Dictionary.com says, pik·er n. Slang 1. A cautious gambler. 2. A person regarded as petty or stingy. Thesaures.com says, Entry: miser Function: noun Definition: hoarder Synonyms: cheapskate, churl, curmudgeon, glutton, harpy, hoarder, hog, hunks, misanthrope, misanthropist, moneygrubber, muckworm, niggard, penny pincher, pig, pinchfist, pinchpenny, screw, scrimp, scrooge, Shylock, skinflint, stiff, tightwad Concept: financial entity Source: Roget's Interactive Thesaurus, First Edition (v 1.0.0) Copyright © 2003 by Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Regarding the opinion editorial from National Review that you've posted. I'd like to see how this plays out. I'd love to see Haliburton save tax payers 100 million dollars but it's hard to imagine when they've already been caught trying to screw tax payers with the catering proposal that was initially rejected. I just don't like puting my faith in large corporations as their only interest is turn profit not save you and I money.