[UncleMeat]

But he isn't. This isn't framed as a "we need to bring down costs and stop paying for things and that's just going to be hard" initiative. This is framed as a mechanism of eliminating DEI programs.

In the US spending is controlled by Congress. The Congress was voted on by the people. The idea that Trump throwing bombs into the federal budget is democracy but following Congress' passed budget isn't is ridiculous.

[pclmulqdq]

The idea you have is nice, but congress doesn't pass real budgets any more. That means that there is a lot more ability to make the money slosh around.

[UncleMeat]

Like it or not, the budgets passed by congress are budgets from the perspective of the constitution.

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

We are wildly far beyond strict constitutionalism. This has been a trap for conservative causes for a very long time. We are now playing the game the same way the left does: win and govern.

[UncleMeat]

You'll have to excuse me for being mortally terrified of "we are unencumbered by the law and will do whatever we want with power."

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

Laws have never encumbered humans. We're governed by social norms and those have been destroyed: massive immigration, sexual mutilation of children, and wanton spending of US taxpayer dollars.

[UncleMeat]

This ends with you shooting me in the head.

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

>This is framed as a mechanism of eliminating DEI programs.

Did we watch the same campaign? Trump absolutely campaigned on ending DEI too. The electorate hates DEI programs. Cutting spending and DEI programs is what got him the popular vote.

[ribadeo]

Fox brainwashed viewers hate DEI. 1% (vote margin of win, roughly) electing a person to an office does NOT equal a popular mandate for any particular policy and its silly to claim that the voters hate what you apparently hate.

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

Keeping thinking this way and keep losing elections.

[ModernMech]

Right, but that's not what this order does. People were locked out of Medicaid payment portals today because of this, how is that shutting down DEI? It seems that they really had no idea what they were shutting down with this, order.

[ty6853]

Maslow's hierarchy would tend to suggest that when you shut down the trough to progressive leaning aid recipients they and their reps will tend to negotiate away other mere desires. Not saying you should do that, but Trump is transactional and not above using blunt tactics.

[ModernMech]

Yeah but red states and his own voters are the biggest beneficiaries of Medicaid so...

[rUsHeYaFuBu]

Their sacrifice is one he's willing to make.