Trump and DOGE Propel V.A. Mental Health System Into Turmoil (Gift Article) A chaotic restructuring order threatens to degrade services for veterans of wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/u...

Elon Musk’s IQ Is Irrelevant The leader of DOGE doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.

I think this is dead on! thedispatch.com/article/elon...

…Having thus become a mindless tool, the [foolish] person will also be capable of any evil and at the same time incapable of seeing that it is evil. This is where the danger of diabolical misuse lurks, for it is this that can once and for all destroy human beings.”

…In conversation with him, one virtually feels that one is dealing not at all with him as a person, but with slogans, catchwords, and the like that have taken possession of him. He is under a spell, blinded, misused, and abused in his very being…

…and, more or less consciously, give up establishing an autonomous position toward the emerging circumstances. The fact that the [foolish] person is often stubborn must not blind us to the fact that he is not independent…

THIS BONHOEFFER QUOTE!!:

“The process at work here is not that particular human capacities, for instance, the intellect, suddenly atrophy or fail. Instead, it seems that under the overwhelming impact of rising power, humans are deprived of their inner independence…

All the projects and good work just incomplete. Left in the hands of a bunch of people who are hanging on by a thread right now, losing people every day without notice. Trying to hang on and serve because that’s why they do what they do. The morale is just barely there.

Welp, the gov contract I was working on was cut yesterday. No notice, just done by 5pm. FYI that contract had to do with modernization and efficiency 🙄

I am so sad for our team of incredible people, and for everybody that we worked with, and the VA that is now left with a bunch of unfinished stuff.

When you live outside the DC area like I do, it’s palpable everywhere right now. I wish people could truly understand. And I appreciate people listening!

And the fact that 30% of our government is veterans that have to respond to this nonsense after serving our country, is even more disgusting. My husband is one of them. A Purple Heart combat wounded veteran. That has to tell this idiot what he did last week.

What happens if you don’t see the email, because they sent it on a weekend for a reason. When people aren’t paying attention. What if you’re out of office? What if you’re sick? This is meant to be cruel. It’s absolutely unacceptable.

And while not in the email, on X Musk basically said that a non-response is a resignation. HR departments don’t even know how to advise employees on how to respond. Some saying don’t. Truly disgusted 😡

I would like to confirm the email asking Fed workers to email back what they did last week went out to my husband and others today. I believe they have to respond by Monday.

I’m literally known among most people as one of the most careful and honest people when I speak into a political moment. I don’t post every thought, I research from all sides, etc. It just happens that speaking into recent moments means seeming as if I’m attacking a certain National leader.

If you are a church leader/volunteer, how do you handle political social media posts? I have posted a little more lately than usual, I’m always quite fair, i don’t approach from a partisan place, etc. But do you think those in some form of church leadership should say anything? Where’s the line?

From afar, we admire talent. Up close, what counts most is character.

You can impress people with your skills, but you earn their trust by standing for something greater than yourself.

There is no higher achievement than treating others kindly and living with integrity.

Musk Promised Government Transparency, DOGE Delivers Maximum Secrecy Before the election, Elon Musk declared: “I think that the strong bias with respect to government information should be to make it available to the public. Let’s be as transparent as possible…

Musk promised government transparency, DOGE delivers maximum secrecy

In this piece, @techdirt.com.web.brid.gy's @mmasnick.bsky.social highlights an article by @freedom.press' @laurenleharper.bsky.social:

Or, if you prefer, since there’s some historical questions about whether he was ever “formally” offered a crown: For far too long, we have lacked leaders with the character of George Washington - the kind who, when whispers of a crown arose, had the wisdom and humility to turn away and refuse it.

We have long lacked leaders with the character of George Washington—men and women who, when offered a crown, would have the wisdom to refuse it.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means” - Inigo Montoya

CONGRESS DO YOUR JOB!

Thank you, yep I’ve been on that. Waiting for word from the DOJ to announce this. I honestly don’t even trust them to follow the order.

VA leaders working with DOGE but say veterans’ personal info is secure An employee from the controversial new department will review VA contracts and IT system operations, VA officials confirmed.

I work on a contract with the VA. I am likely also at risk. So we both may be unemployed soon 🤬

The VA “has one employee from the controversial government efficiency office “who is specifically focused on identifying wasteful contracts, improving VA operations ...” www.armytimes.com/veterans/202...

I cannot harp on this enough, and a lot of these people are at the top reigns of government. But never fear, they are “geniuses” 🙄.

Thank you for sharing Ben. I just need people to understand that some people that are considering this deal aren’t idiots or sellouts. They’re doing what they have to do for their family after being backed into a corner. We truly do appreciate all prayers, not just for us, but for all affected 🙏🏻

So no, it absolutely doesn’t matter that my husband is smart, qualified, beyond capable. And if we are backed into having to roll the dice and take this “deal”, I’ll have to listen to everyone talk about how idiotic those folks are, when they don’t know the story.

How naïve can you be! You think they care one bit about that? You think they’re going through surgically trying to determine who is the best people to let go? No, there are basically using a level of psychological warfare to scare everyone into making decisions they don’t want to make.

Most of our family voted for this. One pointed out OPM memo said they wanted the best America had to offer, people who exceed expectations, who are reliable, loyal, and trustworthy, who strive for excellence in their daily work. Do you think you could survive the RIF bc you display these qualities?