Three Contractors

[plumber]

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House.

One is from Chicago , another is from Kentucky , and the third is from Iowa.

All three go with a White House official to examine the fence.

The Iowa 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky to fix the fence." "Done!" replies the government official.

and that, my friends, is how the > new stimulus plan works!