While I cannot fully disagree, I would like to point out that a great many government contractors take their jobs very seriously and do very good work.

Of course, I may be biased since I work as a contractor.

Sure at the individual level there are plenty of people who do good work but I'm referring to the companies themselves. A government contract company's only real goal is to get more contracts in terms of numbers and dollar amount and run them in a way that maximizes profit. A contract companies success in the government realm has little to do with actual performance and a lot to do with salesmanship.

I'm not suggesting contractors beat their children. I am saying that if one wants to move up within a government contracting company they will reach a point when they will have to push a course of action that is not in the best interest of the government at which point the individuals and company are indistinguishable.

You have a certain logic, but all I can say is that I have not witnessed it myself after working now for 2 different contractors. Of course, in both of those cases everyone in my immediate management chain was, like me, a former military officer.