US Politics

[Teddy Eagle]

Public money is massively wasted because no one is accountable and they don’t care as it’s not their money. Compare with a private company and the difference is obvious-it’s no surprise to me Musk as a business owner is shocked. The mindset of a life long civil servant is completely opposite to that of a self employed business owner.

There is also the situation in some businesses where any money left in budgets at the end of the year has to be spent or the next years' budget might get cut. AKA kick it around til you lose it.

 

[becky]

There is also the situation in some businesses where any money left in budgets at the end of the year has to be spent or the next years' budget might get cut. AKA kick it around til you lose it.

Why do you think so many road works appear in January/February? If the job's been started (even if it's left as a hole in the road for 4-5 months before completion) the finance is secured from the current year's budget ...

 

[Forest Hillbilly]

There is also the situation in some businesses where any money left in budgets at the end of the year has to be spent or the next years' budget might get cut. AKA kick it around til you lose it.

the ridiculous spends at the end of the financial year, that I've seen in a small Local Authority office.
Massive toolboxes (really good screwdrivers and spanners etc) and hydraulic trolley jacks and axle stands for all members of staff
A very large box of top of the range Stanley Knives, labelled "help yourself" and left on a desk. Less than two hours later all the knives were gone.
Fishing waders
Hydraulic trolleys, that then went missing
Garden furniture stored in a rented shipping container in the Council car park, months later the container was mysteriously empty.
That's one small office of around 15 people. Magnify that to include bigger offices across the county, and you're starting to realise what goes on.
Nepotism. - RIFE

 

[Teddy Eagle]

the ridiculous spends at the end of the financial year, that I've seen in a small Local Authority office.
Massive toolboxes (really good screwdrivers and spanners etc) and hydraulic trolley jacks and axle stands for all members of staff
A very large box of top of the range Stanley Knives, labelled "help yourself" and left on a desk. Less than two hours later all the knives were gone.
Fishing waders
Hydraulic trolleys, that then went missing
Garden furniture store in a rented shipping container, months later the container was empty.
That's one small office of around 15 people. Magnify that to include bigger offices across the county, and you're starting to realise what goes on.
Nepotism. - RIFE

Very common. The firm I worked for introduced SAP (ordering system) and the visible audit trails ultimately led to some unfortunate discoveries like secret lockups full of over-ordered carpet, paint, floor tiles, etc. A few folk disappeared after that.

 

[eaglesdare]

If only the UK had a prime minister that loved his country the way Trump loves his. The contrast in Trump's first 3 weeks in office compared with two tier kiers 6/7 months is almost night and day.

You have a president who carried out most of his election promises and galvanized the US and most of the world and a prime minister who has broken nearly of his promises and has locked up and alienated half the nation and has become a laughing stock to the rest of the world.

 

[ASCPFC]

If only the UK had a prime minister that loved his country the way Trump loves his. The contrast in Trump's first 3 weeks in office compared with two tier kiers 6/7 months is almost night and day.

You have a president who carried out most of his election promises and galvanized the US and most of the world and a prime minister who has broken nearly of his promises and has locked up and alienated half the nation and has become a laughing stock to the rest of the world.

I doubt Starmer made any actual promises: more just soundbytes which inferred possibly doing something.
The main thing Starmer has done is alienate everyone - in record time.

 

[cryrst]

the ridiculous spends at the end of the financial year, that I've seen in a small Local Authority office.
Massive toolboxes (really good screwdrivers and spanners etc) and hydraulic trolley jacks and axle stands for all members of staff
A very large box of top of the range Stanley Knives, labelled "help yourself" and left on a desk. Less than two hours later all the knives were gone.
Fishing waders
Hydraulic trolleys, that then went missing
Garden furniture stored in a rented shipping container in the Council car park, months later the container was mysteriously empty.
That's one small office of around 15 people. Magnify that to include bigger offices across the county, and you're starting to realise what goes on.
Nepotism. - RIFE

This is a problem with the budget system not the budget. I do not understand why you get less next year if you don’t spend the previous years. Surely a slush fund is better for emergencies etc; or are the budgets just too big from the start ?

 

[Teddy Eagle]

This is a problem with the budget system not the budget. I do not understand why you get less next year if you don’t spend the previous years. Surely a slush fund is better for emergencies etc; or are the budgets just too big from the start ?

It's a difficult one. Purely from my own experience - managers generally want as much of the available money as possible for their own department and have to provide evidence for accountants that it will be needed or their projections get knocked back. I suspect that those responsible often take the easy way out and just use last year's figures, provided they were adequate, and add in any known new costs with a percentage increase added.
One solution which has been tried is to reward certain individuals for any savings they make on their budget but that can lead to problems because staff assume, not always without reason, that money is being saved to the manager's personal benefit.

 

[Forest Hillbilly]

It might be different in the USA, but in the UK I never witnessed a Council department use all their budget on legitimate work, before the end of the financial year. For big purchases , the departments could apply for additional funds from the Council, which I don't ever remember seeing a refusal for.
And people taking council vehicles at evenings and weekends for their own personal use, and also to run their own sideline businesses (gardening, DJ'ing) That's Government fuel and mileage that was 'lost'. (some departments tried to justify not having vehicle trackers fitted to their cars and vans)
The waste and theft is criminal , and on a massive scale. And no-one will whistle-blow, because everyone is covering everyone else's back.
I'll bet the USA is similar in many ways. It'll be interesting to see how much progress Musk makes, because he is very much aware of what's going on, but everyone is hiding it in plain sight. Then there's the Unions,...

 

[kevlee]

Quote of the week out of the US has got be Trump on marriage guidance …and not deporting Prince Harry to the UK.

‘I’m gonna leave him alone. He has enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible’

Truly hilarious.
BTW Donald we don’t want the pair of twats here either.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

the ridiculous spends at the end of the financial year, that I've seen in a small Local Authority office.
Massive toolboxes (really good screwdrivers and spanners etc) and hydraulic trolley jacks and axle stands for all members of staff
A very large box of top of the range Stanley Knives, labelled "help yourself" and left on a desk. Less than two hours later all the knives were gone.
Fishing waders
Hydraulic trolleys, that then went missing
Garden furniture stored in a rented shipping container in the Council car park, months later the container was mysteriously empty.
That's one small office of around 15 people. Magnify that to include bigger offices across the county, and you're starting to realise what goes on.
Nepotism. - RIFE

That’s why we have auditors. And auditors to check the auditors.

If the system is failing and you have actual evidence of those assertions, rather than apocryphal evidence or rumours, then take it to the authorities or your MP.

 

[Stirlingsays]

According to polling by CBS News and YouGov in the UK, President Donald Trump's approval rating is at 53%.

Probably to do with the audit drive on spending that Musk's team are undertaking that looks very bad for the Democrats and deep state.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

It's a difficult one. Purely from my own experience - managers generally want as much of the available money as possible for their own department and have to provide evidence for accountants that it will be needed or their projections get knocked back. I suspect that those responsible often take the easy way out and just use last year's figures, provided they were adequate, and add in any known new costs with a percentage increase added.
One solution which has been tried is to reward certain individuals for any savings they make on their budget but that can lead to problems because staff assume, not always without reason, that money is being saved to the manager's personal benefit.

This is the weakness of an over reliance on budgets. They can never be accurate so should only ever be a guide and be constantly updated during the year. If major expenditure is planned that seriously distorts a normal pattern that must be taken outside of the routine.

The business I managed wrote it’s budget then filed it, only looking at again when preparing next years. Spending wasn’t restricted by it in any way so there was no fear of being pared back next year if you didn’t spend it. I always had to obtain Main Board approval for anything over a set figure, from memory £100,000 (25 years ago) and all employees earned a bonus based on the EBIT.

I don’t know how this could be done in the public sector.

 

[Wisbech Eagle]

According to polling by CBS News and YouGov in the UK, President Donald Trump's approval rating is at 53%.

Probably to do with the audit drive on spending that Musk's team are undertaking that looks very bad for the Democrats and deep state.

Concerns are already being expressed though. Especially that he isn’t focusing on reducing the cost of living. Something he promised to do and something which is going to rise once some of these acts start to bite.

When a populist panders to popular sentiment then he will be popular. That’s how it works. Until it doesn’t. How long will that be? Time alone will tell.

 

[Spiderman]

Concerns are already being expressed though. Especially that he isn’t focusing on reducing the cost of living. Something he promised to do and something which is going to rise once some of these acts start to bite.

When a populist panders to popular sentiment then he will be popular. That’s how it works. Until it doesn’t. How long will that be? Time alone will tell.

I’m in the US at the moment. Trump seems very popular and seen lots of nasty words painted on buildings about Joe. Just saying

 

[Teddy Eagle]

I’m in the US at the moment. Trump seems very popular and seen lots of nasty words painted on buildings about Joe. Just saying

Did you take the paint with you or buy it there?

 

[HKOwen]

According to polling by CBS News and YouGov in the UK, President Donald Trump's approval rating is at 53%.

Probably to do with the audit drive on spending that Musk's team are undertaking that looks very bad for the Democrats and deep state.

Wonder if they will uncover any USAid money going to Biden Crime Family entities

 

[Stirlingsays]

Concerns are already being expressed though. Especially that he isn’t focusing on reducing the cost of living. Something he promised to do and something which is going to rise once some of these acts start to bite.

When a populist panders to popular sentiment then he will be popular. That’s how it works. Until it doesn’t. How long will that be? Time alone will tell.

He's only fresh in to be fair but I think it's valid to express doubts over tariffs. I think it works out for him as the US holds the whip hand in so many of these deals that don't work that well for it.....but hey it's a valid observation to criticise it nevertheless.

I certainly think that tariffs will cause him short term problems but ultimately are the shock treatment he needs if he wants a serious re-alignments in several areas.....But maybe I'm wrong and it backfires who knows.....I guess we will find out.

He has the mandate and It's certainly true that he, like all presidents will be judged upon whether the majority of people think he has improved their lives or not by the end of his term.

 

[Stirlingsays]

Wonder if they will uncover any USAid money going to Biden Crime Family entities

I think it's almost certain that Biden and co were involved in corruption in Ukraine.....I have little doubt that will come out....Not that anything significant about it can be done due to pardons.

The senior Democrats know anyway and couldn't care less.....Pretty much all the politicians on all sides are on the take in some capacity or other.....only the scale differs.

 

[HKOwen]

I think it's almost certain that Biden and co were involved in corruption in Ukraine.....I have little doubt that will come out....Not that anything significant about it can be done due to pardons.

The senior Democrats know anyway and couldn't care less.....Pretty much all the politicians on all sides are on the take in some capacity or other.....only the scale differs.

Agree on the pardons but still good to shine a light on it