StickWithANose

I’ve discussed at length the relationship between education policy and the looting of the public treasury by private interests, but this dynamic is by no means unique to education. In fact, it may be one of THE defining characteristics of our current form of social organization. One of the most significant gifts bequeathed to the nation by the GW machine is a massive expansion in the use of private contractors to carry out the day-to-day activities of the federal government. Of course, the most egregious examples can be found in the two land wars we’re currently fighting in Asia where private contractors, such as Blackwater and Halliburton, now carry out tasks that had been historically handled by military personnel… often on ‘no-bid’ contracts that line the pockets of those involved.

So, let us offer some kudos to our dysfunctional congress for at least taking some symbolic action to curb the looting.

The Defense Department estimates it will save an average of $44,000 a year for every contractor it replaces with full-time federal personnel to perform critical defense jobs, according to the House-Senate conference report on the fiscal 2010 defense appropriation bill.

The measure, which passed Congress on Saturday, contains $5 billion to hire replacements for contractors currently performing what have been termed “inherently government functions” both at home and abroad. Those functions include a wide range of activities, from supervising other contractors who provide guard services at forward operating bases, to providing oversight of aid projects overseas…

[L]ast year Congress reported that contract employees were each costing the government an average of $250,000 annually, an amount far in excess of what federal employees or military personnel were paid.