How Your Gov't Works (if you've got the right connections):

The Washington Post reports today on the increase of "no-bid" contracts. Remember the astronaut who, when asked how it felt to during take off, replied that he always remembered the rocket had been built by the firm who had submitted the lowest bid? It turns out that under the Republican controlled White House, business with government has become much more profitable. According to the Post, a "recent congressional report estimated that federal spending on contracts awarded without "full and open" competition has tripled." Hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer moneys are being spent without any bidding. The result, according to some sources, is that officials are awarding contracts to favorites and the number of contractors providing services and goods is shrinking. Sounds a bit like a private club wherein favored status brings about wealth fueled by the taxpayer.