnecessary or bloated? These were created by Congress for a reason. Both Musk and Ramaswamy advocate for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a Libertarian Think Tank, which focuses on limited government and regulatory limitations. Remember, Mr. Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion. He executed mass firings, changed the name to X, alienated users and advertisers and lost nearly 80% of the company’s value. That’s not a great model for any business, even one such as government which does not have turning a monetary profit as the bottom line. What qualifies these two for this task?

PHIL WARD

Coeur d’Alene