Pullin' Pork | Look to States for a Better Model of Government Efficiency
- dinowyo
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
By Gabriel Green
Summary: As stated on our home page, we want to celebrate when either team (Red or Blue) does something well! While we applaud the intentions of DOGE, we actually think there are some better models from the states that could inform how to accomplish its goals better.
Bonus, there’s some YouTube clips at the end of this one!
Anyone who knows me knows I advocate a LOT for localized government. Especially states.
It’s not that states and localities are always the most efficient, or even the “fastest, strongest, X-est” way of getting things done.
Rather, it’s that local government is inherently more responsive to the people.
And, when it’s done right, it can be the proving ground for the ideas and methods that need to make their way up to DC.
That whole, “Laboratories of Democracy” thing.
DOGE Is Necessary
Now, there are a lot of Democrats bemoaning the DOGE efforts. I guess that’s why I’m a DINO…
See, I actually applaud the Trump Administration for their attempt to FINALLY get a grasp on the outrageously bloated and wasteful federal government, and all of the component agencies that contribute to the corruption. At least someone’s trying!
Anyone who’s ever read a Pork Report — whether a national one like those compiled by Citizens Against Government Waste, a state one like those compiled by the Beacon Center of Tennessee, or even an anecdotal one like what David Iverson shared with me on his podcast ($3 million for a flower pot?!?) — knows that there’s a massive problem with government spending.
Now, granted, stories like the “Shrimp on a Treadmill” are often overblown. Obviously, the biggest waste is in the massive budgets of certain “third rail” spending like Defense (stop letting contractors pay for politicians) or Social Security (stop stealing our money, Congress).
Politically, it’s kind of just accepted that you “can’t” fix these things. Don’t worry, I’ll get to that in another piece. It's actually simple to fix those problems too.
But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a ton of still-expensive waste like the Shrimp Treadmills that could absolutely be done away with! And, without much complaint.
When they say, “it wasn’t $3 million, it was $1.3 million” about something that sounds stupid, I still can’t help but think, “there’s a lot of folks who could’ve used that money instead…”
President Trump’s Dilemma
The problem is, President Trump is stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.
On one side he has made it abundantly clear he doesn’t plan to work with Democrats, or Congress really, and prefers to rule through executive order. I disagree with this approach, but hey, it’s what he ran on, so I guess at least some of the people wanted it.
On the other, he’s experienced what it’s like when members of his own administration dare to question him, challenge him, or tell him he’s wrong. This time he wanted loyalists only.
While I also dispute that approach, I can see the argument (by squinting pretty hard).
He has made a BUNCH of massive promises, and only has one constitutionally-allowed term left to fulfill them, so he doesn’t want to waste time hearing about how you’re “supposed” to do things ~legally~ speaking. He wants to just get stuff done!
Perks of having a businessman in office, I suppose.
DOGE Is Misguided, not Misconcieved
But, because President Trump wanted loyalists who’d act immediately on his desires, he failed to bring in the right kind of people to solve the problem. Instead, he let a South African Billionaire publicly bribe his way into the position…and Vivek, I guess.
Without getting all the way into the weeds, it’s not that everything DOGE is doing is wrong.
The initial start of offering severance to bureaucrats that didn’t want to be there was a great way to get rid of a lot of lazies, crazies, and hazies (folks nearing retirement).
There were also some pretty smart major cuts up front, and some changes to make more funding into “block grants” that I think is exactly the type of reform we need.
Suffice to say, I like when government spends less, and I like when states have lots of flexibility to solve problems instead of strings attached to their federal grants.
As an example, check out Tennessee’s free diaper program. They applied for a Medicaid waiver under President Trump’s first term, then had it approved under President Biden. The terms of the waiver were that the state could NOT remove anyone’s benefits or reduce them. But, any administrative savings they found could be split 50/50 with the Feds, and they were freed from some typical red tape that DC would impose. They saved enough, in successive years, to provide diapers to all kids under 2-years-old based on a locally felt need.
It sounds crazy, but the thing is, our government seems to live in a world where going to the bathroom costs $50,000. So, when states are incentivized to find savings in the administrative waste, they can find a lot.
Alienating Your Best Troops…
That’s the low hanging fruit that much of the DOGE effort has gotten absolutely right.
But, then it came time to get out the scalpel, and instead they broke out the chainsaw.
Here’s a controversial fact that the Red Propagandists won’t tell you. Most bureaucrats don’t wake up thinking about hurting the country. They wake up wanting to help.
"There's nothing scarier than someone from the government saying they're here to help."
Yes, I'm aware of Reagan's great communication skills. But, since Reagan said that, a lot of REAGAN STYLE REPUBLICANS have become bureaucrats with a mind towards reform.
That's why most of the lower-level folks are just as sick of the inefficiency as we are.
It’s their bosses and the aforementioned lazies that get in their way.
Most bureaucrats want to get you your permit quickly, or even to get rid of the outdated permitting process in the first place. Most of them want to make information clearer and more accessible. Most of them just want to help.
It’s their lawyers who make them write everything in jargon (liability-shielding), and it’s their bosses who won’t let them "just help you.” Again, this is to dodge liability and protect their own ability to sit around doing nothing while taking in a fat pension.
It's not that the bureaucracy isn’t full of the worst kind of folks. It’s just that there are also some of the best kinds of folks there too, who absolutely wanted to help President Trump.
Instead, his sycophants have alienated all of them and made the best and most broadly appealing part of President Trump’s agenda even more divisive than it already was.
Look to the States | Virginia Model
A better model would have been looking at the states and how some of them have gone about pursuing reforms. Mostly by enlisting the right kind of reform-minded bureaucrats.
For instance, the Virginia Office of Regulatory Management (ORM) has been on a tear lately!
Let by a brilliant team of conservatives that have spent their lives studying how to fix this mess, they are already leading the nation on a number of innovative reforms. And they’re doing this in a state with a divided government, so they can’t just force their way like our President and Republican Congress.
Seriously, that’s impressive folks!
Just check out their list of achievements, with my favorite highlight being the $1.2 billion they save ANNUALLY because of their “regulatory modernization.”
The best part? They haven't even needed to fire anyone to find those savings!
As some other quick highlights, they have made their regulatory review proces 96% faster than the historical average, they have made government more transparent AND accessible, and they are one of the only states taking a proactive and realistic approach towards regulating AI development without stifling innovation.
I'm still uncomfortable with the robots, but if more states were like Virginia I'd be at least a little less nervous.
VA Sharing Resources with Everyone
Virginia's ORM has even put together a whole list of resources for other states to learn from!
Virginia has piloted several first-of-their-kind reforms and learned a lot of lessons about how to do this well, and how not to do this well. Rather than resting on their laurels, they want to share their successes and failures so other states can build on what came before.
In terms of Burkian Conservatism, that’s good stuff!
Look for Leaders Who Prioritize Competence Over Loyalty
As a closing thought, it’s probably clear if you’ve read other pieces on the website that I disagree with President Trump quite a bit. That’s the biggest reason I feel unwelcome in the Republican Party, though not the only one. It’s pretty obvious Republicans are NOT allowed to question Trump, or they’ll be voted/kicked out of their positions.
But I absolutely respect some of what he’s trying to do. And as a Wyomingite I know too many Trump supporters to think that it’s all malicious like so many Democrats believe.
My biggest problem with the current administration isn’t even all of the policies I actually disagree with. It’s the policies I’d support if they were being pursued correctly.
The problem with President Trump is that he’s surrounded himself with loyalists. Or, more accurately, in acquiescing to his every demand his nominal party has surrounded him with sycophants. I can’t condone that, even if I occasionally find myself agreeing with his goals.
Since I’m in the process of building a political movement myself, founded on my personal principles, I have to be careful of this exact problem. That’s why I actively seek out criticism and hope to grow and expand our own membership. It’s also why I seek out Republican and Democrat folks that are competent, and willing to speak up when they disagree.
That’s who I’d fill a cabinet with, if I were to fill one.
Honest Gabe, like Honest Abe, wants a “team of rivals,” who will ensure that we’re always doing what’s best for America. Not what’s best for our partisan faction. And definitely not what’s best for a South African billionaire (and Vivek, I guess).
Friends, Republicans, Countrymen! Lend Me Your Ears!
So, to the more hardcore supporters of President Trump, if you would like him to accomplish your goals of reforming the government and “draining the swamp,” please consider forcing your own parties’ leaders to grow some spines so they can actually help him do it.
Please also consider that the states, and there’s 50 to choose from, might have some insights into how we can actually make government less burdensome and more efficient.
Otherwise, we end up with something like Gavin Belson from Silicon Valley.
Warning: Clips Contain Swears – They’re From HBO
If you’re not familiar with that reference, it’s a great HBO show about tech billionaires.
Here’s a clip that is the best case scenario with a bunch of incompetent sycophants.
And, here’s the worst case of a bunch of yes-men who know exactly what they’re doing.
Is this really what we want?
Incompetent Sycophants
Highly-Competent Yes-Men