Elon Musk and DOGE: A Crypto Meme Comes to Politics

Elon Musk, a top Trump donor, has been appointed to lead a new advisory group called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This isn't an official government department but a joke that's turned into something real. The name DOGE comes from the Doge meme, which features a cute Shiba Inu dog and funny, broken English phrases. The Doge meme started in 2010 with a picture of a Japanese kindergarten teacher's dog, Kabosu. It became popular in 2013 when people added colorful Comic Sans-style text to the photos. The meme inspired a cryptocurrency called Dogecoin in 2013, which has become quite popular. Musk has supported Dogecoin, even planning a Dogecoin-funded SpaceX mission to the moon.Dogecoin's price has risen many times due to Musk's actions. When Trump announced the DOGE office, the price of Dogecoin shot up by almost 20%. This isn't the first time Musk has used memes for fun or to influence things. Musk's new role in the Trump administration raises questions. Should a meme-based cryptocurrency influence politics? Is this a good use of Musk's time and influence? These are things to think about as DOGE moves from the internet to the political scene.