Military Boondoggles

Military contractor Transdigm gouged taxpayers $1,443 for a small part that cost $32 to make. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rightly asked Transdigm's CEO at a congressional hearing, "Why should we give you another dime?"
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"It seems to me the government always has the choice of what to buy and what not to buy from us," the CEO responded.
That's true. The problem is that the bureaucrats who make spending decisions rarely care about cost. It's not their money.
"This is a lot of money to you or to me, but to an organization with a budget of $750 billion a year, this is nothing," Eric Gomez of the Cato Institute tells me.
The video above includes absurd examples of waste, and discusses how to reign it in.

[@cmndrkool321]

You know it’s bad when you have to agree with AOC

[@SirFency]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[@BigSlickNuts2]

Any non-scumbag would've asked the same question. She wasn't getting a peice of the pie so she had to bring it to light.

[@benjaminshropshire2900]

If I agree with someone, anyone *all* the time or *none* of the time, something funny is going on. Another thing I agree with AOC/the left on: I'd like to live in the world they want to exist. (I.e. a post-scarcity society where we don't have to fear other people.) However I don't want to live in the world they *would* create, or even in a world with most any of the things they would use to get there, but if you dig past their means to the ultimate ends they seem to be after, it would actually be a nice place ... if it were possible in a world containing humans.

[@hermanhoppe3773]

Hmmmm

[@hermanhoppe3773]

@@BigSlickNuts2 yeah

[@MultiDryder]

Basically the real reason US defense spending is too much is because of of the bureaucracy and lack of incentive to reduce costs

[@neovenom9833]

and the fact that many politicians have a personal financial gain when it comes to contracts made with the military industrial complex.

[@ahstinfixsnhc9765]

I mean we have a constant presence literally all over the world lol that's why we spend so much and its how it should be

[@San_Deep2501]

@@neovenom9833 and the lobbyists that enable this

[@benjaminshropshire2900]

No, I think it's even simpler: there is an incentive to increase spending. The bureaucracy is created to do, and obscure, that.

[@ahstinfixsnhc9765]

We're the only country in the world that can move significantly forces around the world or fight multiple front wars if necessary I think you people vastly under appreciated how expensive that cost and how much of an advantage that would be We're the most powerful military in the world by a giant margin but if you people had your way in a generation you'd let China take over and dominate the world smh

[@ubon11]

As someone who has spent 30 years in the military, unfortunately, everything stated in this video is correct.

[@jasonmelendez5216]

Enabler

[@cmtptr]

@@jasonmelendez5216 if you pay taxes, you're an enabler.

[@jasonmelendez5216]

@@cmtptr well yeah

[@melelconquistador]

@@jasonmelendez5216 if you live in America your are complicit.

[@jasonmelendez5216]

@@melelconquistador well duh!

[@ghettomedic9971]

The generals all wind up on corporate boards, that's a big problem.

[@platesomeat]

A similar thing in the U.K.

[@rustym.shackelford5546]

I heard NCOs are better Educated than COs...

[@michaelmappin4425]

@@rustym.shackelford5546 maybe not better educated, but definitely more in touch with the actual needs of the military compared to what politicians want. If I were secretary of the Navy, training and readiness would increase in the first week while costs would go down significantly. I don't just think that, I could prove it.

[@RicardoSanchez-es5wl]

@@michaelmappin4425 I genuinely believe you have the skills to do it, but the problem is the greedy horrible politicians would find a way to stop you from using those skills. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

[@erikdelaney9869]

Almost always. Which masters do they serve?

[@pauperslament3467]

No worries, they're working hard in turning it into the Medical Industrial Complex.

[@suchmuse]

what, again? and who are working on it?

[@DXmYb]

Kung flu agenda. Mandatory Medical Subscriptions to moderna and the other companies

[@RoyArrowood]

@@suchmuse He said medical industrial complex. It's from an old term coined by Eisenhower in a speech where he warned of the potential for the push for private profits by defence contractors to corrupt us into a state of constant war. In modern times this is combined with corporate capture of government and has weakened our democracy. We also see a rediculous amount of waste and that leads to high prices which weakens our military. The OP seems concerned that similar corporate capture has happened in the medical industry and that might account for increased prices as well as decreased function in medical care. The loop would be more complex because insurance companies would be involved too. As for who is doing it. Government, insurance companies, medical equipment manufacturers, and medical care providers would all be culpable.

[@savagetv6460]

@@RoyArrowood government is the problem and statists are a threat to America

[@adamcosta4610]

Great line.

[@jwonz2054]

This is why I love Stossel, he happily gives credit to anyone regardless of party if they make a good point.

[@DarkMagic666]

He's been this way for many decades now. A true "libertarian".

[@Strideo1]

Agreed. Play the argument, don't play the person.

[@NotMyWar]

How about coming down on the ruling class regardless of who it is? They will continue to treat you like subjects because they view you as such.

[@TKUA11]

Too bad that this video well probably be flagged for antisemitism

[@pep590]

@@TKUA11 Why is that as they didn't show Rashid or Omar, the two Jewish hating politicians.

[@kmech3rd]

As someone who works for a defense contractor, at least 30%, probably more, is down to compliance and paperwork. We have employees whose main job is just to handle the paperwork arcana. I'm certain we could equip a navy with what we have to scrap due to paperwork.

[@throwawayuser9931]

I love Stossel because of his stance on issues, not people. Policies, not strawmen.

[@alexanderpowell1528]

Yes, I wish Sky News Australia would hire Stossel to replace Jones but, give Stossel a team to back him up with research instead of more Jone's type opinion viewing. Back about 20 years ago I used to like the content that CNN made but then it became a cost-cutting exercise to see how far dreary opinions could be stretched as info-tainment.

[@gregoryeverson741]

@@alexanderpowell1528 i was around when CNN started, it only told stories and facts, not much politics

[@markbass9402]

You give him too much credit. This subject is a no brainer. Like shooting sitting ducks. An easy one for him.

[@hydraulichydra8363]

Even when your political opponents say something true, you praise them for it. GJ on the impartiality, John.

[@tooslow4065]

if its true and it helps, doesn't matter who says it.

[@resmarted]

That's called being a dupe.

[@jerimiahstephens8580]

Yeah but the only reason she brings it up is because she'd rather spend that money (and alot more) on free handouts. Yes there are people who truly need and depend on government assistance to survive but for every one of them that exist they're 10 that are bleeding the system dry because they won't help themselves to anything but free taxpayer money.

[@mj2carlsbad]

@@jerimiahstephens8580 even if we did give those handouts the costs would pale in comparison to this

[@cristiantalero96]

Yes, truth is a value that should be praised, no matter who says it.

[@oblivionguard2286]

I get that state-of-the-art equipment is expensive, but there's so much bloat because they can markup their prices and the government will still buy it up.

[@insertname7750]

Another case of not my money so I don’t care

[@IL_Bgentyl]

It’s more so due to contractual agreements. Say they want new sell laptops that are $1500 each for the next 10years even if dell stops making that laptop for general consumers they will make them for the government with the same outdated parts at $1500 even though new it may cost $100-$500. So part of the overcharge is due to a contract. Still though the military is incentivized to blow its budget for fear of losing it because, “they didn’t use it so they must not need it”

[@ryanwalker3509]

@Professional shit poster now it all makes sense

[@dvwilbur]

It also costs a lot of money to staff a department that can go through the RFP and other processes to get the contract. If you have to pay a department in your company $10,000 (that's not a lot in people costs) to get the contract to provide 10 - $36 items then you have spent $1000 per item to get the contract. Your item is now $1,036 to break even. The expense in getting a government contract makes it nearly impossible for a smaller company (that would likely be more economical) to even get through the bidding process.

[@ouya_expert]

i've seen quotes for $1 for a regular steel screw. fucking nuts.

[@JohnJ469]

The thing to remember about military spare parts is that it isn't a "Hammer" in the list, it's "Part Number QB-234-X-15".

[@stevek917]

It might only cost $32 to make a part, but that ignores the engineering cost, development cost, cost of dealing with endless government paperwork, etc... A company may spend millions before the first part is shipped. Those costs have to be included in the end price. Additionally, good business is to charge what the buyers will accept.

[@pctotty]

Another thing that is not mentioned is regulation and certification. The price is, generally, going to be hiked up, for the government, because of the awful system and lack of incentives to pay less, but often you also have to pay extra in overhead costs, just to have your product be documented as acceptable.

[@rickpearlstein6421]

A) we don't know that. Lack of data. B) still doesn't justify a 4k% mark up. C)Proves both sides are criminals and corrupt.

[@taboovsknowledge1603]

The American people have to protect America from the government!

[@kanalvoll5416]

Tea needs to be tossed.

[@tomfuelery2905]

Sadly, this is nothing new. It's been this way since WW2.

[@JohnSmith-eo5sp]

Can you give an example from WW2?

[@quadders9198]

Really have to give John Stossel credit for the honesty of his journalism.

[@bobbyd9319]

Yes one of the few truthful people still out there.

[@briannolan7818]

John Stossel continually make some of the best videos on KZbin

[@cat1racer]

That's American apathy. This is awful, thank you John.

[@larsvbundli1740]

Quite disgusting

[@hiptobejarrod]

They’re psychopaths. Manipulative and charismatic

[@Apollyon67]

I see it daily on a local level, and it happens in every state as well.

[@WayneLynch69]

The five wealthiest counties in the U.S. surround D.C. ...despite producing absolutely nothing. It IS the modus vivendi of ALL U.S. Fed government; ENGORGE EVERY IDIOT NIECE/NEIGHBOR/CRONY/CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTOR. It is WHY the spending bill is so vociferously endorsed: MORE GREASE!

[@junior.von.claire]

I don’t blame the govt primarily, for the people are ultimately responsible. Edit: replace primarily with separately

[@YouTubeviolatesmy1stamendment]

Most of the governments overspending goes into politicians pockets or their family members

[@muskodine]

I remember as a kid, Stossel was the dude that would have segments that tended to bring up uncomfortable truths. That was my first and lasting image of this guy. Then he disappeared Then he reappeared on alternative media STILL with segments that tend to provoke conversation about normally uncomfortable talking points. In my eyes, a Legend. No exaggeration there.

[@superbrownbrown]

*Damn. Cortez actually got something correct for a change. Keep throwing darts into a dark room, and you're bound to hit the dart board once in a while. Good job giving her rare credit, Mr. Stossel.* *I truly believe that we fail to understand that we all live and exist in a giant DMV building, and bureaucracy keeps us all employed and distracted.*

[@glennclapp8693]

I worked for a company that made computer equipment for the military. We had a vacuum cleaner for vacuuming out air filters. It was a Sears portable vacuum that cost $99, yet the price to the government was about $2000. Why? We had to always have one-- the military could not go to Sears themselves. We had to get it out and test it and record extensive test data each time. The hours involved made that a $2000 vacuum.

[@stevek917]

Exactly, it's always some government requirement that drives up the cost.

[@glennclapp8693]

@@stevek917 While telling the military "just go to Sears" didn't meet the requirement, I visited a submarine full of Radio Shack gear. When the crew needed something, they took up a collection and would go to the Radio Shack just off the base to get what they needed. Faster, cheaper, probably even better (RIP Radio Shack).

[@stevek917]

@@glennclapp8693 Yeah, not for the government, but I used to fix big printing equipment with parts from the local auto supply. Hoses, clamps, etc... Faster and cheaper. I could tell our customer it would be few days to get parts, or I could pay the couple of bucks out of pocket and be done with it. Customer was happy it was fixed quickly.

[@elultimo102]

@@glennclapp8693 One chopper mechanic rigged up an infrared detector to test the IR lights on the choppers, with parts from Radio Shack---as opposed to using $3000 infrared goggles.

[@glennclapp8693]

@@elultimo102 Things like that are common in the private sector. Do more with less and get it done. That sort of thinking needs to hit the Pentagon.

[@damnsurfer522]

Coming from someone that retired not that long ago, I'll just say our leadership is corrupt. They make deals with those that make the hardware. The leaders approve purchases that are insane for jobs on the outside. Most of these, "JOBS" are just fronts that don't really exist they are just payouts.

[@michaelmappin4425]

Our system of promotion to leadership positions has grown more political over the last 30 years or more. The real leaders quietly retire and move on.

[@rshveyda]

Our Core Mission, Mr. Stossel, should be to get you into the White House. And I don't mean as a visitor.

[@NotKimiRaikkonen]

As a vet it makes me laugh hearing things described as 'military grade'. Everything they buy is from the lowest bidder. If your kids cradle is made from 'military grade steel' it's probably going to fall apart.

[@visekual6248]

Every entrepreneur knows that the best customer is the government, getting a contract with them is a dream, and one thing that is not mentioned is that every institution that receives a government budget wants to spend it all, after all, for example, if this year they received 100 million and spent only 50, next year the government will want to give less, now if 150 million was spent, next year the budget may even increase.

[@edd542]

This is true even at the local level. My city has a policy to buy from "diverse"(non-white) vendors for anything under 3000$ and it sucks working with some of them. They dropship parts and charge us 3x the price it's stupid. Vendors are also allowed to modify the prices on their contracts every month the city doesn't hold them accountable.

[@justthinkingaboutallofit]

Been telling people this for years. It is such a dumb way of doing things

[@buddermonger2000]

Governments have no incentive to decrease spending and just throw money at things until it works.

[@gregoryeverson741]

@@buddermonger2000 NASA is the best example

[@mike777881]

Government contracts are often too exploitable. I worked for a defense contractor on a project where the company gets paid by the government based on the number of man hours worked. When covid started, my company decided that it needed more money in order to recoup losses from other areas of the business, and hence they made us work mandatory overtime. The only issue: I didnt have any additional work to do and thus had to sit at my desk for a few additional hours a week doing nothing. Therefore, the government paid my company for nothing.

[@IL_Bgentyl]

That’s what most government employees do as well lol. It’s more about filling a seat vs doing actual work.

[@captainsponge7825]

very accurate, and not just in the US.

[@sbfcapnj]

How......what's the word I'm looking for...? Soviet.

[@JusdoinstuF]

wow, im sure your not the only company that did that too. some companies took money and they didnt need it at all.

[@scottp2462]

@@IL_Bgentyl As a retired government employee I understand what you are saying but it’s not as simple as your brief description. Yes many government jobs are staffed for peak workloads but many times the peak is never reached on a daily, weekly or even yearly basis. They hire and staff for a worst case scenario that may never come to fruition. Much and I mean overwhelmingly this is rooted in the strength of government employee unions. These government employee unions wield far more power and influence than your run of the mill labor union. Most taxpayers could probably stomach staffing for the worst but it’s ridiculous the waste the union influence generates. I’ve personally witnessed walls, carpeting, bathrooms, flooring, equipment, supplies removed, replaced or discarded because the union objected to their purpose or use. As an example an entire government building diesel backup generator less than four years old with almost no hours of use was replaced because of noise complaints. Not OSHA regulation noise regulation but because a small number of union employees simply walked down a hallway with one of several exits next to the generator room and it was loud as they passed by. No consideration that the building had four other exits! Cost of the removal and replacement of said generator, over $30K! This is but one of many examples in one government building. Brand new carpeting removed and replaced because the union didn’t approve of the color. Same goes for hardware and equipment. Baby Bush tried to reverse this during his administration but was sued for years and eventually Obama reversed his actions. There are millions of government employees and they vote! The unions support politicians that cater to the union members. It’s a viscous cycle of waste.

[@billybeemus3929]

If you always vote either "D" or "R", and criticize the other side while defending your side - You are the reason why this continues.

[@timg2088]

The government does make choices. It chooses to waste taxpayer money, because they're isn't any consequences or accountability.

[@samperry6632]

Our gov't is run by the "Spend first, budget never" creed. Local gov't is really the only part of gov't that can't spend more than it takes.

[@lll9107]

Our 'city' government is trying to spend 10k on a mural. People are flipping out. Not over the content of the mural, but the $10,000. It is so unfortunate for them that all their constituents live within a 15 minute walk of city hall. The weekly meeting transcripts are hilarious. I never thought I would say I felt bad for a politician until I read the crazy crap they have to deal with over a 10k mural. It's mostly greed too. Like people saying "well, my business front isn't looking so great, if this mural is for making the main street prettier it would be nice to spend that money on my store front" and stuff like that. No one wants to do anything selfless with it. It's just about spending the money on the thing that would make their own life better/fancier. I digress.

[@thebestblainejohnson]

Local governments do spend more than they take in. There wouldn't be municipal bankruptcy otherwise.

[@frankmueller2781]

My city government has been corrupt as Hell for decades. The electorate has swept multiple mayors and city councils out of office several times, but the unelected crooks just "train" the new administration in the art of graft and it starts all over again. Our current city council has a habit of steering Federal grant money into their own, each other's, or their relatives businesses.

[@williambaikie5739]

Local governments can be just as bad. Citizens need to get elected high and low and if not elected, don't sleep between elections.

[@generalzod7959]

There is no consequence for wasteful spending in government. On occasion, someone might get voted out but, they are never taken to task for ripping off the taxpayer. We waste so many millions on criminally overpriced items.

[@aaronfox5559]

I’d say a lot more than millions bro especially at a debt of 20 trillion dollars.

[@dustinabc]

Little consequence TO THE GOVERNMENT. Society does have to deal with the consequences after being the ones forced to pay for them. And usually it's the poor and vulnerable that are hurt the worst.

[@generalzod7959]

@@aaronfox5559 oh sure. Millions here, a few billion there. It never comes out of their pockets but, ours.

[@Zetact_]

Even if someone gets voted out most likely their replacement will just look at the spending that got the person voted out and say, "Okay, I'm going to just let that sit there and pass MORE spending bills."

[@robinsss]

@@Zetact_ the government can stop it they can vote against allocating such a large amount of money in the first place the mainstream dems and the progressives could have voted against this recent budget and killed the bill

[@crackheadmkufams]

A TRUE STOSSEL PIECE. These are the "Stossel pieces" that we all love so much. Thank you for taking the time to keep us informed on things that most people don't even know that they need to know.

[@lgmnowkondo938]

Stossel is simply the best..ever since I was a kid, I loved this guy. Says what has to be said...what others can't say.

[@mgtowdadYouTubeSucksCoxks]

As a Marine veteran, I wish some of this money went to us. We always get the hand-me-downs, and still over perform.

[@Vincentschneider007]

My son is a tanker and they always hear from the top they there is no budget for spare parts so they keep the tanks running on second hand parts. My son has even scavaged parts off of a static Abrams on display.

[@mgtowdadYouTubeSucksCoxks]

@@Vincentschneider007 my first deployment into Iraq, I remember haphazardly putting armor plating on Humvees, as we were going up into Iraq because we didn't get any of the actual armored Humvees. Army got those. We spent weeks and weeks prior to our deployment, helping S4 strap on those plates so we could deploy. Fun times! Thank you for your son's service!

[@bruceayers512]

We even used "hand me down" Ordnance from the Chair Force. Feed Us crayons and We will shit you a Modern day Masterpiece. Semper Fi

[@IL_Bgentyl]

Because the Marines are a core not a branch of the military. Why would big brother Navy give his little brother marines the bee shiny stuff?

[@mgtowdadYouTubeSucksCoxks]

@@IL_Bgentyl so we can kill things I thought?

[@SirFency]

We have no way of stopping this. I use to work on government contracts and in order to get the same amount of money each year we had to spend money even when we didn't need to. Each year around November our superiors would come around to our office and ask us if we needed any new computers or TV's or whatever we could think of just to spend the left over money from our budget to maker sure we could get the same amount the following year or justify asking for even more. Its so dumb.

[@Smokkedandslammed]

We did that in the Navy, except it was burning hundred of thousands of gallons of fuel doing circles off the coast of San Diego so our next year fuel budget wouldn't shrink. That was a frustrating 2 weeks of doing nothing, except 2mile wide circles. Fucking crazy.

[@sbfcapnj]

Yep. This. Funny / scary thing is that the Soviets did the exact same shit in the decades before the collapse.

[@bryan81584]

Every government agency operates in this same fashion. I went from the military to civilian federal service, and it is exactly the same. So every year the budgets get larger, often not even to support larger operational requests. There has to be a better way to handle funding agencies that doesn't encourage this practice.

[@Higgs000Boson]

Same thing in Germany

[@robinsss]

the government can stop it they can vote against allocating such a large amount of money in the first place the mainstream dems and the progressives could have voted against this recent budget and killed the bill

[@gg-ni9xe]

It is not our job to be protecting these other countries. It is a waste of money and we should be more focused on protecting our own country. These people are not Americans and we should be focused on protecting Americans.

[@tooge47]

who is foolish enough to STILL think the federal gov't is fixable ? Raise your hand !!

[@aaaaaeiou]

The REAL question is: "who is benefitting from this winfall?" How are politicians so wealthy? And DO NOT tell me it's from "investments".

[@Devastish]

Would you believe "investments" in weapons manufacturers?

[@danlauer9676]

It's obviously from the kickbacks on these deals that are standard practice at this point. Edit: A lot of their wealth is gained from insider trading as well, which is also illegal.

[@jacobawojtowicz]

Investments help. Politicians outperform your typical investor thanks to inside information and the ability to sway policy. While campaign donations come out of a businesses budget, the true value in corporatocracy is when the taxpayer money inflates the balance sheet, which benefits the politicians AND the corporate execs.

[@danlauer9676]

@@jacobawojtowicz Yes. Insider trading, kickbacks, lobbying money. They have lots of avenues to "success", if we define success as preying on taxpayers and sacrificing anyone and everyone who stands in the way of their power and glory.

[@1pcfred]

Nancy's husband is an investing genius! He's in on every company right before they get awarded a contract. The guy is clairvoyant I'm telling ya.

[@tombowman2154]

Evidently AOC not getting her fair share of kickbacks.😁

[@ronnie_5150]

And she doesn't hold shares in Lockheed Martin.

[@stormsmack69]

Truth!

[@Ziffel22]

Don't worry, she'll be a millionaire soon enough.

[@danlauer9676]

You beat me to this comment by a few hours.

[@1pcfred]

The Lil Girl wants her 10% just like The Big Guy gets!

[@jmkulikowski]

Please run for office, Mr. Stossel.

[@mynameisnotlarry7149]

AOC proves the old saying. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[@maxpower3206]

Unless it is military time

[@WinginWolf]

She’s more right than you think. Her priorities are in the right place, but we could do it in more ways than just throwing money at the problem, and more importantly, by not dealing with bureaucracy.

[@CameraMystique]

Oh, these things are well known for many years. Those who raised the issue many years ago were not heard, or were dismissed as conspiracy theorists.

[@pennylope8138]

True that.

[@showmemo3686]

They were heard, and then it was business as usual. Most of us remember the $1k toilet seats, the ridiculously expensive hammers. We give the government a ton of money to do with as they please and they have to spend it. Look at all the COVID relief money they don't have any idea how to spend and some of the garbage it was/is being spent on.

[@freakinccdevilleiv380]

Or uNpaTriotic

[@FredDurst00]

Just a reminder we still have Americans stuck in Afghanistan. Let's go Brandon.

[@grocerylist]

A good reminder to anyone foolish enough to join the military.

[@sbfcapnj]

@@grocerylist The military paid for my college education. I was 19 when I joined. I had no other meaningful opportunities at the time. Was I foolish? Yep. Yes, I was.

[@Livity.]

​@@grocerylist That includes civilians too. While the risk of ISIS taking over has always of been on their minds, they didn't expect it to happen or so quickly. There are expats and family members. A many more people are ethnically\ideologically targeted by ISIS and they were trying to apply for visas or immigration. There has always been conflict in the Middles East, even before Russia and the US got involved. But f- the US military and let ISIS take over Afghanistan earlier?

[@grocerylist]

@@Livity. ISIS didn't exist in the Middle East until the US invaded a foreign land under false pretenses. Anyone that decides to work over there or be a soldier for the Military Industrial Complex and Big Oil deserves no sympathy.

[@grocerylist]

@@sbfcapnj It would have been cheaper (for both you and American Tax payers) to get a federally subsidized student loan or Pell Grant like most people do. Instead you were very brave to fight a pointless war for the elite, the MIL and Big Oil.

[@ExpatriatePaul]

I began my military career as a radio repairman, and will never forget finding out that one small metal box with some gears and a bit of circuitry and held 2 or 3 circuit cards that was common to 2 or 3 radios, cost more to replace than the whole radio. I literally contacted the "fraud, waste and abuse" hotline and gave them the pertinent info and was informed it was justified...HOW, when you literally get one inside a new radio.

[@MorrisonManor]

When I worked satellite communications in the Army, we had a multiplexer that had a couple dozen overdriven LEDs on the front panel. They usually only lasted a couple of years before blowing out. The manual specified a replacement light that cost $37.00. The supply system included hundreds of the same MILitary SPECification LED for prices going down to as low as 29 cents. For years, several electronic supply clerks like myself and two GS12s dedicated to finding and fixing these kinds of scams tried to get the manual updated and it never happened.

[@jmmywyf4lyf]

I've been saying this for years. Anyone who's ever seen the bids for government contracts, sees that the chosen company is never the cheapest, fastest, or even most qualified. Which leads to darker questions. Every little thing. Even some things like roadkill cleanup, paving, parks and recreation, absolutely everything costs WAY more, than anyone with common sense would agree to paying! These are political favors, kickbacks, etc. There is no oversight. No cutting of old programs, when new ones are free lot and there remains overlap. Every single aspect of government spending, is shamefully, and woefully, wasteful! This was one aspect I honestly thought Trump would fix. But cutting through layers, and layers of bureaucracy, and corrupt officials, is a daunting task. Particularly when he was doing it alone, on THEIR turf

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

I blame the 16th Amendment, which is a faucet of 'free' money that politicians never shut off since 1913.

[@ChristopherRyans]

The most expensive gas station that no one uses

[@georgehancock2307]

Think of the saved carbon emissions

[@audio1484]

Your journalism is a breath of fresh air!

[@Redmenace96]

Stossel is great at simplifying things, and making it clear to the common man. When you cross over from sane, to insane, to crazy.... you still couldn't throw a rock and hit the Pentagon and U.S. Defense spending.

[@frankiboots]

I wish stossel TV had longer clips. They're great!

[@gregoryeverson741]

when he was on 60mins, it was just a 5min show

[@mikastevemcbrideoday2370]

Having spent 35 years in or around the government (military and State Dept), I can tell you that we were always told to spend all of our budget or it would be cut the next year. Any organization that encourages you to spend will spend.

[@krtacct]

DumpEx.

[@garymiles4230]

When I went from Navy to Coast Guard. I saw so much of this

[@JJJJ-cr2cl]

20 years to undo. Wake up America!!

[@RoadTripTravel]

We need to focus our energies on the #! thing that needs to change, then work from there. We need to demand TERM LIMITS.

[@jeffpadilla9891]

Democrats call term limits anti American.

[@RoadTripTravel]

@@jeffpadilla9891 I assume you mean democrat politicians? Because this is a bipartisan issue, 87% of the population are in favor of term limits. Congress will never pass, but the Governors of the country will with enough pressure from the public.

[@LanceDarby]

From 83-92 I was stationed at the Air Force Weapons Lap, the Air Force would cancel projects they did not need and Congress would put them back.

[@mindandbodymuscle5345]

Jumping jacks? Ohhh f'n please. Even our own troops don't do jumping jacks.

[@ruiferreira5698]

Thank you USA for the stability you give to the world. God bless your country and army

[@beenieweenie1986]

I used to order parts when I was in the navy. It was usually cheaper to buy from home depot than from the supply department we had to unless it was an emergency. Good work finding things like this Stossel. Most of that served know it's wasteful, but it's nice to know others see it too

[@sbfcapnj]

Man it's almost as if like.....capitalism like....*creates* systems of exploitation and waste or something....

[@beenieweenie1986]

@@sbfcapnj Nah this goes beyond that. This is cronyism at its finest. Companies get big fat government contracts for these parts and they're the only things we can order unless approved as an emergency. Could buy the stuff for half the price at home depot when we should be getting parts for wholesale prices. Need to just cancel the contracts and force everyone to compete on the free market. Costs would cut instantly. I get not everyone can make bombs and nuclear reactors, but pretty sure there is more than 1 company that makes screws and tools we order all the time.

[@davidshakespeare9767]

Unfortunately a lot is stolen and wasted but a lot goes to black projects which you can’t have on the books

[@SimonASNG]

Yea, like the MIB. ;)

[@jacobhwrd1]

Little is stolen. And the classified projects you’re talking about are wrapped up in a separate spending category so you know how much is allocated for that. You are 100% correct about the waste. I have been in the defense industry for the last 12 years and it’s absurd the amount of waste. Yes the prices are crazy high and for a lot of it you will spend more because these parts we buy are made to order so the fact that they aren’t mass produced drives costs up, but not to the prices the government pays. The sheer amount of waste is the single biggest issue though and a close second is the prices charged. The government spends $1 to make sure you can steal a $0.05. The waste is what needs to be fixed first.

[@IL_Bgentyl]

Don’t forget how many, “black projects” are just bs hidden behind classifications to avoid being transparent somewhat understandably though. Many, “black projects” are done by independents so the government can deny any involvement.

[@hengry2]

@@jacobhwrd1 "Classified" projects are projects broken down for public companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop grumman, and many others; the B2 Bomber has many parts that are from such companies. The government doesn't actually own the blueprints for many of their aircrafts, they only own the item once it is produced in final.

[@jacobhwrd1]

@@hengry2 I’m an aware of this. Again I have worked for the larger defense contractors in tue world for the last 12 years. The secret budgets he was referring to origanlly all fall under the same spending bill. These are large portions of money that are allocated into one pot for the protection of those projects and research.

[@JRLSprague3]

Defund the government.

[@tomkaidalov6345]

But if America defends only it self, then it can’t control other smaller counties, and that’s a big no-no

[@ChristopherRyans]

Marvel needs to make a space on the Avengers team for this guy.

[@kwazhims3lf]

god no, if the goal was to make stossel suck then ya... marvels cast their lot in with woke idiologs, and are only capable of making woke trash now proofs in the pudding, fcuk marvel

[@elultimo102]

@@kwazhims3lf Let's go Brandon, too!!!

[@DemocraticSocialistsRule]

When I was seperating from the Marine Corps and finishing my paperwork I got attached to a logistics office. I spoke to the fiscal guys in there a lot because I had nothing else to do. At the PX (base store) a highlighter was $.99. The unit paid $12 for a highlighter. I asked why not just go to the PX? The military has a contract with a specific company to supply them, that company charges whatever they basically want. The units just sign off on it because the contract is already in place for them to be the supplier, they don't even care they are being overcharged. One reason why is the units WANT their budgets to run out, that's why we are given crates of grenades and told to just toss them for fun. (Not even real training). If the budget runs out they can go and say, "hey we used it all so it needs to be increased."

[@JoseOliveira-kc4tr]

That reminds me of something: some years ago I enrolled in the Goethe Institute to learn German (I'm writing from Lisbon, Portugal). After some time, we noticed that the classroom was always hotter than it needed to be (it was a particular amenable winter). When asked, the teacher replied " We have to spend the entire budget or next year we will receive less"!

[@jimthornston7554]

The greatest of all time!!! John Stossel

[@captaincoconutts]

John Stossel for President 2024

[@billybobjohnadamjoe]

Our alliances with foreign powers are important, as is protecting them when they need it, but the overzealous expenditure clearly isn’t doing us any good.

[@blindsquirrel7802]

What the government requires in paperwork and inspection for a widget that costs little makes the price skyrocket.

[@dodge1629]

That reminds me the movie Independence day and the military quotes: "You don't actually think they spend $20,000 on a hammer, $30,000 on a toilet seat, do you?"

[@williamfris3835]

20 years what a waste and nothing to show for it except our dead

[@tmdrake]

I was hopping to be contracted for a gov jon 10 years ago... I guess i couldn't gouge enough.

[@DarkMagic666]

Yeah... you prolly needed to "gladhand" someone first.

[@LateralTwitlerLT]

@Freddie Jones That's why he was hopping: he needed that jon so badly

[@Existntlangst]

I have to disagree with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This was a critical program that was plagued by poor management and confusing project direction. This program suffered from scope creep. We needed this system to eliminate flying AWACS and EW planes to support fighters. This is part of the natural technological advances in warfighting. However, the cost overruns and outrageous price markups are ridiculous.

[@frivolousarguments8578]

F-22 is a better aircraft. F-35 was a waste of money.

[@renaissancestatesman]

Critical to what? The US Naval air power is larger than the actual Air Force of almost every nation. Of the 22 aircraft carriers in the world the US has 12 of them. All far larger than those of other nations. How was an overpriced program like the F-35 "critical." That's the kind of nonsense a lobbyist for Lockheed would say.

[@sweydert]

The entire point of the video was "poor management."

[@Existntlangst]

@@renaissancestatesman no, the JSF combines EW, Air Awareness, A2A, and Air 2 Ground capabilities. It should have been managed more effectively, but you had hundreds of people adding more capabilities on top, creating scope creep. It's not about a better fighter jet... It's about combining sensors and building a single aircraft able to collect info, attack, and build battlespace awareness. It should've been managed better.

[@Existntlangst]

@@frivolousarguments8578 for creating a single air to air fighter, yes you're right. But the 35 is more than an interceptor/A2A fighter.

[@mikeb8436]

Well stated John. A big problem that is long overdue needing to be corrected

[@blondie2775]

The wasteful spending is beyond ridiculous!!

[@quinnsnextstep]

Loss of equipment in wars is huge. We pay to fly the equipment over "there", then we leave it behind. Sometimes destroy it on the way out, but as seen in Afghanistan, not always. Didn't the same thing happen in Iran in the 80s? hmmm

[@johnpatrick1588]

In the Iraq war, we were paying US$5.00 for every can of coca-cola consumed. It wasn't imported since the it came from the bottling plant in Iraq.

[@DoYouuBelieveeeInLifeAfterLove]

I did 5 years in an aviation squadron. Bolts you can pick up at home depot for $2.30 are $5,000. Very often the wrong part comes in, sometimes it would be internal gears for turbines costing over 23k. If you tried to send it back, they wouldn't take it, usually ended up in the trash.

[@maniacmatt7340]

The lack of accountability is through and through. And the gov won't care because it's not their money

[@spangas5799]

If we call it 'the climate crisis', we have already lost the argument.

[@noahshafer1869]

I tend to be supportive of military spending but Stossel gave some hard truths that put it into perspective.

[@acctsys]

Fighting equipment and training? Sure. Social justice and climate? No.

[@Mctt5589]

Amen! John is one of the few sane Americans with a big platform anymore

[@dannyp1439]

Bonuses for personnel based on making spending goals would fix this in a heart beat. Incentivize the ones signing the check and spending goes down. Corporate America 101. What a bunch of fools our government are. Foolish men and women, beyond that of a child.

[@kevin6293]

2:59 this is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen.

[@pilot88pro]

I think we should defend Israel, Taiwan, and South Korea (if needed).

[@gregoryeverson741]

after the gun turrets at the south border

[@kendrabuttersworth3886]

Let’s stop paying these people

[@davidmarksii4001]

Trust me it's far worse than anyone outside the military industrial complex would ever believe.

[@Scruffy-LookingNerfHerder]

What’s the cost of NOT having troops stationed overseas?

[@NATOnova]

Massive. Isolationism has huge consequences, just look at WW2 or even the Korean War. North Korean leadership didn't think USA would go to war if they invaded South Korea. If we had displayed that we were committed to defending them from authoritarian invasions, as we do now with Korea as well as many other countries around the globe, they likely never would have invaded

[@Scruffy-LookingNerfHerder]

@@NATOnova finally, someone who gets it. Apparently Stossel doesn’t understand that power hates a vacuum. If we withdraw from the global stage, Russia and China will be happy to fill the void.

[@NATOnova]

@@Scruffy-LookingNerfHerderA policy of USA retreating back to focusing only on ourselves and on a strict definition of homeland security is a horrible and disastrous policy. If USA doesn't lead the world, China will be happy to replace the current dominant liberal democratic, open trade world order with an autocratic, socialist, corrupt, illiberal system. Without US assurances backed by military forces on the ground, our allies like Taiwan, Ukraine, South Korea, and others would be in great peril from being invaded/annexed from authoritarian regimes all over. That puts our our Americans and our economic interests in trading with these stable countries in great peril, and draws us into incredibly costly wars. These classic Libertarian isolationist stances, although well intentioned, are misguided.

[@1pcfred]

Nothing big. Just a global conflict that ends our species.

[@danf7568]

Thank you for your courage to identify self serving government enterprises. A big reason Trump is hated by so much by government is that he is educated and experience as a businessman.

[@jjrossitee]

🤣😂🤣

[@anall3l3]

Tf does Trump have tô do with this vídeo?

[@rightwired]

I could watch you cover this issue EVERY SINGLE DAY. The ENTIRE system is f'd and needs to be scrapped and redone.

[@TheRealFollower]

Get out of the dollar if you are tired of government spending.

[@gunterdapenguin5896]

I think it was around $120 billion af the yearly budget defense budget is wasted on overcharging and bureaucracy. Think about that next time they say "it's only $34"

[@ronschramm9163]

There is a scene in "Independence Day" when the character of Jeff Goldblum's father say "You think they spend $30,000 on a toilet seat?"

[@larryblank2669]

Amen, truer words have never been spoken

[@GetSicRiCH]

You are so rad and so right. Always. We LOVE your news reporting.

[@jasongrundy1717]

AoC is one of the worst benefits for the $ taxpayers are paying for. She's a massive negative. At least these parts are a positive.

[@vinnieboombatzmd3508]

"Cultures are different" LOL!!!!!

[@brianfoley4328]

Contractors overpricing has been going on since the Revolutionary War...Washington complained to Congress constantly about it. It was very prevalent during the Civil War and it hasn't changed one iota since.

[@NashiHeartSoulSpirit]

This is why the American debt will never be paid back.

[@macworks9389]

John if you think we should be out of Japan, Taiwan, etc. you are looking at this from a very shallow perspective. Climate change is a demand from the current admin. Not much the military can do. Can we do better on procurement, yes. But industry and the government will need to have similar goals. Not the current advisarial procurement plan.

[@mrswjr4061]

When is the Dept of Defense going to actually start doing some defending of the U.S. border instead of defending the border of other countries?

[@elultimo102]

Don't forget Joe shutting down our pipeline, but approving the one from Russia.

[@RJ-md1in]

Uh- oh, Mr Stossel said the "I" word...you're getting closer sir. Keep peeling back the layers.

[@ryanjones7681]

Fun fact: We spend more on social security and entitlements every year than we do on our military.