Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House.
One is from Chicago, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from
Minnesota. All three go with a White House official to examine the
fence. The Minnesota 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 Chicago
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 Chicago 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. And that, my friends, is how
the new stimulus plan will work.
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