There are a few ways to think about Elon Musk’s announcement this week that he’s stepping back from DOGE. The first is that he’s leaving a job he officially doesn’t have. The second is that he’s returning to a job (Tesla CEO) that he’s supposedly been doing this whole time. The third, and perhaps most interesting, is that none of this actually makes any sense at all.
Tag: Taxpayers
The F-47 Sixth-Generation Warplane Is a Colossal Waste of Money
For a fraction of the cost of the F-47, swarms of drones can be built and integrated with existing airframes like the F-22 and F-35, all of which can enhance the Air Force’s ability to project power without breaking the bank.
The F-47 Sixth-Generation Warplane Is a Colossal Waste of Money
China’s enormous subsidies come from trading profits. US and European subsidies come from taxpayers.
CATL and SMIC are two giant Chinese companies that are often singled out by Western think tanks as two firms who benefit from China’s subsidies, at the expense of foreign competition.
But all industrialized countries employ government subsidies, which help favored domestic industries grow. China, however, uniquely can invest in preferred sectors by channeling its massive trading surpluses, and providing low-cost access to its world-leading supply chains and logistics systems.
In contrast, North American and European companies who seek government incentives and subsidies are competing with other spending priorities, as all the funds come from taxpayers. This reality requires of companies seeking government help to do so through proxies, lobbying efforts, and through think-tanks who create research that can be published and used by lawmakers to justify the use of taxpayer funds.
China’s enormous subsidies come from trading profits. US and European subsidies come from taxpayers
“60 Minutes” reveals how US tax dollars are supporting Ukrainian small businesses, farmers, and the salaries of 57,000 first responders
Related:
In Ukraine, American taxpayers funding more than just the military
Lindsey Graham is such a psychopath!
Neo-Con study: Why a New Black Sea Strategy is in the U.S. Interest + The Middle Corridor
With the coming US-NATO dangerous war games in the Black Sea it seemed like a good idea to post this study by the right-wing Heritage Foundation. This should give us all a clear idea of what Washington and Brussels are up to in the region.
Neo-Con study: Why a New Black Sea Strategy is in the U.S. Interest
Related:
Together We Win: Letter to workers for unity with IUAFS.
Dear comrade!
Someone wants to kill you, to rob you, and you will be next!
You are being addressed by Derzhava, a Ukrainian Political Party banned by the neo-Nazi government of Zelensky. Most of the media lies and hides from you the fact that your government openly supports Zelensky’s fascists, openly helps neo-Nazis and actually preaches fascism itself, directing efforts to exterminate as many people as possible.
Letter to workers for unity with IUAFS.
US General Says Weapons Stockpiles ‘Dangerously Low,’ Calls for Production Boost
As Washington ships billions of dollars in arms to Kiev, a General is warning that American weapons stockpiles are becoming dangerously low. The Defense Department official called for the weapons industry to increase production.
US General Says Weapons Stockpiles ‘Dangerously Low,’ Calls for Production Boost
IRS audits Black taxpayers more often than other groups, agency confirms
The Internal Revenue Service audits Black taxpayers at significantly higher rates than other Americans, Commissioner Daniel Werfel told lawmakers Monday, confirming earlier findings by researchers at leading universities and the Treasury Department.
IRS audits Black taxpayers more often than other groups, agency confirms
Related:
The IRS Targets Black Taxpayers, Researchers May Have Uncovered Why
Consistent underfunding of the IRS means it’s a lot easier for them to go after someone who is low-income and qualifies for the EITC than it is to go after someone with a million lawyers hiding money in the Cayman Islands.
Targeting the rich for their tax-related shenanigans takes some major coins, and the IRS severely lacks the funds it would need to do that. Unfortunately, that means they’re more likely to knock on the doors of people just trying to get by.
Good thing Republicans are trying to repeal IRS funds?! /sarcasm
Ukraine aid — and US stockpiles — are running out. What’s next?
Capitol Hill is already talking about the next big tranche of assistance, despite a lack of battlefield — and political — clarity.
Ukraine aid — and US stockpiles — are running out. What’s next?
Is this why Biden isn’t refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?!
[2017] Trump’s Budget Delivers Big Oil’s Wish: Reducing Strategic Petroleum Reserve
While most observers believe the budget will not pass through Congress in its current form, budgets depict an administration’s priorities and vision for the country. Some within the oil industry have lobbied for years to drain the SPR, created in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis.
…
Exxon, as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), have long lobbied for a drawdown of SPR‘s supply, according to lobbying disclosure records reviewed by DeSmog. They supported two key bills, proposed but never passed by Congress: H.R. 4136 in 2012 and S. 1231 in 2015.
H.R. 4136, lobbied for by Exxon, API, and IPAA**, says that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve can only be tapped if more federally owned public lands and waters were leased to the oil and gas industry. S. 1231, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Modernization Act of 2015, called for a Department of Energy study of the SPR “to determine options available for [its] continued operation,” to be completed 180 days after the bill’s passage.
…
“[T]he SPR is unnecessary in the first place. Private inventories and reserves are abundant, and open markets will respond more efficiently to supply shocks than federally controlled government stockpiles,” wrote Loris, who began his career as an associate for the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. “Congress should authorize the Department of Energy to sell the entire inventory, using the revenues solely for deficit reduction.”
Ms. Cat’s Chronicles 
You must be logged in to post a comment.