mending fences

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, Florida. They go with a

government 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 $9,000: $4,000 for materials, $4,000 for my crew and

$1,000 profit for me."

The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring

and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $7,000:

$3,000 for materials, $3,000 for my crew and $1,000 profit

for me."

The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure,

but leans over to the White House official and

whispers, "$27,000."

The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't eve n

measure l ike the other guys! How did you come up with

such a high figure?"

The New Jersey contractor whi spers back, "$10,000 for

me, $10,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee

to fix the fence."

"Done!", replies the government official.

AND THAT FRIENDS .... IS HOW IT WORKS!!!!!