"How Would Milton Friedman Do DOGE?"
March 24, 2025
An important piece by Veronique de Rugy. She beautifully expresses a concern I share.
That's in part—and this is my second point—because for those of us who care about permanently downsizing government and keeping it bound by constitutional rules to prevent the exercise of arbitrary power, DOGE is mixed. While there is a small probability the approach will succeed in reining in spending or the administrative state, it will be at the heavy cost of reinforcing the power of the executive branch and opening the door to the same abuse when the left is in power.
Congress must be heavily involved and sooner or later the reforms should be supported by some folks from both parties. My hope is that the president thinks that some trust and goodwill have to be built first. Americans must see their government concretely doing the Right Things especially on the so-called 80-20 issues.
See also Arnold Kling's comment on this piece.