[mpalmer]

It's illegal, it doesn't matter if you think it's a good idea.

The executive branch cannot "kill NEPA". It's a law. Congress has to repeal it. Vote for congressional candidates who support your position.

Laws exist for a reason. It's incredibly dispiriting that so many people seem not to understand or care about the division of power made absolutely clear in the Constitution.

[idopmstuff]

The post I was responding to was asking about how the HN community feels about DOGE, not for a legal analysis. So yes, it does matter whether I think it's a good idea - that is what the question I was responding to was asking.

I certainly understand the Constitutional division of powers - you shouldn't accuse people of not understanding things simply because they don't address them in a question that doesn't ask about them.

[mpalmer]

I said that people seem not to understand OR care about the separation of powers.

So sure, you might understand it, but you didn't include the legality of what DOGE is doing in your analysis of whether it's a good idea.

It doesn't seem to me like you care.

[medvezhenok]

Legal rules are just "good ideas" that we've inherited from previous generations :)

[beej71]

I'm beginning to question whether or not it being illegal matters.

[mpalmer]

It matters, regardless of how bad things get. That's how to think about it.