DOGE Parallels: Jefferson’s Budget Cuts, Reaganomics, the Income Tax, and When to Move

Is cutting government spending always a good idea? In this episode of Life, History, and Everyday Bullshtick, Heddy and Doron Benatar dive into the history of government efficiency (or inefficiency), from Thomas Jefferson’s drastic budget cuts and their unintended consequences to the rise of income tax and Reagan’s contradictory economic policies. What can these moments in history tell us about today’s debates on government spending?

Then, in the life advice segment, we tackle a common dilemma: How do you know if you're living in the right place? With moving costs high and no way to test-drive a new city, how do you decide whether to stretch for something better or stay put? Doron has a strong take on why betting on yourself is always the right move—Heddy pushes back with some practical considerations.

A mix of history, economics, and real-life decision-making—join us for the conversation.

Ask for advice at https://www.bullshtick.com/

Chapters

01:49 Jefferson Budget Cuts

05:59 Our Historical Reliance on Tariffs

09:48 The Introduction of the Income Tax

12:45 Reagan economic policies

17:50 Life Advice: Choosing the Right Place to Live

Other relevant episodes:

If you liked this episode you might want to listen to our Robber Barron episode published in November 2024: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hqgzOtHwY4XzDDUBT174M?si=epw1sdOuTgKtLSdKl7NAYQ

Keywords

DOGE, government spending, history, income tax, life advice, family, budgeting, economic policies, personal choices, living location, financial decisions, invest in yourself, Jefferson, Reagan, Reaganomics, President, President Trump,