3 ms·

You don’t think there could be perverse incentives if not outright bribery with the people who negotiate with the contractors?

• rightbyte 5y ago
  Surely. I just mean that the US military is in a position to choose how their stuff is repaired, while I can't force Apple to sell me spare parts or whatever.
  • Tabular-Iceberg 5y ago
    Not even that is a given. It would be easy for defence contractors to form a cartel forbidding any of its members to let the customer do the repairs.
    • webmaven 5y ago
      > Not even that is a given. It would be easy for defence contractors to form a cartel forbidding any of its members to let the customer do the repairs. Even in the current environment, that would almost certainly trigger prosecution under the RICO Act as collusion and conspiracy for the purpose of market manipulation, just for starters.
      • Tabular-Iceberg 5y ago
        Only if they get caught. It’s common for advanced electronic components to have their data sheets under NDA, meaning that the suppliers are contractually obligated to keep the information to repair the equipment from the customers. Every party except for the customer benefits. Now is it market manipulation or legitimate protection of intangible assets? Who knows. Only stupid racketeers get caught.
        • webmaven 5y ago
          > Only stupid racketeers get caught. Evidence suggests that in all walks of life, half of people are below average in intelligence. The larger the conspiracy, the higher the odds (asymptotically approaching 100%) of getting caught eventually (and eventually isn't all that long).