Congratulations U.S. Members - Page 9

E61Silver · #81 11-09-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch

It's not a moot point juan.

No plan is worse than a bad plan. It's that simple.

To use an analogy, how is anyone better off by deciding to walk into a dark cave instead of climb down a dark hole?

This isn't a Dems vs. Republicans debate, it's a shitty political party vs. the other shitty political party discussion.

As Americans, we should be demanding a better government, not a different government because the one that is in power is disliked.

Hoping for a "good politician" is like praying not to have a hangover over drinking liter of vodka, sure it's possible, but not probable.

I think you must be the only one that does not get it, we need a change in plan regarding the war. Even Bush understands and fired Rumsfeld.

This does not mean anyone knows a exact plan today; but stay the course is not working! Bush got us into a huge mess and any plan will take time a cooperation. Bush lunch plans today show that he understands the need for cooperation. Hopefully the country will move ahead and both parties will work together.

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ylwjacket · #82 11-09-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric5273

Part of the reason there is so much waste actually happens to do with the involvement of private business in government programs.

I am very close to government, deal with it day in and day out, some as a consultant, some as a contractor, some as independent oversight. Some, as a consultant trying to get something approved through the bureacracy. Some, as the child of a 40-year government employee.

Waste comes in many forms. I see it every day. Some of the stuff that you mentioned happens on a smaller scale at the state and local level.

The problem, IMHO, is not so much contractors to the government. It is vesting too much responsibility in large contractors. With the pool spread, there is competition, oversight, and pressure to do the right thing or lose your job. With one or two very large corporations, there is little incentive to innovate, oversight, or price competition.

How's that for a small business guy, who regularly competes with firms 100 or 1000 times our size?

Deuce · #83 11-09-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

I think you must be the only one that does not get it, we need a change in plan regarding the war. Even Bush understands and fired Rumsfeld.

This does not mean anyone knows a exact plan today; but stay the course is not working! Bush got us into a huge mess and any plan will take time a cooperation. Bush lunch plans today show that he understands the need for cooperation. Hopefully the country will move ahead and both parties will work together.

In a choice between Republicans' "Stay until we win" Iraq policy or the Democrats' "Stay, leave ... stay for a while then leave ... redeploy and then come back ... leave and stay ... cut and run ... win, lose or draw policy," I prefer the Republican policy.

Eric5273 · #84 11-09-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ylwjacket

I am very close to government, deal with it day in and day out, some as a consultant, some as a contractor, some as independent oversight. Some, as a consultant trying to get something approved through the bureacracy. Some, as the child of a 40-year government employee.

Waste comes in many forms. I see it every day. Some of the stuff that you mentioned happens on a smaller scale at the state and local level.

The problem, IMHO, is not so much contractors to the government. It is vesting too much responsibility in large contractors. With the pool spread, there is competition, oversight, and pressure to do the right thing or lose your job. With one or two very large corporations, there is little incentive to innovate, oversight, or price competition.

How's that for a small business guy, who regularly competes with firms 100 or 1000 times our size?

I'm also a small business owner and I do some business with some government agencies. When I do business with them, I always have to go through the bidding process and they must receive at least 3 bids before they can award the contract. And unless they have a very good reason (i.e. much better product), they cannot award the contract to anyone but the lowest bid.

But for some reason, these rules go out the window when they are awarding the big multimillion dollar contracts. (my company's bids are usually for contracts in the $1,000 - $3,000 range).

ylwjacket · #85 11-09-2006, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric5273

I'm also a small business owner and I do some business with some government agencies. When I do business with them, I always have to go through the bidding process and they must receive at least 3 bids before they can award the contract. And unless they have a very good reason (i.e. much better product), they cannot award the contract to anyone but the lowest bid.

But for some reason, these rules go out the window when they are awarding the big multimillion dollar contracts. (my company's bids are usually for contracts in the $1,000 - $3,000 range).

I agree completely, though our contracts are a little larger (usually $500k to $2 million). Large, to me, is more like the $20-50 M type.

ifly · #86 11-09-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deuce

In a choice between Republicans' "Stay until we win" Iraq policy or the Democrats' "Stay, leave ... stay for a while then leave ... redeploy and then come back ... leave and stay ... cut and run ... win, lose or draw policy," I prefer the Republican policy.

Please define winning??? Is this degrees of winning as in degrees of losing???

I thought the Mission was Accomplished! Now the Mission has been redefined with benchmarks which to me says more of a step function with definition of winning attached to it!

6to · #87 11-09-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ylwjacket

OK, time to weigh in on some things.

Originally Posted by 6to
The Result of Yesterday's mid-term elections in the U.S. is seen by the majority of the World's population outside the US as a Great Achievement

Who the hell cares? That is about as arrogant of a statement as I have ever heard. It is entirely condescending and offensive, along the lines of "it's about time you morons woke up". We can run our own country, thank you.

Who the hell cares??? (now WHO's being arrogant here??) Quite Obviously, YOU certainly don't give a damn, or failed to understand. You and all Americans that I simply meant to Honestly Congratulate with this comment should care. Let me rephrase it in other words for you: What happened on Tuesday is indeed a great achievement that solidifies the ideal that Democracy - albeit full of shortcomings - is sometimes a wonderful thing (when it really works) - like it did in Tuesday. It's something to be genuinely proud of, and it's great to see happen. By anyone in the planet. It was also a great achievement since it weakened a powerhouse with an agenda capable of endangering the entire planet. So you see, it's not a question of being able to run your own Country. The many issues that go way beyond US borders, are Everyone's Concern.

Deuce · #88 11-09-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifly

Please define winning??? Is this degrees of winning as in degrees of losing???

I thought the Mission was Accomplished! Now the Mission has been redefined with benchmarks which to me says more of a step function with definition of winning attached to it!

Winning is getting the contry to be self-sustaining & able to defend itself. Until that happens we shouldn't leave.

If you thought the only mission was to oust Saddam Hussain then are right. But that's never been the only mission.

Eric5273 · #89 11-09-2006, 06:54 PM

A great American once said:

"Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breath the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal."

Somehow in the last few years this logic has been replaced with "Who the hell cares what the rest of the world thinks".

Deuce · #90 11-09-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifly

Please define winning??? Is this degrees of winning as in degrees of losing???

I thought the Mission was Accomplished! Now the Mission has been redefined with benchmarks which to me says more of a step function with definition of winning attached to it!

If given the choice I would follow the Republican choice for "staying the course", however clear-thinking Americans understand that removing Saddam Hussein from power was a noble effort. Giving a devastated country a chance at freedom is hard to knock. But there comes a point when American blood and treasure is exhausted, has that point has been reached in Iraq? If those people will not step up and stop the chaos themselves, then they will have to live with the result. The United States cannot absorb much more punishment on behalf of a population that, at this point, doesn't seem entirely committed to fighting for freedom.

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