How politics works

 

    Three  contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the Capitol Bldg. in Illinois. One from New Jersey , another from Tennessee and the  third, from Florida . They go with a Capitol Blg. 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 Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the Illinois 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 New Jersey 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 it all works!

 

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    If hooking up an Iraqi prisoners nuts to a car's battery cables will save just one life, then I have just three things to say; Red is positive, black is negative, and make sure his nuts are wet.

    ~T. B. Bechtel

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