Government spending on private contracts has increased from $207 billion in 2000 to about $400 billion last year, the New York Times reported. And now, amazingly, far more people work under contracts than are employed directly by the government. In fact, the government hires contractors to oversee other contractors.
Private contracting can make financial and managerial sense in many cases. But the Times analysis raised several serious concerns: a lack of openness and competitive bidding in most contracts; private companies performing sensitive "government" work; contract winners tend to be companies that spend millions on lobbying and donating to political campaigns. Also, private companies aren’t subject to the Freedom of Information Act, even if the work they do should be open to the public.
"Without a public debate or formal policy decision, contractors have become a virtual fourth branch of government," the Times noted. Shouldn’t there be debate and scrutiny?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
It’s good that Marty Spence (in photo with boyfriend) is focused on achieving her goals. It’s just that most people don’t make posing for Playboy one of their ambitions in life. The WSU senior appears in the annual College Girls special edition (no, we’re not providing the link). "I’m not ashamed of what I’ve done," she said. "Playboy is a beautiful magazine."
Still, she’ll probably not be featured on a "I am Wichita State" billboard. But if the modeling thing doesn’t pan out, she might try NASA; it may be looking for a new astronaut.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
President Bush’s “uniter” talk has gotten a revival this year, most recently at his first visit to a Democratic congressional retreat since 2001. Speaking to the 200 lawmakers in Virginia on Saturday, Bush said, “These are tough times, but there’s no doubt in my mind that you want to secure this homeland as much as I do.” He also got a laugh by atoning for his reference to “the Democrat majority” in the State of the Union speech. “I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party.” The collegiality seems a little late, but it can’t hurt.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Ted Haggard, the disgraced national evangelical leader accused of a homosexual relationship with a male prostitute, has been saved, according to four ministers who oversaw an intense three-week brainwash, er, counseling session with Haggard.
As of this week, “He is completely heterosexual,” declared the Rev. Tim Ralph, one of the counselors.
Halleleujah. But you wonder if Haggard might need lifetime oversight to keep him on the straight and narrow path.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
People will see winners and losers in last week’s report on disputed arena land parcels by a court-appointed panel of appraisers, who judged five properties to be worth more than Sedgwick County had offered for them. That’s fine. But even accounting for the pain and expense, the process seems to be working as county leaders intended, and that means the $201 million, 15,000-seat project can move forward. It’s hard to be surprised or unhappy about the panel’s judgment that the Episcopal Social Services building is worth $1.3 million, far more than the offered $500,000. It had a different appraiser than the other sites, inviting disparity. Most important, it will now have the benefit of more funds with which to relocate its precious services to the community.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Joel Sartore (in photo), an Eagle photographer from 1985 until 1992, was the subject of an interesting documentary Monday night on KPTS, Channel 8. “At Close Range” followed his life as a National Geographic photographer, which isn’t nearly as much fun as you might think.
“If I weren’t Type A and very obsessive-compulsive, there’s no way I’d do this,” Sartore said. “Most shoots I’m covered with bugs. . . . Most of the time it’s physically miserable, and if you weren’t wound tight like me to get good pictures, why in the world would you ever do something like this?”
It’s also hard on Sartore to be away from his family for weeks at a time and to witness so much destruction of nature. “It’s the last of everything I’m photographing,” Sartore said. “It’s really kind of tragic.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
