£2tn cuts in US government spending?

Elon Musk is touted as a new Wastefinder General to go into the US government and cut back waste and excessive bureaucracy. He will doubtless find plenty of targets,  but will he be able to get control and force through change? Much of the excess takes the form of public bodies, regulators and overlapping Federal, state and local administration. They will be well protected by laws , lobbies and sometimes by Congress.

The U.K. has seen a similar rapid  expansion of external bodies and regulators. The first aim should be to stop the increase. It is a bad idea to set up a Football Regulator. Ministers and officials should not be judging the solvency and spending of football clubs. The Sport itself can establish rules for the major tournaments and leagues, with the clubs having a say and deciding which ones to join.

The second aim should be to raise the general productivity level. A recruitment freeze would allow say 6% a year reduction in headcount without redundancies, and give more scope for promotion to those with jobs as vacancies became available.

The third aim should be to reduce the amount of regulation being undertaken. The new government says there is too much planning, so bring on the simplifications. The delays for bat surveys and carbon checks could be pared back. Planning applications are far too long with too many associated consultant reports.

Whole  areas of government led activity like emissions trading should be ended. It’s needless extra  cost which boosts world CO 2 by forcing energy using industry out of the U.K., shifting to import dependence.

5 Comments

  1. David Andrews
    November 8, 2024

    Another area to save business costs is removal of ESG regulations. Judging by some company Annual Reports, colossal sums are being spent on consultants to advise and write reports about how woke the business is. This is an unnecessary business cost.

    Reply
  2. Mark B
    November 8, 2024

    Good morning.

    It is a bad idea to set up a Football Regulator. Ministers and officials should not be judging the solvency and spending of football clubs.

    As someone who ‘knows of’ some of the people pushing this ‘Football Regulator’ I can confirm many of them are Lefties. Putting someone who knows little about the game is a bad idea as there will be someone to overrule those in authority.

    One of the simplest ways to stop football clubs from being mismanaged to is to make them all ‘unlimited’ companies. That can be done through a Act of Parliament. It would make the owners of such clubs fully liable for all debts. The second would be to re-introduce HMRC prefered creditor status. ie Before any other creditor recieves monies from a club or company in insolvancy, HMRC must be paid first. The third is again, through an Act of Parliament, to change the rules on ownership and encourage greater supporter ownership. In Germany many clubs are owned by football fans with the 50+1 Rule. ie. 50% plus one share is fan owned and safeguards are put in place giving them extra protection which currently under UK Law they would not have.

    I have no issues with the Premier League and EFL Championship. They are currently charging way too higher prices for all things, especially tickets. This means football fans either go without or, support another local and cheaper football club.

    I could go on on this but this is not what this is about but it was mentioned. ie You do not need another QUANGO with all the associated costs and nonsense. You just need to use what you already have, but in a smarter way. It seems to me that, like all Socialists, if you want to solve a problem, you need to regulate and / or throw loads of money at it which, as we all know, does not work.

    The Premier League, whilst I hate is and do not watch it, is the perfect example of Capitalism. Which is why I think they want to destroy it. ENVY I suppose ?

    Reply
  3. Lynn Atkinson
    November 8, 2024

    The US deficit is $1.8 trillion. 42.29% of GDP. UK deficit is 3% of GDP to demonstrate how out of control the Biden Administration has been. Wonder why they lost?
    Musk MUST cut the deficit + because interest on the debt has now hit $1 trillion.
    HS2 has spent £100 million on a ‘bat shed’ to appease ‘Natural England’.
    We can’t afford ‘Natural England’

    Reply You greatly overstate the deficit as a percentage of GDP.

    Reply
    1. Lynn Atkinson
      November 8, 2024

      Source Maldon Economics.

      Reply
      1. Lynn Atkinson
        November 8, 2024

        My error – that is the % of world budget deficit by country, nevertheless the USA accounts for 42.29% of the world budget deficit. Unsustainable.

        Reply

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