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SirTripAlot
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I gotta call a spade a spade......
#5929768 - 08/03/06 08:54 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Call me biased, but I know first hand, that the below article is not misleading. As a small business owner, I have encountered corruption at the federal level so many times. The socio-economic goals under this administration have been deplorable (disabled veteran owned businesses rank the last in contract awards) This is increasingly discouraging in a country, were the small guy is supposed to make something for himself, with hard work and due diligence.
I am not looking out for a hand out, but what the fuck?????, I go to fight for my country, come back, and the economic freedom I fought for, is stripped from me????????
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/94
Bush Admin Tries to Cover Up Repeated Failures to Meet Targets for Small Business Contracts
The Bush Administration misrepresented data to meet contract allocation requirements, according to a report released by Democrats of the House Small Business Committee. The government is required to give at least 23% of its contracts to small business, but has failed the past six years. The Small Business Administration (SBA) claimed to have exceeded this threshold in 2005, but actually fell short because $12 billion it said was given to small businesses was in fact given to large ones.
Some of the miscategorized contracts went to some of the biggest companies in the world, including Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, Wal-Mart, Exxon Mobil, Google, and Lockheed Martin. Among others were large media companies like the Associated Press, The New York Times, USA Today, Bloomberg, and PBS.
What we are seeing is a sheer lack of accountability from the administration that is resulting in these large businesses receiving small business awards," said Rep. Nydia Velázquez, the committee's ranking Democrat. "As a consequence, entrepreneurs are getting less and less contracting opportunities each year."
According to Velázquez, miscoding first became a large concern in 2004, when $2 billion was incorrectly labeled. The number has ballooned since then to six times that amount. More than 2500 large compaines and ineligible entities counted as small businesses received contracts.
The findings come in contrast to claims by Bush that he is concerned about helping small businesses, which has been part of the Republican justification for cutting the estate tax. Two months ago, the watchdog group American Small Business League (ASBL) condemned Bush for gutting the SBA, which was intended to promote small businesses, by 31% since he took office. "It's not a matter of whether the Bush Administration is going to close the SBA- they're closing it as we speak," said ASBL founder Lloyd Chapman.
In addition to the overall small business goal not being met, the government failed in every sub goal as well. Women-owned businesses have lost $5.2 billion and minority-owned businesses have lost $4.5 billion in contracts.
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Edited by SirTripAlot (08/03/06 08:55 PM)
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Hank, FTW
Looking for the Answer

Registered: 05/04/06
Posts: 3,912
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5930405 - 08/04/06 02:11 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Corporate welfare.....is that a joke?
-------------------- Capliberty: "I'll blow the hinges off your freakin doors with my trips, level 5 been there, I personally like x, bud, acid and shroom oj, altogether, do that combination, and you'll meet some morbid figures, lol Hell yeah I push the limits and hell yeah thats fucking cool, dope, bad ass and all that, I'm not changing shit, I'm cutting to to the chase and giving u shroom experience report. Real trippers aren't afraid to go beyond there comfort zone "
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SirTripAlot
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: Hank, FTW]
#5930606 - 08/04/06 06:33 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Well the socio economic goal for service disabled veteran owned companies is 3% of federal contracts. This fiscal year, the government hit .12% of ONE PERCENT. I thought Bush loves us Vets???????
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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barfightlard
tales of theinexpressible



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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5930652 - 08/04/06 07:18 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
SirTripAlot said: I thought Bush loves us Vets???????
Only in the Photo-Ops.
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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5930662 - 08/04/06 07:28 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Why should anyone get "rewards" from the government?
Also, I know a few guys who are purple heart winners, Bush and Rummy came to their hospital to do the awards, and those guys seem to like them.
If Bush is so bad to the military, why did the military overwhelmingly vote for him?
If you want to know how the military feels about Bush, ask some people in the military.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs



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It doesn't matter how they feel about him. He didn't live up to his promises to them.
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: Redstorm]
#5930713 - 08/04/06 08:04 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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A politican that doesn't live up to their promises? Stop the presses!
Most guys in the military are so happy to be able to go fight and fuck up some Arabs that they don't care if some vet owned business got .12 as opposed to 3% of the contracts, who the fuck cares? Give hte contracts to the people that deserve them.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs



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Who are you to decide who deserves what contracts? It wasn't just a politician's promise either. It was a government mandated promise that 23% of their contracts are supposed to go to small businesses. This isn't just an issue of veteran's benefits, but an issue concerning the promotion of small business versus large corporations.
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fireworks_god
Sexy.Butt.McDanger


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Quote:
xDuckYouSuckerx said: Most guys in the military are so happy to be able to go fight and fuck some Arabs
 Peace.
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If I should die this very moment I wouldn't fear For I've never known completeness Like being here Wrapped in the warmth of you Loving every breath of you
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: Redstorm]
#5931080 - 08/04/06 10:57 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I think that the government should provide the contracts to whomever can best meet the requirements. Any other consideration, isn't.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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snoopaloop53
No BetterFriend. NoWorse Friend.

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Quote:
xDuckYouSuckerx said: I think that the government should provide the contracts to whomever can best meet the requirements. Any other consideration, isn't.
Exactly, why should the government come up with an arbitrary number to decide how many contracts go to what kind of business. Contracts should be awarded based on cost and quality of product not the kind of business will fullfil the contract.
Is that how you run your personal and business finances? It may influence somewhat your choice, but i doubt you go out thinking "i must have x number of dealings with business of less than 37 employees and x number of dealings with businesses of more than 83 employees."
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: snoopaloop53]
#5931156 - 08/04/06 11:20 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Exactly!! What it comes down to, really, is government charity. If they give a contract to Ex-Sgt Joe's, and he fucks something up, thats a big problem. Especially if one of his non-veteran owned competitors could have done a better job. And, like all other programs, once it starts out and people get used to the idea of government charity at the point of a gun, then the program expands and then all sorts of people are guaranteed contracts even if they can't properly fulfill them.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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Silversoul
Rhizome


Registered: 01/01/05
Posts: 23,576
Loc: The Barricades
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Quote:
xDuckYouSuckerx said: If Bush is so bad to the military, why did the military overwhelmingly vote for him?
Why do women go back to their husbands after they beat them?
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SirTripAlot
Semper Fidelis


Registered: 01/11/05
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Quote:
xDuckYouSuckerx said: Exactly!! What it comes down to, really, is government charity. If they give a contract to Ex-Sgt Joe's, and he fucks something up, thats a big problem. Especially if one of his non-veteran owned competitors could have done a better job. And, like all other programs, once it starts out and people get used to the idea of government charity at the point of a gun, then the program expands and then all sorts of people are guaranteed contracts even if they can't properly fulfill them.
Like I stated before, I dont want a handout. There are many times that the big companies gouge the government, for items with inferior quality at a higher price. Below is an example how Sysco (the biggest food distributor in the USA) sold a refrigerator at a rate so unbelievable!!!! They have been selling the government $20 ice cube trays, etc, etc
http://www.gao.gov/htext/d06739r.html (government accountability office)
Results in Brief:
Personnel at the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia did not always conduct pricing reviews for all commodities. The medical materiel and food subsistence commodities' contracting personnel reviewed pricing on a regular basis. However, required price reviews were not being conducted for the food service equipment and construction and equipment commodities. For example, the contracts for food service equipment required verification of price increases, but officials from the supply center were unable to provide documentation on why the price of an aircraft refrigerator increased from $13,825 in March 2002 to $32,642 in September 2004. Both logistics agency and supply center officials acknowledged that these problems occurred because management at the agency and supply center level were not providing adequate oversight to ensure that contracting personnel were monitoring prices. The lack of pricing reviews on certain commodities has been a continual problem cited in the logistics agency's internal reviews since 2002. Internal reviews of the prime vendor programs conducted in 2002 and 2003 showed that supply center contracting personnel responsible for the food service equipment and construction and equipment commodities failed at times to properly perform price reviews to determine whether the prices charged by the prime vendors were reasonable. The internal reviews found that contracting personnel either did not have knowledge of, or were disregarding contracting rules and regulations with regard to price reviews. As a result, the internal reviews recommended stronger contract management and oversight to ensure that price reviews were conducted. Management at the supply center agreed to take corrective actions to address the 2002 and 2003 reviews. However, issues with the lack of pricing oversight were identified again in a 2005 internal review.
The problem is, that big business is not only in the front door already, they will not let anyone pass. Also, disabled veterans are at a severe disadvantage in the business world due to their respective disabilities. Disabilities they received, fighting for the very economic freedom they cant take advantage of.
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: SirTripAlot]
#5931757 - 08/04/06 03:05 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I'm not concerned with how OTHER companies have fucked over the government. If they did, then they shouldn't be used in the future. However, I don't care if a group gets a contract because they fall into some "Special interest group". eventually, we'll be so governmentally inclined into "helping people", that we'll have zero efficiency.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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Redstorm
Prince of Bugs



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I honestly wouldn't even care about this story if the gov't would just stop setting percentages of what there budget goes to which groups. The problem is, they set in stone a percentage that is supposed to go to small businesses. If they have no expectations of meeting that requirement, why set one at all?
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SirTripAlot
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Quote:
xDuckYouSuckerx said: I'm not concerned with how OTHER companies have fucked over the government. If they did, then they shouldn't be used in the future. However, I don't care if a group gets a contract because they fall into some "Special interest group". eventually, we'll be so governmentally inclined into "helping people", that we'll have zero efficiency.
Well these already proven fraudulent companies are still being used. Sysco still has numerous multimillion food distribution contracts throughout the government, and is the number one supplier to the military. The main reason: the "good old boys" and campaign contributions.
Many small businesses offer superior products at lower cost. Thank god there are these goals, or no small business would be included in any government contract, due to the cock blocking and influence of big corporations.
Small firms: • Represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. • Employ half of all private sector employees. • Pay more than 45 percent of total U.S. private payroll. • Have generated 60 to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade. • Create more than 50 percent of non farm private gross domestic product (GDP). • Produce 13 to 14 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms. These patents are twice as likely as large firm patents to be among the one percent most cited. • Are employers of 41 percent of high tech workers (such as scientists, engineers, and computer workers). • Are 53 percent home-based and 3 percent franchises. • Made up 97 percent of all identified exporters and produced 28.6 percent of the known export value in FY 2004.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of the Census; Advocacy-funded research by Joel Pop kin and Company, Jan. 2002 (see www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs211.pdf); Federal Procurement Data System; Advocacy-funded research by CHI Research, Inc., Feb. 2003 (see www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs225.pdf); Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey; U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration.
Looks like the only "special interest groups" that the federal government is using, are the ones that have the money for campaign contributions.
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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SirTripAlot
Semper Fidelis


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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: Redstorm]
#5932198 - 08/04/06 05:25 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Redstorm said: I honestly wouldn't even care about this story if the gov't would just stop setting percentages of what there budget goes to which groups. The problem is, they set in stone a percentage that is supposed to go to small businesses. If they have no expectations of meeting that requirement, why set one at all?
I also cannot stand lipservice.
-------------------- “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
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xDuckYouSuckerx
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Re: I gotta call a spade a spade...... [Re: Redstorm]
#5932262 - 08/04/06 05:58 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Agreed. I think it's completely foolish and it relates to government charity. If Party X can do the job better than Party Y, but Party Y is mandated to get a contract, then it's just giving money away, and letting someone work a little bit so that they can feel like theyve "earned" it.
-------------------- Unions are the bastions of the mediocre. - luvdemshrooms
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