Ooops, another of Rmoney's "I built this biz" guys relies on the gubmint

[Scuba]

From Blogging Blue.

Ken Dragotta, the owner of Systems Engineering and Automation Corporation, has been attacking President Obama here in Wisconsin on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, and in his attacks Dragotta has asserted that he and his family are responsible for his company’s success, while denying any role the government may have played in his company’s success.

However, as Dan Bice of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported, Dragotta’s small business has most definitely benefited from the government, or more specifically government contracts.

...

Last year, records show, Systems Engineering – a north side firm that makes precision-machined parts – won two U.S. Department of Defense contracts worth more than $175,000.

Both contracts were to provide crankshafts for the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, which is responsible for repairing the country’s naval ships and submarines. The first contract was signed in January 2011 for $91,860, and the second a month later for $85,110.

Not a lot of money, but then Dragotta's firm employs just four workers.

[trotsky]

1. Maybe this could turn into a wake-up moment for a lot of people.

I mean, this stuff is common sense to most DUers - but a lot of Americans, after decades of "government is the problem" spewing from every Republican mouth, might not make that connection anymore. I hope some good comes out of it.

[Blanks]

2. Turns out the folks in Romney's commercials...

...are the ones who want 'free stuff'.

I know it's not really free, but any government program has some kind of strings attached.

The point is: the government (at any level) is a good reliable client. They complain about the government in the hopes that others won't pursue government work, because unlike moral/ethical people; they don't want to share the teet.

I'd bet you dollars to donuts; when confronted with this the guy doesn't back down (from previous statements) one bit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

3. Their arguments on government contracts are incredible

"Well, the government is just a customer like any other! It's not a handout, because we're providing a good or service! Wah!"

Then in the next breath they scream bloody murder about "government spending!" Here are two budget items that are probably unnecessary (and certainly will be after the sequester!): $91,860 and $85,110 for crankshafts. I'm sure we can either do without them, or get them much cheaper from a competitor. After all, the out of control spending on crankshafts by the federal government absolutely MUST BE reined in.

How ya like the curbs on outrageous government spending now, Mr. Dragotta?

You know, Mr. Dragotta, usually when some group of people (US taxpayers) do a favor for another group (you and your family), it's customary to say "Thank you," rather than "You never gave me anything!" You should try it.