The difference between DOGE and previous overreaches of power like the Department of Homeland Security is the attack on the truth.

What do I mean by that? Well, during the previous political era (loosely 9/11 through the COVID-19 pandemic), when intellectuals spoke truth to power, power listened.

So people like us could voice our opinions on constitutionality, historical precedent, etc, and eventually our points made their way up through the news cycle and someone in a position of power would validate our concerns.

Whereas today, people like Elon Musk belittle academic arguments as nonconstructive because they haven't made us money and we aren't rich. So obviously we're wrong.

This wasn't always the case. Some billionaires could be very stubborn, but at their core, they still held themselves to a higher standard, a geek ethos. It mattered what academics thought.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I side with Bill Gates on this.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/27/bill-gates-e...