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The US government recently bought a $51.6K trash can, despite facing a staggering $32T national debt. The government’s financial management and priorities have been questioned in response to the revelation.
In a way, it’s a stark reminder to be fiscally responsible and to allocate taxpayer money efficiently.
Defense Department’s $51,600 Trash Can Purchase Sparks Controversy
Apparently, the U.S. Department of Defense paid Boeing, a prominent aerospace company, $51,600 for a trash receptacle that usually costs $300. Government spending like this raises questions about financial responsibility and efficient spending.
The government is expected to be fiscally responsible and provide taxpayers with the most value for their money. Such a large discrepancy in price raises questions about the effectiveness of government oversight and whether or not the government is making wise spending decisions.
In an online magazine called Responsible Statecraft, a trash can classified as non-commercial was purchased at a high price by the Pentagon.
The defense probably paid more for the trash can because of this designation.
Until 2010, Boeing charged an average of $300 for a trash container used in the E-3 Sentry, a surveillance and radar plane based on the 707 civilian airliner.
When the 707 fell out of use in the United States, the trash can was no longer a “commercial” item, meaning that Boeing was not obligated to keep its price at previous levels.
Senators Demand Action on Exorbitant Defense Prices Amidst Rising US Debt
According to the report, an unknown source in the weapons industry provided the information.
During the investigation, Raytheon Technologies raised the price of its stinger missiles from $25,000 to over $400,000 per unit. The price surge has sparked concerns and attracted media attention.
Senator Bernie Sanders and a bunch of senators from different parties wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about the price hike. Requested an update on the Department of Defense’s investigation and response to companies charging excessive prices.
They expressed concern that some companies are taking advantage of the pandemic and charging excessive prices for essential items. They asked the Department of Defense to provide an update on their investigation into these companies and their response to the issue.
In response to corporate price gouging, the senators wanted to ensure appropriate measures were taken.
The DOD can no longer expect Congress or the American taxpayer to underwrite record military spending while simultaneously failing to account for the hundreds of billions it hands out every year to spectacularly profitable private corporations.
US debt has now hit $32 trillion, according to recent reports. A total of $572 billion has been added to the national debt in two weeks. There’s a reason to worry about this growing debt, and it shows how struggling the country is regarding finances.
The cost of paying it back will be passed on to future generations. Long-term, the US economy could suffer.
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