Three contractors are bidding to fix the White House fence, one from New York, 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 York 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?
$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee.
