Kottke says that this story gets "trotted out every time some large organization introduces some complex, bloated, over-engineered product or process".
And then he gloriously "debunks" the myth, framing NASA as the unfairly labeled neerdowell.
The inference is that today's news on gov't waste is also potentially a "myth".
The reality is that Kottke's post is a red-herring.
What's the 2nd result on Google for "Space Pen"? It is, of course, the snopes page describing the "hoax".
And have you seen any major (or minor for that matter) news organizations today using the example of the "space pen" as an indicator of government waste?
No.
So in fact what we have here is a little allegory delivered in a neatly wrapped package to instantly defuse further investigation, and let us all go back to our armchairs.