Re: [FT] Robot workersRe: Why superships cost more per mass

From: "David Griffin" <carbon_dragon@yahoo.com>
> Ok, as a government contractor I feel compelled
> to point out that these sorts of examples are highly
> deceptive. The government imposes massive requirements
> for documentation and testing (especially the
> military)
> and it often costs a heck of a lot more to produce
> an item for a military contract than it does to put
> it in wall mart. That wrench may have had to survive
> 4000 degree temperatures, drops from 50 feet, nearby
> explosions, etc. 

Been there, done that.

We wanted to sell some computer software to the US
Military in the 80s. Could have sold maybe 100 units
at a few thousand each.

We gave up when we got the first batch of documentation,
and examined the top form, requesting details of our
affirmative action plan for employing a quota of Aleut
Eskimos (with wording that made it quite clear that if we
didn't have one, we'd not be eligible as a supplier)..

Aleut Eskimos are pretty hard to come by in Australia.....

That's why the US taxpayer has to pay far more for some gear
which has been designed and manufactured in Australia, but
sold through a US partner. They handle all the paperwork, and
that usually costs more than the original item. AND they don't
make much of a profit on it... but they do do the Affirmative
Action Plans for us, showing that we have hired 100% of all
Aleut Eskimos that have ever applied for a job with us, and
there are no Aleut Eskimos at less than Vice-President level.