iht.com — Without a public debate or formal policy decision, contractors have become a virtual 4th branch of government. On the rise for decades, spending on federal contracts has soared during the Bush administration, to about $400 billion last year, fueled by a philosophy that encourages outsourcing almost everything government does.
Feb 4, 2007 View in Crawl 4
helenboFeb 5, 2007
We were warned:<a class="user" href="http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm">http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm</a>
siszamFeb 5, 2007
This war has always been about money. By now even the Republicans who worship Bush and think he can do no wrong should be waking up to the lies.
Closed AccountFeb 5, 2007
Bout damn time. At least you can fire the contractors if you don't like the job their doing.
ray901Feb 5, 2007
did you just take a course in business crapspeak?
drmangrumFeb 5, 2007
If you've ever met the average government worker, you WANT contractors do the jobs they do. Most government workers have no clue what they are doing. As for the cost, yeah contractors are more expensive..in the short term, in the long term you get better products. If you want someone to blame about the huge expenditures by the governments, blame the government workers. A lot of the policies they create are counter-productive.For instance, I was contracted for a job at Ft. Sam Houston last year. It took me more than a month and a half to get computer access ( I'm a programmer..kinda need a computer ). Why? Weird policies and government redtape. I was paid to drive in, sit at my desk for 8 hours a day reading books and playing Command and Conquer on my laptop.It's the government that spends all the money. I've seen far more useless expenditures from government than I have ever seen from the contracting companies.
Closed AccountFeb 5, 2007
No, it isn't. Consult a dictionary asshat.
mikeyeahFeb 5, 2007
US Contractors are becoming the 4th branch of Government? They already are. There are plenty of congressman, senators, etc... who use to work for US Contractors (or did after they left their government position). Maybe calling them the the "4th Branch of the Government" might be overdoing it a bit, but they certainly have plenty of influence on policy-making in our country. And, in my opinion, that is just wrong.Imagine how our Government would be if we elected representatives who actually cared about the people and not just the bottom line.
Closed AccountFeb 5, 2007
You are all wrong. US contractors are not the 4th branch of government. They are the 5th. The 4th branch of government are the administrative agencies.