Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House: one from New Jersey, another from Tennessee, a 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, 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 is incredulous. "You didn’t even measure! Where do you get off with a big number like that?"
"$1,000 for me," the contractor whispers, "$1,000 for you, and we get the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
"Done!" says the official.!"
Warmie
