He’s making a list. He’s checking it twice. Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice.
This is really the Schedule F warning order.
In fairness, one might think that public servants would preserve the perception of their independence from things political by not broadcasting on social media their personal political views. These prolific posters do a disservice not only to themselves but to their colleagues whose own loyalty comes into question.
‘From his home office in small-town Kentucky, a seasoned political operative is quietly investigating scores of federal employees suspected of being hostile to the policies of Republican Donald Trump, an effort that dovetails with broader conservative preparations for a new White House.
‘Tom Jones and his American Accountability Foundation are digging into the backgrounds, social media posts and commentary of key high-ranking government employees, starting with the Department of Homeland Security. They are relying in part on tips from his network of conservative contacts, including even workers themselves. In a move that alarms some, they are preparing to publish the findings online.
‘With a $100,000 grant from the influential Heritage Foundation, the goal is to post 100 names of government workers to a website this summer to show a potential new administration who might be standing in the way of a second-term Trump agenda — and ripe for scrutiny, reclassifications, reassignments or firings.’
Regulating Off-Label Prescribing
Pharmaceutical companies develop drugs and run the FDA regulatory gauntlet to obtain approval for a specific application. For example, minoxidil was approved initially as a blood pressure control drug. Doctors discovered that it could be useful in combating hair loss. Prescribing it for hair loss was an “off-label use” or “OLU”.
Theoretically, the pharmaceutical company could have applied for FDA approval, requiring years of trials. Instead, they do nothing. Doctors prescribe the drugs for OLU, taking the risk of malpractice suits. There are no required studies of efficacy or safety.
More regulation has led to less regulation.
‘Current regulations of OLUs focus on prohibiting pharmaceutical companies’ labeling and marketing their drugs for OLUs. FDA enforces these regulations by monitoring for unapproved drug uses, disseminating information to consumers, and taking action against non-compliant pharmaceutical companies. And although these regulations give physicians broad discretion to prescribe medications for non-approved uses, OLU prescribers may still face civil liability in some cases.
‘Although a path exists to seek FDA approval of an OLU, drug manufacturers often choose not to pursue approval because it is a high-cost, time consuming process that may seem unnecessary when a medication is already approved for sale. The cost of the FDA approval process is especially prohibitive for generic medication manufacturers who often lack sufficient resources to conduct the necessary approval studies.’
Apple Says Regulatory Concerns Might Prevent Rollout of AI Features in Europe
Competition trumps privacy in EU regulation, at least according to Apple (who isn’t enamored of the competition law in the form of the EU Digital Markets Act). Regulation for global technologies is difficult as large regions seek to exercise their influence.
‘Apple AAPL said it likely won’t roll out artificial-intelligence features to millions of customers in Europe this year because of concerns over the European Union’s technology-industry regulations.
‘The EU’s Digital Markets Act, often called the DMA, enacted far-reaching restrictions on big technology companies and digital competition. One requirement was for interoperability, meaning developing software that could work across operating systems and hardware, making it easier for consumers to move their data or switch providers.
‘Apple singled out that regulation specifically, saying those requirements “could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security.”’
More business regulation legislation set to be signed by Pritzker
An ongoing theme of bureaucracy is that it favors the rich who can spread its costs over a larger base. The costs of compliance are fixed and, based upon the rule in question, scale-invariant. On balance, bureaucracy is a wonderful barrier to competition.
‘Given Illinois’ economic environment, lawmakers are concerned that proposed record-keeping mandates will further burden the small business community in the state.
‘House Bill 3763 would allow an employee’s legal representation to request access to personnel records, not just the employee himself or herself. Labor attorneys pushed for the measure’s advancement, and now the bill is on the governor’s desk and awaiting his signature.’
Housing bureaucracy creating an 'illusion of concern'
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again with the expectation of different results.
The housing bureaucracy in the Australian state of Victoria is continuing to meet. The Housing Minister pressed for more funding from the federal government. It doesn’t appear as if either the Housing Minister or her minions have an adequate sense of urgency about Aboriginal homelessness, but they do want to expand the size of their ministry.
There needs to be fundamental reform, led by elected officials. Whatever is happening now isn’t working.
‘Indigenous Australians make up about three per cent of the population but account for one in five people facing homelessness nationally, according to census data.’
Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme
This is interesting. The UAE is not opposed to processes, but they are opposed to redundancy and red tape. Their stated objective is to have an effective government made up of the former, while eliminating the latter.
This is the way.
‘The UAE launched a Zero Government Bureaucracy (ZGB) programme, an ambitious initiative aimed at overhauling the current government work structure to enhance service efficiency and quality.
‘The ZGB programme seeks to eliminate redundant government procedures and requirements, significantly simplifying the administrative process. Ministries and government entities are tasked with the immediate implementation of the programme, which includes cancelling a minimum of 2,000 government measures, halving the time required for procedures, and removing all unnecessary bureaucracy by end of 2024.’
Argentine union bureaucracy asks fascist Milei for “dialogue” after facilitating June 12 repression
This word salad with heavy doses of ad hominem dressing from the World Socialist Web Site is interesting for its highlighting of signs of dissent within what one presumed was a monolithic Argentine union front. The socialists aren’t happy that the unions are willing to speak with the President.
I really wanted to see the phrase “capitalist running dog” in this piece. It would have completed the whole high-school-model- UN-delegate-from-Benin-at-the-economic-and-social-committee motif that you see in these pieces. At least they had the decency to quote Trotsky.
‘In a conference two weeks earlier, the CGT voted a resolution that stated: “The decision of the Congress, which is a democratic entity, must be respected.” After all, much of the union leadership is composed of capitalist politicians themselves, who hold or have held posts in Congress and the bourgeois Peronist party.
‘While there are indications of a conflict within the union bureaucracy between the Pablo Moyano wing and the majority, it revolves around tactical differences over how to cover up their subordination to and collaboration with the fascistic regime of Milei, as well as disputes over resources and even potential positions within the government.’