The Way The Government Really Works

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White
House in D.C.; one from New Jersey , another from Tennessee and the
third, from Florida . They go with a White House official to examine
the fence.

The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some
measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I
figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my
crew and $100 profit for me."

The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then
says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my
crew and $100 profit for me."

The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to
the White House official and whispers, "$2,700"

The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the
other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"

The New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you,
and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."

"Done!" replies the government official.