Government Doesn't "Get It"

Maybe I am naive. Perhaps I just don't understand why anyone in their right (sane) mind would electively choose to have any sort of government agency preform duties that the private sector could easily and readily handle. Government typically is hyper managed, expensive, and typically very slow to reform or act. In the latest "golden parachute" proposal working its way through both houses of congress, the national mall is about to get a spruce up. Don't get me wrong, the mall probably does need to be re-landscaped. I say lets do it! However, the proposed spending for this "pet project" is roughly 1.5 million dollars, to re-sod the park, alone. Seriously, you must be joking, mistaken, or have previously been employed by Mr. Madoff. I am aware of the price of sod. I purchased some last summer. I grossly over ordered (miscalculation of my part) and purchased enough to cover 1/4 acre. My entire bill came to roughly $480.00. The entire area of the national mall is roughly 1 acre. This means, that the sod could probably be purchased for around $2k. Lets say that kentucky blue grass has suddenly become scarce, and has driven the price up exponentially. I am willing to bet that you could re-sod the entire thing for under $20K. Figure in labor costs, and I am willing to bet it could be done for roughly around $30K.

This is the fundamental problem with big government. I guarantee you that if you got quotes from outside agencies and contractors, and hired them to re-furbish the national mall, it would be far more economical, and done in a timely manner. Take the 35W bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis as an example. 35W is the corroted artery of the Minneapolis/St. Paul freeway system. The most pressing issue was time. After all, time IS money! The project was contracted out through the private sector. The winning bid was announced. The company worked on the bridge around the clock. The Minnesota Dept. of Transportation offered a "bonus" for every single day the bridge was completed ahead of schedule. The contractor's saw this as an opportunity and ran with it. They ran so far and so fast, that they finished the bridge roughly three months ahead of schedule, and under budget. A government success story!

Government is not the enemy. We need government. We just need less of it. Bueracracies have become broad reaching, undermining the true sense of smart business. Plain and simple: Too many chef's spoil the soup. Why not "take a chance" on citizens to better their community. I cannot think of a better way to maintain a high level of accountability and responsibility. People take pride in their work. It is in effect, their signature. When someone signs their name to something, they agree with it. They try. They succeed. Unfortunately, this is not true for governmental agencies. These seem to be a safe place to "dance through life" and blame the other guy. Job security and financial consequences are simply not an issue. Call it government oversight. Outsource the work, and success is far more probable. Just outsource to the private sector, and not to India or China, please.