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Capitalizing on Gov. waste and incompetence (what a deal!!)

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MIL-DOT

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I guess this could've gone in one of several sub-forums here, but IMO the essence of this is financial, so.......
I just got the new Sportsmanguide mil-surp catologue in the mail, and was off-handedly looking at the back cover while talking on the phone, and something caught my eye.
This particular item says "US Government Issue.........save $2,946". I'm used to seeing deals on SG, but this one looked like a mis-print, so I did kind of a "huh,what?" and stopped in mid-conversation to took a closer look.
Well, turns out they have some new military scow sleds,that they're selling for $134.99, but the ad says, "orig. govt. cost $3,081.17".
Which means, as they said, a savings of $2,946 !! So, the government blew over THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS on these things, that any lawn furniture or bicycle manufacturer could've built for a hundred bucks, and then they sold them cheap enough that SG could sell them for $135, and STILL make money, LOL !! (or should be saying, COL?)
I just looked it up on-line, and they're not advertising the savings or original cost there, but it's on the paper catologue.
Next time someone says "you're not paying your fair share", show them this and ask, "fair share of WHAT??"
That is all. :D:

http://shop.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/new-us-military-scow-sled.aspx?a=916748
 
#5 ·
Such a shame that something like this barely raises an eyebow anymore, imagine all we dont know... Was a time when such a flagrant waste of funds would sever a spinal chord, somewhere, at least get a slap or a mention. Now it's just accepted the world over and only ranks on the back of a magazine.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
saln said:
Such a shame that something like this barely raises an eyebow anymore, imagine all we dont know....
Click to expand...
No doubt there. In a work capacity,I used to come in very frequent contact with folks from Ft. Benning, especially the civilian contractors. We used to discuss this subject often, and they told me that back here in the states, we didn't know the half of it. One of the worst that I recall was about these expensive generators, that cost something like 30 grand each, that were just sitting on the ground, in a fenced in area, but out on the open getting covered in sand and rain. They said there was almost too many to count, that they were brand new, and just sat there, never once used, that they could tell. I heard stories like this, all the time. It makes me sick when these pukes in DC try to say that we need to give them every dollar they ask for, "or our brave soldiers will go hungry".
I now work for another company that also deals pretty extensively with Ft. Benning, and now I've personally witnessed some pretty disgusting cases of the way they pizz away our money, but I guess I shouldn't be elaborating here on the World-Wide-Interwebs. :(
 
#10 ·
So, who made out like a bandit then? People in government who control budgets needs to be scrutinized with a microscope. They or close friends/family have offshore bank accounts? A sportscar or house far beyond what their payscale would ordinarily allow? Being blackmailed? The difference between what stuff is worth and what was actually paid presumably often passes under the table.

The m.i.c. will gladly take the highest figure possible. But why don't people in government exercise restraint -- unless there's something in it for them not to.

talon115 said:
Who paid for the sleds? The middle class, that's who.
Click to expand...
 
#12 ·
Well folks...it is supply an demand on the surplus end...these are WELL made (not $3000 worth) but none the less there is little "after market" use for them. As I recall they are bomb proof enough you could easily use it behind a snowmobile and expect long service life, let alone dragging behind someones sorry behind on skis. I build one similar and it is not nearly as well made, I dont live in a northern clime (long winter) or I would grab one........Many snow relate surplus goes cheap.....skis, snowshoes...etc... I once had a line on brand new surplus Raimier bindings that were AWESOME.....and at like $5 pair wholesale it was still tough to move them, they would work with ANY norweign soled boot.....but not much call for them.....I do have several pair of mil surp snow shoes, skis (with "skins") and poles.....good stuff but heavy and WELL built. For the $ it's a no brainer......

Most of this stuff is sold though GovLiquidation and they get fair market...as the internet has ensured WIDE distribution and awareness to the extent it is hard to get a real bargin........except odd ball stuff....
 
#13 ·
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/pentagon/#article/part1

Depressing. The worst part is, when they start cutting defense spending, what do they always go for first? Manpower. This means people will be getting kicked out, tuition assistance will be cut, DFACs overseas will close, etc. You know it's really bad when it will cost the military more money just to account for everything, and get a tally of number that don't match than to just keep storing expensive, brand new stuff that never gets used.
 
#16 ·
The govt got ripped off on that one. I probably wouldn't buy it for $50. Govt excess spending and mega-waste is all that keeps this economy running. We don't get enough snow here to make the thing useful. I think if I needed one I would round up a old sat dish for free and modify it.

If SG had a nice govt surplus dual axle heavy duty UTV trailer I would be interested.

Red
 
#17 ·
You don't even want me to tell you about the throwing away of money I saw happen in Afghanistan...YIKES!

Here's one interesting tidbit though...

The U.S. bailed out the main Afghan bank after an insane amount of money was stolen by their board of directors. One of the people on that board of directors? President Karzai's brother. Chew on that for a while and see if it doesn't raise your blood pressure.
 
#18 ·
If true, this sort of thing could only happen if things were rotten straight up to the top -- in both parties. It's almost as if the mafia took over when JFK was killed (if not earlier)...

Jason DPC said:
You don't even want me to tell you about the throwing away of money I saw happen in Afghanistan...YIKES!

Here's one interesting tidbit though...

The U.S. bailed out the main Afghan bank after an insane amount of money was stolen by their board of directors. One of the people on that board of directors? President Karzai's brother. Chew on that for a while and see if it doesn't raise your blood pressure.
Click to expand...
 
#20 ·
aramchek said:
If true, this sort of thing could only happen if things were rotten straight up to the top -- in both parties. It's almost as if the mafia took over when JFK was killed (if not earlier)...
Click to expand...
Per Wiki, which I hate using as a source, but don't feel like looking up more reliable ones (although I did a college paper on this early this year and you can bet your britches it's true)...

"In 2010, it was disclosed that its Chairman Sherkhan Farnood and other insiders were spending the bank's US$1 billion for their own personal lavish style living and lending money under the table to family, relatives and friends. The bank scandal also involved members of Afghan President Karzai's family, including one of his brother, Mahmood Karzai. In September 2010, one of the principal owners of the bank, said that depositors had withdrawn $180 million in two days and predicted a "revolution" in the country's financial system unless the Afghan government and the United States moved quickly to help stabilize the bank.[4][5] In November 2010, reports appeared that Farnood and chief executive Khalilullah Frozi both had been sacked from duties;[6] as of early 2011 both were effectively under house arrest and could not leave the country,[7] and in July 2011 both were formally arrested and detained in Kabul.[8] DAB stated in February 2011, it would seek to sell Kabul Bank within three years once it was rehabilitated,[9] but both the International Monetary Fund and US officials subsequently pressed for a rapid winddown of the institution.[10] A USAID inspector general report estimated that fraudulent loans diverted $850 million to bank insiders.[8] By October 2011, more than a year after the government seized control, officials had recovered less than 10 percent of the nearly $1 billion that went missing.[11]

With regard to public sector corruption in Afghanistan and the loss of nearly U.S. $1 billion in U.S. taxpayers' funded foreign assistance to Afghanistan in the form of U.S.-supplied Afghan government and Afghan military and police salaries deposited into Kabul Bank, The New Yorker Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, National Public Radio (NPR) and others, have reported that widespread corruption, ponzi schemes, fraudulent loans, mass looting, insider loans to fake and bogus companies run by family and friends, and other corrupted practices, were undertaken by a small group of Afghan insiders (less than 12 people), apparently linked to Mahmoud Karzai, President Hamid Karzai and Ahmed Wali Karzai.[29][30] This resulted in nearly $1 billion ($900 million) in Kabul Bank's deposits seemingly vanishing into Dubai and other off-shore locations and unknown offshore bank accounts and tax havens. Hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars were often smuggled and flown out of Afghanistan secretly stashed in bags and airline food trays [31][32][33]"

LINK HERE

I'd strongly recommend going to the link and reading everything there...will blow your mind. I was in Kabul during that time and witnessed a bank run first hand. That is largely why I hate keeping money in a bank...they just lock their doors and so much for getting your $$$. People were going insane...and rightly so.

So, not only does our government bail out our own banks, we bail out banks in other countries as well. Any guess as to why this wasn't widely reported by national news networks? Personally, I would have thought this would have been a leading story for months, followed by a congressional hearing. But nope, not a peep.
 
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SamboRoberts
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