>Sometimes I think the only real difference is it’s easier to sell stuff to upper management than it is to a congresscritter. Easier for one person to waste a lot of money than it is for a committee to do it.

How does this square with congressional pork like the SLS[1], or buying tanks that the army doesn't want[2]?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System#Criticism

[2] https://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/18/congress-agai...