[RP TownTalk] Stimulus package

[Don Lynch]

For your enjoyment:

> Subj: Fixing The Fence
>
> 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 Minnesota.
>
> All three go with a White House official to examine the
> fence. The Minnesota 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 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 new stimulus plan will
> work.

Don