DOGE: Transparency vs Secrecy; Thieftaking vs Investigation

Is DOGE a thief, a thieftaker (modern usage: bounty hunter) or a diversion? With all the contradictory reports and poor information, it is hard to tell what they are. Both judicial review and thieftaking are rooted in English Common Law, but those that use judicial review are loath to employ thieftaking. To make matters even more complex and muddled, DOGE has not taken a single thief yet, but stories abound about Musk companies getting sweetheart deals. What is the truth? Few know for sure since most of DOGE’s work is done behind shuttered windows with maybe a few slats left open to tantalize the populace. We need open windows and actionable information.

DOGE: Change Agent or Wrecking Ball?

I don’t think we want DOGE to be just a wrecking ball. If DOGE is not a change agent than the Trump administration needs to identify the change agent(s) and develop change management plans. Someone needs to be the architects that re-build government with the Constitution as a blueprint. If we do not rebuild, the tear down will leave us to the barbarians at the gates. Is DOGE a change agent, an audit agent, or just a wrecking ball?

DOGE: How we Arrived at this Point

A series of critical inflection points led us to the point where we currently are with a strong central government with several corrupt and potentially criminal acts. If it was not the federal government, elements of the central government could be subject to RICO. The key inflection points center around the Progressive Era in the early 20th century and include the Wilsonian bureaucratic reforms, the 16th Amendment and the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. Real reform must address these areas. Otherwise DOGE may save some money this year, but will not fundamentally change how the government is structured or operates.

Responsibility and Accountability Part 4: The Judiciary and Accountability

A close-up of gears Description automatically generated

This is Part 4 of a series on accountability and responsibility. As the graphic shows, the two should work together, but can but can get jammed. But often the two are divorced, or at least separated, in this case, by Judicial Review and life-time appointments.