Should an ideological purity test be applied to federal employees?

[berg80]

So if social media posts show people who are anti-abortion, pro gun, or simply MAGA, they should be fired immediately?

Talk about Big Brother. trumples searching the social media posts of federal employees to create a pretense to fire them! Where does it stop?

"Jones said his goal was to expose people whom he deemed had “long-standing and deep bias” on immigration policy. In addition to tracking social media posts and political donations, Jones said he is probing for indications of past advocacy on immigration issues as well as other clues about employees’ views, such as sharing of gender pronouns and support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs."

 

[EvilCat Breath]

So if social media posts show people who are anti-abortion, pro gun, or simply MAGA, they should be fired immediately?

Someone who is discovered working for an abortionist while holding anti abortion views should be fired immediately. No one pro gun should be permitted to work for an anti gun lobbyist. MAGA would not work for a communist. The problem is communists working within our government to undermine it.

 

[berg80]

Someone who is discovered working for an abortionist while holding anti abortion views should be fired immediately. No one pro gun should be permitted to work for an anti gun lobbyist. MAGA would not work for a communist. The problem is communists working within our government to undermine it.

Joe, is that you?

 

[rightwinger]

We have the Hatch Act, and it should be vigorously enforced with respect to GS employees (not appointees).

The "problem," such as it is, is that people used to go to work for the Government (at all levels) was because they couldn't get a good job anywhere else, they wanted a job with zero stress, great benefits, and an early retirement. They were mediocre, but they worked out Ok. Now people go to work for the Federal government because they want to rule the world, and they are 90% Leftist.

So you have bureaucrats who either ignore or slow-walk Republican directives and initiatives, just biding their time until a Democrat comes to power.

That ain't right.

I worked Civil Service for over 30 years. We had to sign a Hatch Act statement every year showing our financial investments and barring any political activity.
We were allowed to vote and make political contributions. You were not allowed to be involved in partisan campaigns or run for office.

As a Federal Employee, we were not allowed to engage in political discussions at work. I did not know the political affiliation of any of my supervisors or the people I worked with.

Trump wants to change all that

 

[flewism]

The federal government needs to shrink. The federal government is the biggest drain on the US economy.

 

[EvilCat Breath]

The federal government needs to shrink. The federal government is the biggest drain on the US economy.

Elon Musk will fix that. Ron Paul will come out of retirement to help him.

 

[Polishprince]

This is not the same at all. If an employee takes issue with and refuses to comply with policy it becomes a court matter.

Why would it be a "court matter" at all? I suppose the employee could sue the federal government to get their job back, but why would they hire a lawyer for such a quixotic quest?

 

[berg80]

The federal government needs to shrink. The federal government is the biggest drain on the US economy.

Clarence Thomas wrote that, "For the first time ever, the court invalidates an agency action solely because it questions the sincerity of the agency's otherwise adequate rationale."

Supreme Court puts census citizenship question on hold​

"Agencies must offer “genuine justifications for important decisions, reasons that can be scrutinized by courts and the interested public,” Roberts wrote in a section of his opinion joined only by the court’s four liberals.

“Accepting contrived reasons would defeat the purpose of the enterprise. If judicial review is to be more than an empty ritual, it must demand something better than the explanation offered for the action taken in this case.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/supreme-court-puts-census-citizenship-question-on-hold/2019/06/27/6b2a49cc-93cb-11e9-b570-6416efdc0803_story.html

 

[berg80]

The federal government needs to shrink. The federal government is the biggest drain on the US economy.

Not the government, the people it serves. "Entitlement" programs make up about 60% of the budget. Want a recipe for social unrest, crashing the economy, and causing the elderly to suffer? Make deep cuts to SS and Medicare/caid.

 

[Polishprince]

Not the government, the people it serves. "Entitlement" programs make up about 60% of the budget. Want a recipe for social unrest, crashing the economy, and causing the elderly to suffer? Make deep cuts to SS and Medicare/caid.

If taxes are reduced, particularly on Social Security benefits and capital gains, it will be a tremendous benefit to us old timers.

Many of us have unrealized gains in the market, as well as real property and other assets, and a large government that wants to submit us to financial assrapery is our biggest fear.

 

[berg80]

If taxes are reduced, particularly on Social Security benefits and capital gains, it will be a tremendous benefit to us old timers.

How do you make up for the loss of tax dollars? Musk's warning on the economy if his dream is realized will also cause an enormous tax revenue shortfall. Cutting programs deeper to make up for the shortfall will accelerate the economy's downward spiral.

 

[berg80]

Elon Musk will fix that.

 

[Polishprince]

How do you make up for the loss of tax dollars? Musk's warning on the economy if his dream is realized will also cause an enormous tax revenue shortfall. Cutting programs deeper to make up for the shortfall will accelerate the economy's downward spiral.

Cutting government waste is an idea.

Getting rid of things like Free Sex Change operations for inmates and illegal aliens- something Kamala is in favor of- is another idea.

Making borrowers pay back their student loans, instead of imposing it on the taxpayers is another idea.

 

[berg80]

Cutting government waste is an idea.

Getting rid of things like Free Sex Change operations for inmates and illegal aliens- something Kamala is in favor of- is another idea.

Making borrowers pay back their student loans, instead of imposing it on the taxpayers is another idea.

I don't disagree with your suggestions. They won't make even a little dent in the budget deficit.

 

[Independent thinker]

Conservative group’s ‘watch list’ targets federal employees for firing

An organization funded by the conservative Heritage Foundation has compiled an online “watch list” of federal employees it claims cannot be trusted to secure the U.S. border and should be fired, a sign that supporters of Donald Trump’s immigration policies are preparing to help him neutralize the administrative state they believe tried to thwart his first presidency.

The “DHS Bureaucrat Watch List” — a website unveiled in the final weeks of a presidential campaign in which immigration is a key issue — names 51 federal policy experts and high-ranking leaders, the majority of whom are career civil servants at the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The group identified them largely using public social media comments, prior work experience and campaign finance records.

Among the employees’ actions cited by the group are posts celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage or lauding the contributions and successes of undocumented immigrants, as well as donations as little as $10 to Democratic candidates. One employee union likened the effort to unearth the private views of public employees to Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s 1950s-era campaign to purge federal workers he accused of being communists.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/11/02/federal-career-employees-watchlist-trump/

I suspect getting trumples to answer the question posed in the subject line will be a bit like herding cats but I'm asking you folks to do so anyway.

Should a federal employee be faced with the risk of termination for the views he/she holds on something like the legally protected right (Obergefell) to same sex marriage? What does a person's opinion on same sex marriage have to do with their competence to do their job?

Is it possible the threat of termination could be used as a means of intimidation to get federal employees to comply with directives that are in violation of the law?

Would you trump supporters object if you learned Biden had compiled a list of federal employees earmarked for termination based on the employee's views regarding gun control?

Well, if hiring can be unfairly biased, why can't firing?

 

[berg80]

Well, if hiring can be unfairly biased, why can't firing?

The non-partisan hiring of federal employees has historically taken place during admin's of both parties. Until now, neither party has complied a list of people targeted for firing based on ideology. Chalk it up to authoritarian inclinations of trumpery.

 

[Independent thinker]

The non-partisan hiring of federal employees has historically taken place during admin's of both parties. Until now, neither party has complied a list of people targeted for firing based on ideology. Chalk it up to authoritarian inclinations of trumpery.

Up until now, Democrats have purposely hired their own kind in order to create the deep state, which badly needs purging.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

One employee union likened the effort to unearth the private views of public employees to Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s 1950s-era campaign to purge federal workers he accused of being communists.

And McCarthy was a Republican.

This sort of authoritarianism is nothing new among the right, of course.

For decades Republicans have sought to compel conformity and silence dissent.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

trump's SC created an unconstitutional get out of jail free card for selected illegal acts committed by the prez. One of his lower court appointees threw out the classified docs case based on that ruling, which is not supported by the Constitution. trump's court has also broken with long standing precedent numerous times.

Who is to say what will hold up in court any more?

Trump’s Supreme Court demonstrated contempt for the rule of law and limited government authority by recognizing immunity for presidents who commit criminal, lawless acts – consistent with unitary executive dogma and the Imperial Presidency.

 

[Billiejeens]

i have to explain that to you?...

Explain it to all of us.