Shabbat Shalom 3 Elul 5767

Government incompetence has no limit
$998,798 paid to ship 38 cents worth of hardware

The best business to be in is one that supplies anything to the federal government. When you are a bloated, incompetent organization that believes it has an endless supply of funds, you tend to pay bills without questioning the amounts.

A South Carolina parts supplier collected over $20 million during a six year period from the Pentagon for fraudulent shipping costs. Nearly $1 million was charged and collected for sending two 19-cent washers to an Army base in Texas, U.S. officials admitted.

I recall dealings I had with Uncle Sam back in 2002. At the time I was a computer parts and accessories salesman. One morning I took a call from an Alabama military base that needed 125 computer monitors. My company was selling the product for $939 a piece. Any order this size would of been eligible for a substantial discount and free shipping. However, understanding the ignorance of government, I quoted the caller a mere $4 discount per monitor and a discounted shipping rate. The bureaucratic tool was thrilled to hear the word discount and instantly agreed to the high price. Within 5 days a check for over 120k arrived at our office. It's still the biggest sale in that companies history.

These examples serve as a scary reminder of why the more money government has the more is wasted. Democrats and many Republicans who continue to push for more education funding believe money will solve our nations education crisis. Sadly accountability of how the money is spent is never a priority and the fact that our children are lacking behind dozens of nations that spend far less per child never seems to raise red flags with politicians.

Accountability is a word that doesn't exist within the federal and state government. Spend...spend...spend without questioning amounts or requiring better results is how government operates.

Today Democratic Presidential hopefuls are all talking about raising taxes. Why? Do they honestly think the government will collect more revenue and improve the lives of millions with bigger social programs? Whether they believe it or not, the fact is that more money is never the answer. Free markets, parental choice and instituting reforms based on competition and freedom will improve our education and health care woes.

Speaking of health care, do you want the same institution that paid nearly a million dollar shipping bill for 38 cents worth of product, to run a universal health care system? I hope not!

Paulie