Bad at math?

[darthtang aw]

So I am reading this story.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/17...ex.html?hpt=T1
and in it is this paragraph that caught my eye.
"The TSA has more than 7,000 explosive trace detection (ETD) machines and has purchased 400 additional units with $16 million in federal stimulus money. The president's fiscal 2011 budget calls for $60 million to purchase approximately 800 portable ETD machines."
Ok. 16 million bought 400. But in 2011 the price for these is going to increase 100% and cost us 60 million? And we wonder why we have a deficit. Why not buy them now at the current price then, since they could be used NOW and would be cheaper on our overal deficit in the long run?

 

[bionicarm]

Originally Posted by Darthtang AW
http:///forum/post/3230869
So I am reading this story.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/02/17...ex.html?hpt=T1
and in it is this paragraph that caught my eye.
"The TSA has more than 7,000 explosive trace detection (ETD) machines and has purchased 400 additional units with $16 million in federal stimulus money. The president's fiscal 2011 budget calls for $60 million to purchase approximately 800 portable ETD machines."
Ok. 16 million bought 400. But in 2011 the price for these is going to increase 100% and cost us 60 million? And we wonder why we have a deficit. Why not buy them now at the current price then, since they could be used NOW and would be cheaper on our overal deficit in the long run?
Because that would make sense. The supplier found a payday, and probably figured that if the Federal Govt. follows their same logic with other vendors once a contract has been awarded (i.e. the $5,000 hammer or $20,000 toilet seat), why not try to get $75,000 for each unit, instead of the $40,000 they got for the first order.
Maybe the second version is an upgraded model with more bells and whistles.

 

[bang guy]

Perhaps the portable units are a lot more expensive than the fixed position units they purchased with the $16M. It could make sense since most portable electronics need to come with their own power supply and often require miniaturized parts.

 

[reefraff]

Maybe the company making them unionized

The portable stuff is always more expensive. Price a laptop compared to a desktop.

 

[darthtang aw]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/3230879
Perhaps the portable units are a lot more expensive than the fixed position units they purchased with the $16M. It could make sense since most portable electronics need to come with their own power supply and often require miniaturized parts.
Possibly, but there are a little over 200 major airports/hubs in the U.S. we have 7000 now, plus 400, and 800 portables soon. Why not take the 800 portables and turn that into 1600 fixed....how many do we need? Place them at the checkpoints and you are done. you don't need them at the gates...I could be wrong...

 

[stdreb27]

you're missing the other far more likely possibility. The CNN reporter is an idiot and has no clue what he was writing, and just messed up...

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by stdreb27
http:///forum/post/3230889
you're missing the other far more likely possibility. The CNN reporter is an idiot and has no clue what he was writing, and just messed up...

The Clinton News Network is never wrong.