The US government has long passed the metaphor of it being a business. It’s bigger than any company in the world by several times. It’s management needs are enormous and it has been deeply damaged in the last few years.
The U.S. Federal Government administers over 2,600 federal programs, totaling over $7 trillion in FY 2024 expenditures spread over 22 different categories.
Source: https://fpi.omb.gov/category
Even the number of people responsible for it are huge. The House of Representatives has 435 members writing the rules for 2.68 million civilian US employees. Add to that 2.81 million (1.33 million active) soldiers and the scale is mind boggling.
The representatives and judges are mostly old people with a thin understanding of technology and regular people’s lives. This makes progress even more difficult.
Change management is challenging even with a few hundred people. The scale of the US Government makes constructive change “nearly” impossible.
But yet still there is a chance. It’s possible.
Bernie sanders released a video laying out a vision for the new congress.
Elizabeth Warren famously “has a plan for that” and has laid out priorities and bills for the new congress. NY Times Article.
With 56 democratic senators, you could even try and find 4 republicans that would be willing to vote to overturn a veto if they had enough incentives for their state or thought it would help them get re-elected in 2028. If the democratic coalition can keep sane and productive for 2 years, we can have another blue wave and actually change things for the better.
We could have goals that would make a difference like:
- Tackling energy and climate change
- Medicare for all
- Minimum wage that keeps up with inflation
- Billionaires out of politics and paying reasonable taxes
- Presidential norms to protect democracy
- US Supreme court reforms (ethics and term limits)
- Housing investments to decrease costs
- Investment in K-12 art and music
We can have nice things in this world. We don’t need a lying con man to tell us it is the fault of some minority. We can just have a better world by cooperating.
I know many people are cynical and jaded by history. History has given us many bumps and bruises. I will forever be an optimist though. I believe the future can be better than the past. I believe we have it in us to rise to the occasion.
We shall see, but I am bringing a positive attitude and hope our elected representatives can as well.
Whatya think?