Fussing And Fuming

Government Inc. readers have been a busy bunch in these recent weeks, writing to fuss and fume about many of the topics covered in posts. There's no single thread here, but many of the readers are deeply dissatisfied about the government's tendency to spend a lot more money each year with less oversight.

At least that's what I hear from a reader calling himself Bob Kral. He was upset after reading a post about a flawed and costly contract between the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and contractor Northrop Grumman.

"It appears as of late there is absolutely zero accountability for any wrong doing inside government," he wrote.

Someone named "Richard Q." was also distressed about that arrangement.

"We can fuss and fume all we want, but the truth is that the circle of customer-supplier-customer within government contracts is a closed affair, with most players at the top having held serious positions in both the agencies and the corporations," Richard Q. said.

Some readers also took umbrage at troubles in the project to develop and deploy better machines to detect radioactive materials coming into the country. A writer self-dubbed "Chaotician" blamed the president and his administration.

"Just one more example of George's empty rhetoric! They are so much more interested in giving money to 'private' contractors rather than having the 'government' do it; that they have failed over and over again."

The postings drawing the most response focused on Blackwater, the security and training firm that has been the focus of much scrutiny in recent months, because of allegations the firm has operated with impunity while working for the government in Iraq.

"Outsourcing is another word for corruption and loss of control," said an anonymous writer going by the name "brothers."

"Blackwater and their kind have been around since armies have waged wars...they are called mercenaries and their loyalties go to the highest bidder. Caution - the actors in play here all have lots of money to throw around," said someone writing as "bob."

It wasn't all anti-Blackwater, either. Somebody who signed their comment JS wrote:

"The reason Blackwater employees are paid more is because they run an exceedingly more efficient shop than does the military. And do not take that as a slight against the military. It is not surprising that a private and tiny by comparison private business is much more flexible and cost efficient than the US military, and if any of you had watched the hearing this was addressed."

That worked for "ssphx":

"JS, right on brotha. It's amazing how many people are completely clueless and think Blackwater is just a bunch of rednecks with guns.

"I dare someone to challenge these posts."

But "LALA" begged to differ:

"Outsourcing is just another way to make sure the corporations who fund our politicians can rake in their profits as reward for that funding. Government agencies are subject to oversight; they can and should be subject to much more oversight than has been the norm for years. Outsourcing to corporate cronies tangles the oversight rules and regs, leaving huge gaps that greed-driven corps can drive right through.

"Still wonder why so much is being outsourced?"

There's more, much more. Please keep the notes coming. Words of praise -- and pages of documents -- are always welcome.

By Robert O'Harrow |  October 23, 2007; 6:00 AM ET Readers Write
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Posted by: Don Brown | October 25, 2007 5:53 AM

Posted by: RIF'd AFSS'r | October 25, 2007 10:06 PM

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