In my day job we occassionally sell hardware to clients.  As our business has ramped up with a Government entity we’ve hit the radar of the hardware manufacturer.  It turns out the manufacturer has a Government contract with a set price list.  This price list is not negotiable.  The Government can purchase from this manufacturer strictly off this pricelist.

The cost for the same items on the manufacturer’s website are 30% better than the Government contract.  However, the Government is bound by their contract to pay ~30% over the price any person could purchase the exact same items for off the street.

This is a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars. It seems criminal. The Government has entered a contract to guarantee they grossly overpay. I’ve heard of $10,000 toilet seats for the Space Shuttle etc. Now I know how these things happen.

The worst part is that no one does anything to stop it.

Where’s the email address for government whistle blowing?

Today I happened upon a remixed version of the Obama “Yes We Can” video…featuring Ronald Reagan.

I see a lot of similarities in the way Reagan and Obama speak. They are both skilled orators. However, what makes Obama and Reagan special is their ability to inspire others with their vision, optimism and personality (if you’re not inspired by those speeches, you may be dead).

I have read Obama’s “Audacity of Hope“. The lasting impression I took from his book was Obama’s ability to clearly articulate both sides of very complicated issues, then broker a logical and sane solution.

Sane solutions are what we need now.

(music video version, but it gets the same point across)