February 11, 2004
That's The Spirit!
Ever notice how some of the most manic flag-wavers are also some of the quickest to make try to make a buck (or twenty, or twenty million) off the taxpayers?
Why don't military contractors, if they're so fucking patriotic, offer to design and build the Pentagon's high-tech war-toys at cost? Why doesn't Halliburton, rather than overcharging for its underwhelming "services" in Iraq, offer them at cost?
Here's another example of one company's idea of what it means to help the cause:
As the Coast Guard tackles its new mission of protecting America from terrorist attacks, one of the tools it needs is a radio frequency to help monitor the movements and cargo of thousands of ships that enter the nation's ports each year.
But it's out of luck.
The Federal Communications Commission -- over the Coast Guard's objections -- sold the frequency at auction to a private company in 1998 for $6.8 million.
Now the Coast Guard wants a slice of the frequency back, calling it essential to its plans. The winning bidder, MariTEL, says it can have it, maybe, for $20 million.
MariTEL bought the frequency fair and square, realizing at the time, even if the FCC didn't, just how valuable it was. Like any good entrepreneur, the company expects to profit from its investment, says Dan Smith, who as MariTEL's president supervises its two other employees.
Kinda reminds you of Goodfellas, doesn't it?
That's the way it is with a wiseguy partner. He gets his money no matter what. You got no business? Fuck you, pay me. You had a fire? Fuck you, pay me. The place got hit by lightning and World War Three started in the lounge? Fuck you, pay me.
Posted by Eddie Tews at February 11, 2004 07:38 PM
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