Fifty years ago when Ron Paul (father of Sen. Rand Paul) was running for Congress from Texas, a billboard featured an obese Uncle Sam with the caption "let's put big government on a diet."
Since then, the federal government has grown even more obese. To seriously address the problem, President-elect Trump has designated Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The two will be up against a bureaucracy that has a history of protecting itself from reformers. As Ronald Reagan said, "No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!"
The battle can be won if Musk and Ramaswamy keep the public informed about each proposed reduction. Ridicule is one tool they might use, starting with the annual Pig........