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In this issue: When a car makes a sharp turn at top speed and hugs the road, the velocity created from the car’s momentum helps it to stay on track, while the car’s wings, and the air flowing underneath them, help it to stay grounded. This process is called downforce. In two weeks, America went from driving safely along the turnpike to making a sharp turn at top speed without car wings. Buckle up…
Want to read more by Route 24? Follow along on Bluesky and Notes.
Telemetry
“If it was intended to be constructive, I don’t think it was accepted constructively by the American people.”
Then-Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA). April 23, 1973. As stated in an interview segment on Firing Line with William F. Buckley, Jr. — Ep. S0090.
In 1973, Governor Jimmy Carter stopped by Firing Line with William F. Buckley, Jr. for an interview. First airing in 1966, the Firing Line format featured policy debates with influential figures on American public affairs. When discussing welfare and interstate budget allocation at the state and federal levels, Carter highlighted two key responsibilities of leadership to the American people: (1) to be efficient, effective, and open to public understanding and (2) to understand the needs of the people and deliver efficient policies that furthered those needs with compassion and awareness.
It’s worth noting that between Jimmy Carter and DOGE, the semantics differ for what constitutes efficiency.
“It is a gross example of mismanagement by the Nixon administration of what are good portions of a program and which ones ought to be cast aside or supplanted for improvements.”
Then-Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA). April 23, 1973. As stated in an interview segment on Firing Line with William F. Buckley, Jr. — Ep. S0090.
I recently attended the USC Center for the Political Future’s Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics, which included a series of insightful panel discussions and live tapings of Firing Line with Margaret Hoover. Across partisan lines, the commentary centered on how to monitor and ensure American democracy performed properly.
A lack of support of federal agencies means American democracy has a glitch in the system. It impacts not just the employees of those agencies and their families, but also the jurisdictions under their purview — that is, the citizens who depend on that basic daily assistance for survival. Without such assistance, regional conflicts develop due to scarcity, and the global perception of the United States as a force of stability is eroded. This holds dire implications for future security.
One example: USAID responds to 75 countries dependent on critical assistance with upwards of 10,000 employees.
Perhaps it would be most efficient to count the magnitude of children, domestic and foreign, who will be forced to confront the consequences.
Stay the course,
Sam
Special thanks to for sharing this idea forum!






