How is it even possible to squander so much money?
The answer to that question also explains in a nutshell what’s wrong with the Democrats’ (and too many Republicans’) approach to government:
It’s easy when you’re spending someone else’s money.
For all the wailing we’re hearing about how it’s impossible to cut $2 trillion from the budget, as Elon Musk said could easily be done, consider this: Just four years ago, the annual federal budget was $4.4 trillion.
Today, it’s just under $7 trillion. Have you noticed the government getting so much better that it’s worth that much more than when Trump was in office?
The pandemic was used as an excuse for a massive increase in deficit spending, and once the public was used to that, the pandemic ended, but the epidemic of spending lived on as the “new normal.”
We were told we needed to spend all this money to create the Democrats’ new green utopia and fight climate change. And what did that mean?
Billions handed out to shady green “non-profits” founded by their cronies.
More billions to subsidize building EVs that nobody wants to buy, and to blight the landscape with wind turbines and solar panels that are unreliable and don’t last as long, produce as much or pollute as little as we were told.
And of course, billions to fund wars that create more pollution in a day than your SUV would in 20 lifetimes.
But those are just the big spending items.
As Charles is sharing today, Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has already released some examples of the essential government spending we’ve been funding…
It’s easy to laugh at these stories — indeed, that might be the only thing of value we get for our money…
But it’s not so funny when you think of a middle-class family struggling to pay a $5,000 income tax bill, only to discover that their hard-earned sacrifice, plus that of 19 more such families, was just enough to cover studying the booze preferences of sunfish.
If we really want to cut more than $2 trillion in spending and not even have to think about it, here’s a suggestion: Take the budget from 2019 — which was before both the pandemic and the Biden-Harris spending spree, both of which will be blessedly gone by January — and just pass that again.
Another way we’ll get out of this mess is with Trump’s DOGE initiative. More from Charles Mizrahi on that below.
Safe to say, we’re counting down to January 20. But this week is about more than that.
Our Pilgrim ancestors took a dangerous ocean journey to an unknown and unsettled land seeking freedom and were willing to risk their lives to attain it.
So this is a great time to reflect on those days and take inspiration from them that things really can get better, if we all get together and do something about it, even if it means taking some risks.
And I assure you the Pilgrims faced much worse risks than being badmouthed on Twitter.
This is also the time to reflect on the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving. It’s not just about turkey and stuffing, football on TV and early Christmas shopping. It even means more than a big family get-together.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to God for our blessings, many of which we only enjoy because we are fortunate enough to be Americans.
Director, Prosperity Research
Cutting Red Tape: How DOGE Aims to Unleash America’s Economic Potential
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have a plan that could rival the best-run businesses.
These two business titans, handpicked by President-elect Trump, are bringing an entrepreneur’s mindset to streamline government operations.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) isn’t your typical bureaucratic initiative.
(Click here to view a larger image.)
The mission is clear: slash waste, shrink the federal workforce and roll back unnecessary regulations.
Here are just a few examples of government waste…
- In 2022, the State Department awarded $20,600 to a center in Ecuador for 12 drag theater performances and a short documentary.
- In 2021, the NIH granted $549,000 to a Russian lab for experiments on cats, including brain removal to test their ability to walk on treadmills.
- The Department of Agriculture spent $2 million on an intern program that led to just one full-time hire.
- In 2023, the federal government wasted billions due to errors and fraud. It sent $1.3 billion in checks to deceased individuals and $171 million to prisoners. Medicaid and Medicare paid $101 billion improperly, mainly from fraud, while tax cheats cost the IRS $546 million.
Here’s a long list of wasteful spending compiled by Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL). It’s enough to make your stomach turn.
While many Americans are having trouble putting food on their table, this is where our tax dollars are going. DOGE will eliminate this kind of wasteful spending.
These aren’t just lofty promises — they’re backed by Supreme Court rulings like West Virginia v. EPA and Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which allow for the removal of rules that overstep Congress’ authority.
Musk and Ramaswamy are determined to implement these rulings and cut the red tape that has strangled businesses for decades.
What does this mean for the economy?
Imagine thousands of outdated regulations gone. Businesses will no longer face unnecessary hurdles, giving them the freedom to grow and innovate.
This environment will help companies thrive, driving growth for investors like us.
But DOGE’s ambitions go beyond regulations.
The initiative aims to save taxpayer dollars and make the government more accountable by trimming down the federal workforce and relocating agencies out of Washington.
The goal isn’t just efficiency — it’s about restoring trust and reducing the burden on businesses and individuals.
As Musk said, “We’re not here to cut ribbons; we’re here to cut costs.”
Investors take note: A leaner, more efficient government can unleash economic potential, opening doors for new industries and opportunities.
This isn’t just a plan — it’s a blueprint for unlocking America’s full potential.
With DOGE set to deliver results by 2026, this initiative could create a ripple effect across markets.
Keep your eyes on businesses poised to benefit from this pro-growth, pro-business environment.
Opportunities like this don’t come around every day. And we’re going to be ready to take advantage of this.
Regards,
Charles Mizrahi
Founder, Alpha Investor
