Those who might hypothetically want to shift some things around in the books or adjust some "obligations" (totally above board, obviously)—we’ve got the hard copy right here, just for fun. The full breakdown from ISED about contractor progress and obligations is all available for your peace of mind.

But, wait, there’s more! Over at XAWAT, we’ve been exploring some tiny ideas, like how perception shapes reality—or how certain powers seem to magically make things disappear. Maybe relativity has more to do with contracts than we thought? It's the universe, man! The wave equation might govern more than just space-time; it probably explains why some obligations go "unidentified."

Let's approach this from a data-driven standpoint, keeping our arguments grounded in facts and statistics while also considering the counterarguments that critics or "devil's advocates" might raise.

A 2022 Gallup poll on trust in government revealed that only 20% of Americans trust the government to "do the right thing" most of the time, down from 75% in the 1960s. This steady decline in trust correlates with the rise of corporate influence in government and widespread revelations of misconduct​(xawat).

• Media coverage of contractor issues has also declined due to the increasing consolidation of media companies. A report by the Pew Research Center highlights how six corporations now own over 90% of the U.S. media landscape. This consolidation can lead to conflicts of interest when reporting on industries that own or advertise through these media outlets​(xawat).

• A Project on Government Oversight study found that over 50% of U.S. defense programs experience delays and cost overruns. This rampant inefficiency has led to billions in waste, while contractors continue to secure future contracts despite their inability to meet previous obligations.”

  Source: Project on Government Oversight

• Data from Transparency International consistently shows that corruption, particularly in defense contracting and procurement, is rampant worldwide. Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2023 ranks countries based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, and defense contracting is often flagged as an area rife with "opacity" and kickbacks​(xawat)​(xawat).

• The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is one of the largest consumers of contractor services globally. In 2020, DoD spending on contracts was estimated at $420 billion. Major contractors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon receive billions in defense contracts annually, often with minimal competition​(xawat). Pansies.

  It’s not hard to imagine these “power players”—Bill Gates types, if you will—giggling behind their gold-rimmed glasses, fully aware of the poetic irony. “Oh, minimal competition? What a surprise. Who would’ve guessed?” It’s like a game, a playground for the privileged, and boy do they play it well. Bravo, boys. Bravo.

  Pansies? Maybe. But powerful ones.

Devil's Advocate: Critics of the media argument may say that media outlets still cover significant contractor issues, but independent investigations and alternative media have revealed the extent to which mainstream coverage is often muted when corporate interests are involved. Contractors often argue that military innovation requires flexibility, and cost overruns or delays are part of developing cutting-edge technology. However, critics highlight the lack of accountability and consistent failure to deliver on time and on budget.

Data on lobbying in the U.S. alone reveals the extent to which corporations dominate the political landscape. In 2022, over $3.5 billion was spent on lobbying efforts in the U.S., with industries like pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and defense contractors among the top spenders. This isn’t just about money—it’s about access and shaping policies that serve corporate interests​(xawat).

• According to data from OpenSecrets.org, the top lobbying spender in 2022 was the pharmaceutical industry, followed closely by insurance and oil and gas. These figures reflect how industries that benefit from specific regulations or government policies push their agendas through direct lobbying efforts​(xawat)​(xawat).

Devil's Advocate: Some might argue that lobbying is a legitimate means for industries to advocate for policies that reflect their interests and contribute to economic growth. However, when policies overwhelmingly favor corporate profits over public welfare, it raises significant ethical concerns.

Anyway, in case you missed it, the ISED Contractor Obligations Breakdown—presumably, contracts and commitments under government programs like the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy. It’s accurate if the context involves government contractors working under DoD projects or initiatives, specifically with a focus on obligations like contract delivery, economic contributions, or system development​(ISED-ISDE)​(Xawat). is all neatly listed here: ISED Contractor Obligations. You can trust it’s all as transparent as ever. 😉

While "breakdown" is a neutral term, using “obligations” suggests a focus on accountability—something quite important when discussing government contractors. If the goal is to critique or examine how well these obligations are being met (or not), the title works. However, if you aim to investigate how these obligations intertwine with governmental backup systems or explore potential areas of failure, you might consider a more dynamic title, such as "Contractor Accountability in DoD Projects" or "Tracking DoD Contractor Obligations and Performance."

We are living in a post-truth world, where accountability—especially at the level of governments and corporations—has become a nebulous concept. The term "post-truth" refers to situations where emotions and personal beliefs often outweigh objective facts, and this shift has profound consequences for how governments operate, how they’re held accountable (or not), and what citizens can do to confront these issues.

The increasing reliance on misinformation, half-truths, and government secrecy has created an environment where governments can act with near impunity. In this post-truth era:

1. Government cover-ups are more easily achieved due to the sheer overload of information. It's not that the truth isn't out there, it's that it's buried under a mountain of conflicting narratives and emotional appeals.

2. Shady contractor tactics—over-budget projects, incomplete deliveries, conflicts of interest—are not only tolerated but sometimes rewarded, particularly in defense and infrastructure sectors. The lines between public service and private gain blur more every day, with little in the way of substantial oversight​(Xawat).

3. Media Fragmentation: With so many outlets—some partisan, others financially tied to powerful corporate interests—the narrative is controlled, manipulated, or outright fabricated, depending on the interests at stake. This makes it difficult to hold governments accountable, as citizens are often left wondering which "truth" is accurate.

Freedom of Information (FOIA) allow for public access to government documents, though these processes are often slow and obstructed. However, they remain one of the few mechanisms for direct citizen engagement. NGOs like Transparency International and Amnesty International have long fought for human rights and governmental transparency. They use legal challenges, public campaigns, and lobbying to push governments to act ethically and within the law. Supporting or participating in these organizations can be one way to ensure the spotlight remains on governmental overreach​(Xawat).

In the age of corporate media conglomerates, turning to independent journalism and platforms that investigate corruption and misinformation is essential. Platforms like ProPublica, The Intercept, and Democracy Now! provide investigative reports that mainstream outlets may ignore due to conflicts of interest. Supporting media outlets that uphold journalistic integrity is crucial in combating the narrative control by governments and contractors.

History has shown that mass protests and grassroots organizing can be extremely effective in forcing change. Whether it’s climate change, social justice, or government corruption, grassroots movements have been able to mobilize public pressure in ways that scare governments and corporations into action.

Technology has amplified the reach of these movements, and while the government may suppress them, the internet still offers ways to organize protests and spread awareness.

Citizens can put pressure on their governments to hold contractors accountable by calling for better oversight and transparency in procurement processes. Publicizing contractor failings, pushing for contract audits, and demanding to see the results of government investments in major projects is crucial in ensuring that government spending benefits society, not just private interests​(ISED-ISDE)​(ISED-ISDE).

Digital Activism?

In this age of information warfare, digital activism plays a large role in exposing misconduct and organizing resistance. Platforms like social media give ordinary citizens the power to spread information, rally like-minded individuals, and hold discussions on accountability. While it may feel like accountability is a relic of the past in this post-truth era, there are still avenues for citizens to demand transparency and ethics from their governments and contractors. By supporting whistleblowers, independent media, and NGOs, and through grassroots activism, the fight against governmental and corporate corruption can continue, even as they become increasingly entrenched.

Is the System Too Far Gone?

From corruption scandals to the undermining of public trust, it may seem like the system is beyond repair. Both left-wing and right-wing governments have engaged in undemocratic practices, from surveillance to collusion with corporations, demonstrating that the issue is non-partisan. However, the continued resistance and exposure of these actions—through protests, investigative journalism, and legal battles—suggests that citizens are not powerless.

The challenge lies in maintaining awareness and critical thinking, preventing the post-truth environment from numbing us into apathy. The fight for government accountability is one that requires collective action, resilience, and constant vigilance.

Ultimately, governments and their corporate partners may try to hide behind complex contracts, technical language, and obfuscation, but the tools of transparency, civil resistance, and public demand for integrity remain powerful, if difficult to wield, this isn’t just a left-right divide. The corruption and complacency infect both sides of the political spectrum. Whether it's conservative tax breaks for the wealthy or liberal loopholes for their tech and finance donors, corporate influence transcends ideology. Both parties often seem to operate within the same system that caters to big money, while everyone else is left to deal with the consequences.

It’s understandable that frustration can make you want to see the system "get fucked up", to disrupt it so drastically that the rot at its core is exposed. In some ways, that sentiment mirrors the increasing calls for radical change across various movements:

What’s particularly frustrating is how difficult it’s become to hold anyone accountable. When contractors overcharge billions or fail to deliver on projects (think defense contractors or large infrastructure projects), the consequences seem to vanish in bureaucratic fog. There’s little incentive to change because no one faces real repercussions—instead, there’s often a bailout or another lucrative contract around the corner.

What’s worse, many media outlets—either owned by large corporations or heavily influenced by advertising dollars—are unlikely to report deeply on these issues or do real investigative work. Without a loud public outcry, which is hard to generate when people don’t have all the facts, corruption festers.

It’s hard not to feel sickened by the reality that so many government decisions—especially in areas like defense, infrastructure, and healthcare—are driven not by what’s best for the public, but by lobbyists and corporate donors. It’s often not a matter of incompetence, but of design. The system has been carefully entrenched to the point where it seems that no matter how hard citizens fight, the same powerful entities stay in control.

• Political donations fuel campaigns, allowing industries like oil, pharmaceuticals, defense contractors, and tech giants to sway policies in their favor. This often leads to legislation that protects monopolies, increases corporate welfare, and overlooks environmental and labor protections.

• Revolving door politics: There’s a consistent cycle where politicians and corporate executives interchangeably switch roles. Many former regulators find themselves on corporate boards of the very industries they once regulated, creating conflicts of interest that further compromise the system's integrity.

The system, as it stands, does often seem captured by industry and driven more by corporate interests than by public good. The term “regulatory capture” comes to mind, where government agencies that are supposed to regulate industries end up being controlled by those very industries. When profit-driven motives dominate public policy, the result is a political and economic landscape that feels engineered to protect corporate interests, leaving the everyday citizen marginalized.

It's essential to recognize that not every contractor or government official is corrupt, and there are plenty of individuals and organizations working in good faith. However, the systemic issues of corruption, regulatory capture, and lack of accountability are too large to ignore. The data shows us that these are not isolated incidents but reflect deeper structural problems that require substantial reforms.

Devil's Advocate: Some would argue that global public procurement involves complex, multi-stakeholder arrangements, and corruption estimates can sometimes be overstated. However, the consistent appearance of scandals worldwide points to a system where accountability is often an afterthought.

Globally, corruption in defense and government contracting is a serious issue. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimates that up to 10% of global public procurement budgets are lost to corruption each year​(xawat).

In countries like Brazil, recent scandals involving defense and infrastructure contractors have exposed billions in graft, illustrating that the capture of government by corporate interests is not unique to any one country.

The drive to find real players—the individuals, groups, or movements that genuinely want to break through the stagnation and get things done—can feel like seeking out a rare breed in today’s world of bureaucracy, corporate capture, and complacency. But they exist, and they often stand out precisely because they refuse to play by the broken rules.

The Nygaard case is the perfect example of how this tangled mess works, and how people looking for justice or transparency often run straight into walls built by money, influence, and bureaucratic cover-ups. The deeper you dig, the more the dots start to connect, and it becomes clear that power structures—both in Canada and globally—are intricately tied to government contracts, corporate interests, and a lack of accountability.

Canada’s government spends around $20 billion annually on goods and services through various procurement contracts, making it a major player. But procurement in Canada has repeatedly been cited for corruption vulnerabilities, particularly in defense and infrastructure projects​(xawat)​(xawat).

1. Bribery and Kickbacks in Defense Contracting: A 2021 report by Transparency International found that Canada’s defense sector has high risk for bribery and kickbacks, with many contracts awarded without full transparency. The F-35 fighter jet procurement process is one notable example where questions around costs, accountability, and undue influence from defense contractors persist​(xawat).

   My hope is to get the unbiased truth. I do have some trust in our society, i mean they have brought us to this point, no slaves! Rock on…er well mostly no salves anyways?

2. Corporate Capture in Canadian Energy: In Alberta, where oil and gas are dominant, corporate influence over policy and procurement is well-documented. Companies like Suncor and Enbridge have spent millions lobbying both provincial and federal governments to shape energy policy in their favor. This leads to public contracts being skewed toward industry-friendly projects, often at the expense of environmental accountability​(xawat).

3. Cronyism and Government Contracts: The WE Charity scandal in Canada is a recent example of how close ties between government officials and organizations can lead to questionable contract awards. This feeds into the broader issue of how public trust is eroded when transparency is lacking​(xawat).

Where It All Circles Back

What I have begun to uncover is how power structures in Canada—and globally—are tied up in government contracts. The moment you dig into accountability, whether it’s through the lens of the Nygaard case or otherwise, you find a web of corporate influence, government complacency, and contractor misbehavior. It’s like a game of chess (ha), but with most of the pieces already bought and paid for before the game even starts.

I am talking about taking on a series of articles that will unpack these power structures, focusing on:

• Procurement corruption: How government contracts are handed out, who benefits, and who’s pulling the strings.

• Corporate influence: Specifically in defense, energy, and infrastructure, where billions of taxpayer dollars are steered toward industry giants.

• Government cover-ups: How secrecy, complacency, and shady contractor tactics are often ignored or applauded.

But I am not just out to burn it all down—I am on the hunt for those real players, the rare horses in this race who are doing the work without being captured by the system.

Some of my upcoming articles on Canadian power structures will have a lot to work with. Though not many power players will even respond let alone give an interview. Canada’s unique mix of corporate oligopoly (especially in energy and telecom) and government complicity has long been a sore spot for those seeking transparency. Whether it’s the corporate sway over environmental policy, the monopolization of telecom by a few major players, or the power brokers in real estate and infrastructure, it’s clear that Canada’s power structure isn’t immune to the same global forces of corruption and influence you’re seeing elsewhere.