Quote Originally Posted by Rogar View Post
If we can exclude reductions in Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare as very possible, but unknown, I'd probably go more global. Freedom to have clean air due to climate research at places like NOAA, the protections of health offered by HHS that apparently has can backs on numerous research programs and searches for cures for things like cancer, cutbacks in services and protections in National Parks and Forest Service, which I use routinely. Other environmental and health protections offered by the EPA. The liberty of knowing we are a world leader by withdrawal of military protections for sovereign nations subject to invasions by brutal dictatorships. Etc. I think most of this is still shaking out with unknown but risky outcomes.

To be honest, I've always considered paying taxes a reasonable but not perfect deal for the services I get back and have lived a comfortable frugal life as they are. I'd probably be willing to pay a little more if it meant a better healthcare system, cleaner air and water, up to date infrastructure. and advances in health sciences. Seems like Warren Buffett thinks the same. As does Albert King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg5XAZWpLG0


How to you feel about the VA cutting 80,000 workers. That's the number I've seen, but whatever it is it's a lot. Do you think veterans who have served the county will miss anything. Maybe treatments for PTSD, access to VA hospitals, or help for homeless vets? I'm not sure what the cutbacks will be specifically, but probably involve many things. Or maybe 80,000 is just waste and nothing will change. Just curious.
I'm guessing that climate, overall health and cancer research will continue without any discernible degradation if staffing is cut back to 2019 levels and funding remains at 2024 levels.

As for my thoughts on the VA, I think that if personnel cutbacks occur at the level you've referenced, there will still be approximately 400,000 employees servicing the needs of our veterans. Using an off the top of my head calculation, that would be approximately 1 VA employee for every 40 living US military veterans.

As a veteran myself, I've never utilized any VA services other than receiving approvals for GI Bill education benefits and a VA home loan, both back in the 70's when the the VA enjoyed staffing levels less then 50% of today's headcount. It occurs to me that there is almost certainly a fair amount of bloat in every government agency, especially considering in this case that the vast majority of veterans in any given year have no contact with or services provided by the VA, which would bring that 1 in 40 number down to something along the lines of 1 VA employee for every 20 or fewer veterans receiving services during each year.

Overall, I'm thinking we veterans will be just fine.