HOW POLITICS 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! H ow 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.