I'll take the bottom part.....
I've had 25 years experience dealing with this system. It's Materials Supply 101 just on a larger more competitive scale. See attached link.
http://scrambled.blinkweb.com/1/2010/07/getting-a-gsa-contract-for-dummies-b70fc/
It's not idea, but it works for them. There is some exasageration regarding the pens. They award contracts for supply and once implemented is not that difficult to manage.
I don't recall that many supplies that are needed when I'm visiting a Doctor.
Also, How is this going to change with Romney wanting to increase defense by 2 trillion (see below) building 3 more submarines and more aircraft carriers, they will be using the same GSA system. Just what we need, more Ships and Bombs. It increases low profit and temporary jobs that expire once they are built or R&D.; This is the mentality that slammed our economy into this depression and it's just plain ignorant Federal Budget platform infusing temporary jobs against archaic equipment in a self admitted archaic system.
Being in this field would be great for me, but not for USA. I chose USA....
It really doesn't matter now, we will know in about 16 hours where our government is investing.
You stated....
The beauty of our government is that we the people are supposed to have input on what level the federal government is involved in our lives" Really??? Guess what, to late. The ObamaCare was already approved on from the President through Congress and the House and we have clogged up Legistrature for several years getting this approved. Now all of this work and the complete reversal of our Government hinges on a few hicks in Ohio.
Really, this is just insane, imature, asanine, asaten, asaeleven, etc... to have such a dramatic change of Government Policy in what appears as just a Non Partisam statement to get elected. Instead of a "Best interests of the United States oef America."
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/10/08/budget_crunched_the_facts_of_romney_s_proposed_2_trillion_defense_increase