Cabinet Level Departments

a777pilot · Oct 8, 2012

This is the list:

State
Treasury
Defense
Justice
Interior
Agriculture
Commerce
HHS
HUD
Transportation
Energy
Education
Veterans Affairs
Homeland Security

Are there any of these that you would get rid of if you could?

Me?

I would get rid of Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security.

David · Oct 8, 2012

HS, the rest (aside from defence but we need a military) actually serve a civil purpose.

myp · Oct 9, 2012

Im with you two on Homeland Security. As for the rest, I would certainly reform the goals and powers of some of the others (i.e. education), but I don't know if I would be for elimination.

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

Energy has never produced one gallon of fuel and Education has not taught one class. They are a great waste of money and only add confusion to both energy production and education.

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

Veterans Affairs ought be in the Defense Department.

myp · Oct 9, 2012

a777pilot said:
Energy has never produced one gallon of fuel and Education has not taught one class. They are a great waste of money and only add confusion to both energy production and education.

They are still very important to the country and the policy implications in those areas can be especially far-reaching, which could justify officials who focus on it.

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

myp said:
They are still very important to the country and the policy implications in those areas can be especially far-reaching, which could justify officials who focus on it.

You might want to check on how much money has been spent by these two Departments over their existence for absolutely no, zero results.

Do we have more energy? Are we independent of over seas oil?

Are our schools better?

David · Oct 9, 2012

a777pilot said:
Energy has never produced one gallon of fuel and Education has not taught one class. They are a great waste of money and only add confusion to both energy production and education.

The DoE isn't a power company and the DoE isn't a school... Cabinet departments are meant to organize and regulate. The groups, organizations and companies they organize/regulate do all the actual services/production. Have you ever seen the DoD march into battle?

a777pilot said:
Veterans Affairs ought be in the Defense Department.

In that case, I agree.

myp · Oct 9, 2012

a777pilot said:
Do we have more energy? Are we independent of over seas oil?

Are our schools better?

They set policy. So for better or for worse they HAVE affected energy output and education. Especially with the Dept of Ed, I would say the track record so far is bad, but that does not mean it could not have been good if they did the right things.

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

Combined, those two Departments have spent hundreds of billions and to what end? Nothing. They are a total and complete waste of taxpayers money. They are worse than not existing. They are an impediment to progress.

Consider the good that could have been done with all that wasted money.

myp · Oct 9, 2012

a777pilot said:
Combined, those two Departments have spent hundreds of billions and to what end? Nothing. They are a total and complete waste of taxpayers money. They are worse than not existing. They are an impediment to progress.

The President is going to have some policy towards nuclear weapons, energy, and education. These two cabinet positions are somewhat an extension of that. Like I said, they might have done some bad in the past, but getting rid of the departments doesn't fix bad ideas in the White House. (or in Congress)

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

myp said:
The President is going to have some policy towards nuclear weapons, energy, and education. These two cabinet positions are somewhat an extension of that. Like I said, they might have done some bad in the past, but getting rid of the departments doesn't fix bad ideas in the White House. (or in Congress)

It it sure would save money and reduce the size and influence of government.

clax · Oct 9, 2012

a777pilot said:
It it sure would save money and reduce the size and influence of government.

I agree, but some people want a big infuential government

a777pilot · Oct 9, 2012

clax said:
I agree, but some people want a big infuential government

But the funny part of that is they only want their Party in charge. They quickly change their views of big government if the other Party gets in.

clax · Oct 14, 2012

a777pilot said:
But the funny part of that is they only want their Party in charge. They quickly change their views of big government if the other Party gets in.

I guess you can't have your cake and ear it too

Dirk · Oct 15, 2012

a777pilot said:
Veterans Affairs ought be in the Defense Department.

Even that wouldn't justify its current budget.

Dirk · Oct 15, 2012

clax said:
I agree, but some people want a big infuential government

I think that's too simplistic. For example, I'm on the Hard Left, and I'm in favour of a "Big Government" in some aspects and a "Small Government" in others. Although really I think those terms are rather silly.

clax · Oct 15, 2012

Dirk said:
I think that's too simplistic. For example, I'm on the Hard Left, and I'm in favour of a "Big Government" in some aspects and a "Small Government" in others. Although really I think those terms are rather silly.

Why? Why are those terms silly

David · Oct 15, 2012

clax said:
Why? Why are those terms silly

Because he's a libertarian and thinks gov't as a concept is silly?

Dirk · Oct 16, 2012

David said:
Because he's a libertarian and thinks gov't as a concept is silly?

I've got no problem with government, it's just Government I have an issue with.

Cabinet Level Departments

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