> 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
> Montana.
>
> All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.
>
> The Montana 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. That's $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.
> That's $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 Government Stimulus plan worked
>