Franklyn Delano Roosevelt was Undersecretary of the Navy in World War I and he handled the job better than anyone before or since. By the time he became president and facing a Second World War just 23 years later, he knew exactly what to do.
"Roosevelt, who had handled the Navy's contracting responsibilities in World War I, was well served by the procurement team Stimson assembled at the War Department. Undersecretary Robert Patterson, General Brehon Somervell, who commanded the supply services, and Clay presided over the greatest military buildup the world has ever known within a time frame few considered possible. Between Pearl Harbor and V J Day, the armed services let contracts that ultimately exceeded $200 billion ($2 trillion currently) with scarcely a breath of scandal. "We were not against industry making a profit," said Clay, "but we were damned well sure they were not going to make an excess profit." For the first and only time in American history, the military employed a process of mandatory contract renegotiation. Whenever a supplier reaped an excessive profit or the Army no longer needed what it contracted for, the War Department renegotiated the contract and recaptured the government's money. "I think it was the greatest job we did during the whole war," said Clay years later. "You haven't heard any criticism of excess profits from World War II, and no one else has." (The mandatory contract renegotiation and recapture of excess profits, faced repeated court challenges, but the Supreme Court upheld the army's authority. Justice Harold Burton said, "The constitutionality of the conscription of manpower for military service is beyond question. The constitutional power of congress to support the armed forces with equipment and supplies is no less clear and sweeping. The mandatory renegotiations of contracts are valid, a fortiori." From FDR, by Jean Edward Smith
Roosevelt could have allowed everyone to steal everything from the American People, and contribute to his campaigns in future, just as the current Pork Barreling, war criminals are doing now, but he was a man of honor and justice, and he lacked their avarice and demoniac personalities. Roosevelt had war pushed upon him, despite what those whose research skills are rather lacking and those who were and continue to practice scumbag Rovean slanders even about Pearl Harbor, and the error ridden Wikipedia chasers, who are jacks of all trades and masters of none, whose naïvete' dupe them into being victims of Neo-con, prewar, Swift-Boating and Nazi sympathizing, say that FDR tried to manipulate us into war. Such people have no in-depth knowledge of the history or conditions in 1932-1941, or neither of the power wielded by the Nazi's nor of the Prescott Bush Nazi Sympathizer slander machine, which tried to utilize the 500,000 WW I Veterans, to other-throw Roosevelt in 1933.
More On Recapturing No-Bid Contractor and oil company profits! It is entirely possible, if all of the complaints we read about in quality are true that the clause, "Uniquely Qualified Contractor" is bullshit. When I was a tenured professor, the Halls of Higher Education were diseased with "Uniquely Qualified Contractor's" who, after I sent out for bids from others for the same work, were no more "Uniquely Qualified Contractor's" than your pet turtle is for Astro Physics.
I do not know what experience Halliburton had in food service, but right now in America, there are thousands of restaurant chains, caterers and food service contractors serving millions to tens of millions of customers a day, with good, nutritious food, and until proven to me to my satisfaction, I question the Uniqueness of those so specified in employ of the government as contractors in Iraq. I say if Halliburton or any contractor has men of superior skill and experience the government instead of paying billions, should merely hire away these "geniuses" and set them up within the government. I also wonder why American contractors were hired to reconstruct what the Bushites intentionally destroyed for the expressed purpose of rebuilding for the graft and the payback from contractors for construction work in Iraq, the Iraqi's seem to have done a fairly good job of building their own edifices over the last few thousand years, and why and how the contractors that were sent there were "Uniquely Qualified" when we also have thousands of building contractors, architects and engineers, right here in America also, who might have delivered lower bids, is beyond men and women of even minimal intelligence.
We have, right now, (not having to wait until after the 2008 election) a rare opportunity to take down the scourges of the earth, by getting back about 80% of the profits they have skimmed, and break their strangle hold on cash, and share the money with American citizens and returning troops, the very people from which they've been allowed to snatch it.
I say we ring every penny of it from the contractors and oil companies, and right now, as Roosevelt did! What do you say? Will you join me in asking every single congress person in each of your districts to subject the "Uniquely Qualified Contractor's" No-Bid contractors to Mandatory renegotiation and recapture of US Funds which are in our opinion excess charges, not just excessive profits, but excessive charges. Profits can be hidden, so I say reduce their payment by 80% on every job they and their contractors and subcontractors have done overseas and here, which is in any way related to this war. We need no pork barreling at the expense of our troops and our citizens here who have kept the home fires burning brightly for their return.
Let's take back most of that $2.3 trillion thrown away to pals by the Pork Barreling War Criminals in Washington and the trillions robbed from America's workers by the oil companies, and the $5.9 trillion left by the Clinton Administration, blown by the Bushites. Let us form a letter writing, phone calling, personal visiting, push among our citizens and congress to follow FDR's lead to renegotiate all No-Bid Contracts and recapture 80% of all charges made by "Uniquely Qualified Contractor's" No-Bid contractors, Oil Companies, and other contractors, ASAP?
Professor Bagnolo is a Renaissance man: Cultural Anthropologist, Architectural designer, painter, writer, novelist, theologian. As a child prodigy, abed with polio for almost two years, with an off the charts IQ, reading at the graduate level by 5th grade, offered an opportunity to skip three grades at age 8. Later He was a recipient of an Art Institute scholarship at age 11, a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Anthropology and in Painting and a merit scholarship in art, and was appointed a Graduate Research Assistant position in college. He holds a triple bachelor's degree in Painting and Drawing, Anthropology, Architectural Design Advertising. MA's in Cultural Anthro, Painting and more. After being tenured he taught; architecture, anthropology, Theology, advertising, painting and drawing, entrepreneuring and Creative Profit Making. He produced a star-studded Music festival, had a radio talk show in Chicago, and cable TV show. Now, retired from Teaching, he paints, writes, and pursues other ventures.
The above bio harvested from the comments of Deans, colleagues, students, clients and collector's.
All you have to do to stop this war and the ones to follow is to take the profit out of it.I would go even one further.I would have a law that if the president, vice president, and any member of congress votes for a war that anyone in their immediate family who is capable of serving in the armed services be drafted immediately, that includes the Bush twins.
If you want to vote for a war you need to put some skin in the game yours or your family and that will end this madness quickly.
I admire men like General Smedley Butler who hated war.He had many ideas on how to prevent wars here is a good link
I've been writing about this for six years but only five congresspeople have ever contacted me about it. We can whistle Dixie I suppose for all the good it will do. Here are a few from 2006 & 2007:
My gosh, I love this! You and Mike seem to think alike all right. You ought to team up on an article project.
PETE:
1)-Will you marry me?
2)-Or at least paint my portrait?
Sort of kidding ABOUT NUMBER 1, sort of... BUT NOT NUMBER 2. Great article. Did I read somewhere that a major magazine or newspaper wants you to write for them?
When is your next novel coming out?
by
Agatha Payne (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 47 comments)
on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 3:41:02 PM
#1-Well, I am married, but you know how I feel about polygamy. So, why not. Ask your dad if it is okay 1st though and if you are within shooting range of my wife please wear bullet proof vest.
#2-I know your dad can afford my fee so why not.
Team up with Mike, novel thought, but interesting.
(Did I read somewhere that a major magazine or newspaper wants you to write for them?) YOU MAY HAVE, BUT NO COMMENT!
MY NEXT NOVEL I WILL ADVERTISE ON OPED THIS YEAR WHEN IT IS READY, FALL, I THINK. IT IS IN EDITING. THAT WILL MAKE ROB HAPPY AS A LARK!
by
Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo (144 articles, 1 quicklinks, 95 diaries, 1292 comments)
on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 3:49:44 PM
