CSPAN 40% of the federal budget has been privatized.

[robinlynne]

I am watching the house debate the whistleblower protection bill. (And they BETTER vote yes.)

A democratic congressman said around 10 minutes ago that 40% of the federal discressionary budget is now contracted out. I'm not sure what the descressionary budget is, but is it 40% of federal spending? Can you imagine the size of this?

[TerdlowSmedley]

1. Yeah, and by all appearances, 90% of that's going straight to Halliburton.

[invictus]

4. Exactly

Privatization = giving government money to politicians' friends. It will increase corruption.

[Deep13]

2. discressionary budget=

everything except entitlements and contractual obligations fixed by law and debt service.

[Cobalt Violet]

3. That's terrible.

We shouldn't stand for that. It makes things cost more not less.

[luckyleftyme2]

6. PRIVATIZING

IT ISN'T POSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY BY ADDING PROFIT;BECAUSE THIS KIND OF PROFIT EVENTUALLY LEADS TO PAY-OFFS THAT CORRUPT THE SYSTEM.
AN EX LOCAL,STATE AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEE WHO KNOWS;BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
I BUILT A SEWER WITH CETA HELP AT 1/3 THE COST OF BIDS BY PRIVATE CO.
I BUILT 3/4 OF A MILE OF ROAD WITH MUNICIPAL PERSONAL IN 1982 THAT COST 78,00O DOLLARS
AND THAT INCLUDED HIRED EQUIPMENT AND A PAVING BID. THE AVG GOING PRICE WAS $475,000.
I BUILT A LANDFILL WHICH WAS USED FOR 25YEARS AND RECEIVED LOTS OF "ATTA BOYS" FROM THE STATE DEP FOR UNDER 50,000 DOLLARS. THE AVG PRICE WAS $750,000.
AND THE LIST COULD BORE YOU.
HERE'S A LOCAL ONE: I WAS TOLD BY MY SUPERIOR TO GO TO THE LOCAL HARD WARE STORE TO BUY SHOVELS AND RAKES; SO I WENT DOWN THEIR AND PRICED THEM:YUP THEY HAD JUST CHANGED THE PRICES. NOW REMEMBER THIS WAS IN THE 80'S. I WENT DOWN TO THE LOCAL BIG-BOX WHICH WAS THE MART AND SAME SHOVEL SAME BRAND WAS HALF THE COST. YUP YOU GUESSED IT-I WENT TO A LOCAL SELECTMAN WHO BACKED ME,THEY CHANGED THE RULES THE NEXT MEETING. I WASN'T VERY POPULAR-BUT I SURE FELT GOOD!
I USE JUST A FEW OF MY EXPERIENCES BUT HAVE HEARD PLENTY MORE FROM MY PEERS.

[enid602]

5. debt

Can't wait to see how they privatize the interest on government debt; they'll no doubt try.

[necso]

7. Ideology over reality;

paybacks/payoffs over performance: the neocon way.