Outsider reform projects led by celebrity billionaires last only while they are 'fun.' Once the grind of contracts, baselines, and civil‑service process begins, attention collapses and the effort implodes. Durable reform needs structures that survive boredom and pain, not just hype.
— It reframes evaluations of outsider reformers around motivational durability and institutional fit rather than intent or raw talent.
Neal McCluskey
2025.08.26
80% relevant
DOGE’s early, Musk‑driven blitz promised $2T in cuts but delivered about $200B before momentum faded, illustrating how outsider hype collapses when the grind of statutes, contracts, and process sets in.
Chris Bray
2025.08.20
42% relevant
The critique that executives cycle through 14–23‑month stints delivering buzzwords rather than outcomes aligns with the notion that leaders often lack the stamina for the grind of institutional change, producing churn instead of durable reforms.
Santi Ruiz
2025.07.03
100% relevant
The author’s claim that 'Elon paid attention to DOGE for as long as it was fun, and stopped at precisely the moment it stopped being fun.'