The news that Northrup Grumman is leaving LA for DC, “marking the departure of the last major aerospace firm from the industry’s birthplace in Southern California” in the words of the Wall Street Journal, is sad but hardly shocking given that something like 95% of their business is with one customer: the Federal Government. But it’s hard not to see it as a sign of the times. Big companies are adopting their business models to the fact that the government is calling the shots. Defense contractors are obviously different from other businesses, but what’s keeping GM or Citibank from doing the same thing? There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.