Remember the scams about the hammers and nails and nuts and bolts that were purchased by the military for hundreds and hundreds of dollars apiece? We thought that was criminal – and it was – but that was really small potatoes compared to what’s going on right now, and under our very noses.

Think about this, first of all. The Navy is building the super carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) at a cost to us taxpayers of at least $ 15 billion – and the cost keeps increasing. A couple of years ago it was announced that a sister ship – the (CVN- 79) – would be built, and would be named the USS John F. Kennedy. (Like we really need another one!)

Well, since the very, very, expensive designs for the CVN-78 have been bought and paid for it should be no problem at all to use these designs to build the sister ship – right? Wrong! The powers-that-be have decided to design a duplicate set of plans from scratch – and the taxpayers will never catch on because they’re so dumbed down. Here’s what the sheep are missing:

“(December 8, 2010) – Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, is being awarded a $ 323,611,667 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; design; related development efforts, etc., etc., etc. for the second aircraft carrier (CVN-79) of the Gerald R. Ford class.”

“(August 11, 2011) – Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, is being awarded a $ 56,577,660 modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; etc., etc., for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).”

“(October 27, 2011) – Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, is being awarded a $ 16,884,918 modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; etc., etc., for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).”

“(December 21, 2011) – Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, is being awarded a $ 113,230,682 modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; etc., etc., for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).”

“(July 18, 2012) – Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA, is being awarded a $ 43,418,660 modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; etc., etc., for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).”

“(September 27, 2012) – Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News. VA, is being awarded a $ 296,126,089 modification under previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2116) for necessary research studies; engineering; etc., etc., for the John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).”

[As Senator Dirksen would have so eloquently commented: “A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon we’re talkin’ about some real money.”]