Posted by jerry wigutow on Jun 20th, 2018
THE POWER OF A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
It is unnecessary to have knowledge when you are not spending your own money. This is how things work in the government at the highest and lowest levels.
I have experienced for many years the incompetence displayed by many young members of our military who are charged with finding products that are needed by their units. These youngsters look at the products sold into the outdoors industry and read the famously inaccurate information published.
A perfect example of this comes from the Kentucky Air National Guard wanting a down bag that retails for $700.00. The bag is supposedly manufactured in the USA by Western Mountaineering. I am not so sure about that, I have been told they get all of their shells made in Asia and I know all of the down comes from China. So the product is not Berry Amendment compliant. That said the bag is supposedly a -5 degree bag.
It should also be noted that in the field it will not function beyond a few days since the down absorbs all of the moisture from the occupant.
But isn’t it good to know that this government employee can put out a solicitation that eliminates competition from other bag manufacturers by stating something like no substitutes accepted. The individual would not spend his own money on this product but since he has a government credit card he is happy to spend our money.
As you can see there are many who have power and a lack of knowledge pertaining to what they are asked to buy.