When something is purchased, or a bid is chosen, it is often because of those conections not because a product is inherently better.
The result is a lot of overpriced, under-performing equipment. The amount of waste is just ridiculous, even for a $650 billion market (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_United_States_federal_budg...).
These are natural career paths for those individuals that make perfect, natural sense and --in and of themselves-- aren't a real issue.
The real issue is that our government can too easily reward individual companies or industry groups with hand-outs.
If a single general couldn't essentially hand a contract to a supplier on his say-so, that supplier gains nothing by bribing them with a future board position.
What we really need, is for it to be more difficult for individuals to drive contract selection and for the standards for passing a bailout, tariff or corporate welfare program to be much higher.
Perhaps by requiring such legislation to be stand-alone bills, and requiring an oversight office to evaluate contract selection.
Are you asking as the food company, or as the proverbial "concerned citizen?"
Because I would want the USDA to work for me, since I am paying my taxes. I want it to do its job and protect me from Kraft selling me salmonela infested cookie dough. It is hard for USDA to do that when they expect to be hired by Kraft and be payed large bonuses and salaries in the future.
> The real issue is that our government can too easily reward individual companies or industry groups with hand-outs.
The other serious problem is that individual companies can easily 'reward' (read 'bribe') their friends in high places so they can turn a blind eye and in turn harm the public.
I have the naive desire to have a government that would take care and protect its citizens. I don't have the time and the resources to carry a microscope and a bacterial toolkit to the grocery store when I buy meat or eggs. I expect to pay my taxes and USDA to do its job.
I'd prefer we have qualified people in public office. Proven managers, subject-matter experts, etc. If we erect a wall between private industry and public service, we're not going to get that.
If there's a problem with the director of the USDA being able to let his former-employer slide, that's a separate problem than where (s)he came from or is going. I'd prefer we deal with that, than try to police people's careers.
True but misleading. Regulatory capture is a feature of regulated industries full stop. It just happens faster when the players whether buyers or sellers are concentrated.
There is a reason the AK47 is so much more reliable than the M16. And it's been out for like 60 years now.
I've never used a gun so I'm curious.
I've seen AKs in 3rd world countries that were probably less than 20% original parts.
Usually an inacurate weapon is better than a stuck weapon when the soldier is facing an enemy.
There is nothing worse than "language" or "editor" wars, except maybe arguments over "weapon of choice" ~ http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/03/m16-vs-ak47-iraqi-...
I wouldn't expect too many combat vets to be hanging around HN (or the NYT blog).
"... Becca: early issued M16 had jamming problems...by the time I got to Nam thing were worked out and the 16 wasa great piece ..."
It's not wise to take the advice of non-experts, "Doc" is so I listen to him ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/13184821@N07/4011451162/in/set-... (read the comments)