logo
Tough question: How do we bypass the slogans and make government more effective?

Tough question: How do we bypass the slogans and make government more effective?

Yahoo20-02-2025

"We trained hard — but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we were reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and what a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while actually producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization."
― Attributed to Gen. Frank Merrill, who headed "Merrill's Mauraders" during World War II
Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to target federal agencies for elimination, reduce the number of federal employees and reshape the federal government. And he promised a fast start.
'We're going to give them the best first day, the biggest first week and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history,' Trump said on the day before he was sworn in for a second term.
Still, few expected him to name billionaire businessman Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and launch the initiative with an assault some compared to the "shock and awe" invasion of Iraq by American forces in 1991.
Here in Oklahoma, Gov. Kevin Stitt also played the reform and reorganization card. He announced at the opening of this year's legislative session a plan to create a state version of DOGE "to keep the focus on flat budgets and limited government."
More: Get ready for a rough ride. 'Draining the swamp' will be no easy task | Opinion
Stitt's Elon Musk is Norman attorney Mark Nuttle. The governor's office declined a request to interview Nuttle, but he is someone with long and varied history in Oklahoma politics, if not a background that suggests a particular expertise in organizational efficiency.
Nuttle managed Stitt's transition team after his election as governor in 2018. Much earlier, he headed the 2001 "Yes" campaign to make Oklahoma a "Right to Work" state, one in which union membership is optional and workers are protected by the union's collective bargaining agreement even if they don't pay dues. The success of that campaign marked a significant milestone in Oklahoma's transition from Democratic to Republican.
A few years later, Nuttle was managing partner of an investment firm that announced plans to build an assembly plant in Ardmore for MG automobiles in partnership with Nanjing Automobile Group, a Chinese firm. The effort fizzled out.
Nuttle's own website notes that he "specializes in international trade, international foreign policy, and international political affairs."
Unlike Trump, who encouraged Musk to start cutting government payrolls "on Day 1," Stitt said Nuttle had been given until March 31 "to submit a report outlining agency budget findings, recommendations for fiscal reforms and strategies for efficiencies."
And unlike Trump, who did not particularly stress government efficiency in his first term, Stitt called in 2020 for consolidation of state agencies and had the Office of Management and Enterprise Services hire a consulting firm for $1.1 million to make recommendations on how state government could be reorganized to increase efficiency. The Washington, D.C., consulting firm, Guidehouse, later submitted a reorganization "blueprint" that focused primarily on the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. It's unclear how many of the recommendations were implemented.
Former state Sen. Kay Floyd, of Oklahoma City, the Democratic Senate leader at the time, said "I've been here seven years, and I think governors come in and they want to streamline government, which I think is a noble cause," but she said the state needs to be careful about making changes, especially in agencies dealing with complicated health care issues.
And former Republican Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, of Oklahoma City, said, "state leaders go back and forth nearly every decade on whether to consolidate agencies or undo agency consolidation. The pendulum swings back and forth, and it's hard to get the balance just right."
What is the "right" balance?
At the federal level, Trump and Musk have suggested elimination of entire agencies, including the Department of Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and job cuts have been fast and furious.
More: DOGE-OK? Seems like Oklahoma has become ground zero to roll out Project 2025 | Opinion
Cuts in the Federal Aviation Agency even reached Oklahoma, where an uncertain number of FAA employees got emails last week saying they'd lost their jobs.
The FAA is responsible for ensuring the safety of air travel, and given the number of recent airplane crashes and a chronic shortage of air traffic controllers, some have questioned whether job cuts are the right way to increase the agency's effectiveness.
Effectiveness is the key word. Taxpayers want to see value in the government they pay for, just as they do in the automobiles and other consumer goods they purchase.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters pushed a number of employees out the door at the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Did that help the agency become more effective in helping school districts improve math and reading scores?
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is struggling. What needs to be done first to fix its many interrelated problems? Will cuts to the department help?
Nuttle's challenge is huge in making his reorganization plan more than just "an illusion of progress."
Gov. Stitt has said that his goal is to leave state government "smaller" and "leaner" that it was when he was first elected. Let's hope his effort involves more than head count. Let's hope his success is in making state agencies more successful ― more effective in delivering worthwhile services to the people at a reasonable cost.
William C. Wertz is deputy Viewpoints editor. You can reach him with comments and story ideas at wwertz@oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Reorganization — often it's just sound and fury | Opinion

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Atlanta dad's car now worth $30K — but he still owes $57K. Why Ramsey Show hosts say he's got to take a ‘bath'
Atlanta dad's car now worth $30K — but he still owes $57K. Why Ramsey Show hosts say he's got to take a ‘bath'

Yahoo

time7 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Atlanta dad's car now worth $30K — but he still owes $57K. Why Ramsey Show hosts say he's got to take a ‘bath'

Terrence from Atlanta has a budget problem, and he knows it. The Georgia father recently called in to The Ramsey Show seeking advice on how to get rid of his car, a 2021 Kia Stinger GT2 that costs him $1,200 a month. He also pays $2,000 in child support every month — a financial burden that leaves him with little breathing room despite earning a six-figure salary. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) 'I make $10,000 a month,' Terrence told co-hosts Ken Coleman and Dr. John Delony. 'I bring home $5,200 after taxes and child support.' Terrence bought the Stinger for about $60,000 — rolling in negative equity from a previous vehicle. Two years later and he still owes $57,000, but the car is now only worth about $30,000. 'Oh boy, that's a bath!' Coleman exclaimed. 'That is a bat right there.' Terrence's situation isn't rare. Unfortunately, many Americans find themselves 'car poor' — trapped by high monthly payments, inflated prices and interest rates that stretch already-thin budgets. According to CarEdge, the average price of a new car in the U.S. hovers around $48,699. Meanwhile, Experian reports the average monthly car payment for new vehicles sits at $742 as of Q4 2024. Interest rates on auto loans are also elevated, with new car buyers paying an average of 7.1% in Q1 2025, according to USA Today. All of this has led to Americans accumulating $1.64 trillion in auto loan debt as of Q1 2025, according to Trade Economics. Those numbers don't even factor in insurance, gas or maintenance costs. And with 20% of new car buyers now paying over $1,000 a month, Terrence is among a growing cohort of American drivers underwater on their loans. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it Terrence's question for the co-hosts was simple: what's the fastest, least painful way out of this situation? In order to give the co-hosts a complete picture of his finances, Terrence said he typically has between $1,300 and $1,400 remaining every month after paying his child support and other expenses. The co-hosts offered Terrence two potential escape routes. One option is to aggressively pay off the car over a long period of time by throwing $3,000 a month at the debt. However, that route might include some extreme budgeting and maybe even a few overtime shifts for Terrence. "If you take that $1,200 a month [car] payment, you take that $1,300 extra and you go through your budget with a magnifying glass. You stop going out for a season, and let's say you can scrounge up $3,000 [per month] that includes this $1,200. You can pay this thing off,' Deloney said. The other route calls for Terrence to sell the car now for around $30,000 and buy a reliable used vehicle — like a high-mileage Toyota or a Buick, which Terrence once owned and loved — for about $7,500, and then pay off a big chunk of the auto loan balance with the roughly $22,000 remaining from the sale of the car. This would leave Terrence with roughly $35,000 left on the auto loan, which means he wouldn't be out of the woods just yet. Either way, Terrence is going to have to pull himself up by his boot straps and create a frugal budget in order to get out of this financial hole. Ultimately, the co-hosts applauded Terrence's honesty and determination to change course. 'I've got a daughter who's about to go to college, so I want to have the money," Terrence said. Coleman and Delony's final piece of advice? Ditch the debt, drive a modest car and stay focused on long-term goals. Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Is Trump's troop deployment in LA a prelude to martial law?
Is Trump's troop deployment in LA a prelude to martial law?

Boston Globe

time8 minutes ago

  • Boston Globe

Is Trump's troop deployment in LA a prelude to martial law?

Neither did Hegseth announced that National Guard members and the Marines will stay in Los Angeles for Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up At a Advertisement This is a Trump made-for-TV spectacle of authoritarianism disguised as law and order. It's likely a prelude to martial law. Rob Bonta, California's attorney general, is Advertisement Protests were sparked last week after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials conducted several workplace raids in Los Angeles, including a But what began as boisterous but peaceful protests against Trump's anti-immigrant scheme which now demands 'If I didn't ''SEND IN THE TROOPS,'" Trump said Tuesday on social media, Los Angeles 'would be burning to the ground right now,' before he disparaged Bass and Newsom. Yes, there has been looting, and some cars have been burned and vandalized. But Trump is lying about the extent of lawlessness. Trump is following his bad policies with even worse provocations that could portend a modern-day Kent State tragedy with soldiers firing live bullets at protesters. But for Trump, the more chaos, the better. As a White House official said, 'We're happy to have this fight.' To some extent this fight to suppress dissent has been boiling in Trump for five years. During nationwide demonstrations after the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, Trump, then in his first term, asked members of his Cabinet whether protesters could be shot. 'He thought that the protests made the country look weak, made us look weak, and 'us' meant him,' Mark Esper, Trump's former defense secretary, Advertisement Esper recalled Trump saying to now-retired General Mark Milley, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ''Can't you just shoot them, just shoot them in the legs or something?' … It was a suggestion and a formal question. And we were just all taken aback at that moment as this issue just hung very heavily in the air.' Ultimately, Trump was talked out of it. That won't happen this time, with an administration packed with people whose only loyalty is to him, not to the Constitution or rule of law. After Tom Homan, Trump's bloviating border czar, If not for the ICE arrest of But not now. Everything in Trump's second administration is designed to codify his authoritarianism. If Trump can convince enough people, especially among his white base, that he alone represents the thin orange line between civilization — as Advertisement Right now, the administration claims the military is in Los Angeles to protect federal buildings and assets — theoretically. Trump has not invoked the Insurrection Act, but neither has he ruled out unleashing US troops on protesters. With his draconian policies, Trump has lit the fuse for what could be a long and difficult summer of protests. With an occupying military force in this nation's second largest city, he has declared war against America itself. Renée Graham is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at

US imposes sanctions on a Palestinian NGO and other charities, accusing them ties to militant groups
US imposes sanctions on a Palestinian NGO and other charities, accusing them ties to militant groups

Boston Globe

time8 minutes ago

  • Boston Globe

US imposes sanctions on a Palestinian NGO and other charities, accusing them ties to militant groups

The federal government claims that Addameer 'has long supported and is affiliated' with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a secular, left-wing movement with a political party and an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis. Israel and the United States have labeled the PFLP a terrorist organization. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Addameer did not immediately have a comment on the sanctions. Advertisement Israel has alleged that Addameer funds terrorism, a claim that the United Nations previously said it could not support with compelling evidence. In a 2022 The organization also works with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and is a member of the World Organization Against Torture. Israel's 2022 storming of Addameer's offices, prompted a rebuke from the UN, who said in a statement that Israel had not provided convincing evidence to support the claim. The UN said Addameer was conducting 'critical human rights, humanitarian and development work in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' Advertisement In February, Zachor Legal Institute, an Israeli-American advocacy group that says it focuses on combatting antisemitism and terrorism, requested Addameer be added to Treasury's sanctions list. Marc Greendorfer, president of Zachor Legal Institute said in an email to the Associated Press that his group is 'very pleased to see Treasury following up on our request.' He said the federal government should act 'to prevent hostile foreign actors from spreading hate and violence in the United States. We applaud Treasury's action and encourage Treasury to expand its focus to the other groups that we identified.' Other entities hit with sanctions Tuesday include: The Gaza-based charity Al Weam Charitable Society and its leader The Turkish charity Filistin Vakfi and its leader El Baraka Association for Charitable and Humanitarian Work and its leader The Netherlands-based Israa Charitable Foundation Netherlands and two employees The Italy-based Associazione Benefica La Cupola d'Oro A Because the majority of crowdfunding activity is legitimate, 'this status can make it more difficult for law enforcement attempting to investigate potential (terrorist financing) cases with a crowdfunding and online fundraising nexus,' the report said. Frankel reported from Jerusalem.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store