The Government's over-reliance on large contractors for its IT needs combined with a lack of in-house skills is a "recipe for rip-offs" according to a report by the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC). The Committee found that as a result IT procurement too often resulted in late, over budget IT systems that are not fit for purpose. According to some sources the Government pays between seven and ten times more than the standard commercial rate for its work: however the Government does not collect the information needed to verify these claims. One of the report's recurring themes is the dominance of Government IT by a small number of large companies. The report argues that the Government needs to do four things to break out of this relationship: improve the information it holds on IT expenditure, without which the Government is unable to secure the best possible price for goods and services; publish more information about IT projects; widen the supplier base by reducing the size of its contracts and greatly simplifying the procurement process to engage with innovative Small and medium enterprises (SMEs); work in a more "agile" manner andmove towards the use of more iterative development methods which enable IT programmes to adapt to ever changing challenges

"Insurance consumers are like old prostitutes. They have been screwed so many times by the insurance companies that they believe it is a way of life. Willard's new book should be of great assistance to those victims who truly want to break the habit."--John E. Gregg, Lawyer, ex-FBI Agent, Author of THE HEALTH INSURANCE RACKET & HOW TO BEAT IT. "You will chuckle knowingly at this humorous account of one of the great scams of American society. With his new book, Willard will recruit many to the need for a national health care program, something similar to Canada's."--Frank Gormlie, Publisher, THE WHOLE DAMN PIE SHOP, San Diego's publication of progressive opinion. "Eminently readable, skillfully put together, & exceedingly well researched. The illustrations punctuate the key points with superb irony; the reference section adds the sheer weight of professional numbers, & the James Gollin chapters afford a wonderful psychological profile of the recruiting rackets & 'warm body' agent. The section by lawyer & ex-FBI agent John Gregg clearly shows why health insurance racketeers must never be allowed to participate in a national healthcare program."--Fred Peters, Educator, San Diego, California. "Not critical of legitimate insurance services...but quite correctly critical of the shady aspects of the industry."--Simon Casady, LaJolla, California, Former publisher, El Cajon Californian.

“Identifie[s] all the major dangers amateur real estate investors need to be aware of . . . many useful tips for getting the right price and the best financing.” —Michael Masterson, New York Times–bestselling author of Automatic Wealth Mortgage Rip-offs and Money Savers reveals how the mortgage industry cheats borrowers out of billions in extra costs every year. Industry insider Carolyn Warren taps her decade of experience with lenders to expose the tricks, lies, and dirty little secrets they don’t want you to know. With her expert guidance, borrowers will save tens of thousands when they avoid the traps so many consumers fall into. Having this inside information is the only way borrowers can truly get the best possible deal. This book presents that knowledge in an interesting and easy format that anyone can understand. Readers can void being victims of the mortgage industry with this invaluable resource. Instead, they’ll get the best possible rates, avoid bogus fees, and get the great deal they deserve.

Praise for THE BIG RIPOFF "Politicians like to say that government is on the side of the little guy. But with impressive documentation and persuasive examples, Tim Carney shows how government power and regulation are typically used to assist the powerful." -Paul A. Gigot Editorial Page Editor, the Wall Street Journal "Exposes the dirty little secret of American politics: how big businesses work with statist politicians to diminish the prosperity and freedom of consumers, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs. Carney employs top-notch writing ability, passion for liberty, and understanding of economics to demolish the myth that big business is a foe of big government. Everyone who seeks to understand who really benefits from big government should read this book, as should anyone who still believes that the interventionist state benefits the average person." -Congressman Ron Paul U.S. House of Representatives, 14th District of Texas "Small entrepreneurial businesses are the backbone success of our great economy. They are the biggest job and wealth creators. Is that why big corpocratic behemoth firms collude with big government for a liberal agenda of higher taxes and overregulation that will punish the small risk-takers? Tim Carney's new book describes how anti-business big business can be." -Lawrence Kudlow Host of CNBC's Kudlow & Company "Tim Carney explodes the myth that big business and big government are natural opponents. All too often, as he points out, they're both engaged in a common enterprise: picking your pocket." -Ramesh Ponnuru Senior Editor, National Review "A romping tour de force of the love affair between big business and big government from Teddy Roosevelt and the Robber Barons to Enron and the Kyoto Treaty. Indispensable for understanding how government regulation really works." -Donald Devine Grewcock Professor of Political Science, Bellevue University "Every CEO in America should read this book today, issue new directives to their bureaucrat-appeasing Washington lobbyist tomorrow, and join in the fight for economic liberalization." -Fred L. Smith, Jr. Founder and President, Competitive Enterprise Institute