Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C.; one from <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comNew Jersey</st1:State>, another from <st1:State w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:State> and the third, from <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Florida</st1lace></st1:State>. They go with a White House official to examine the fence. <FONT face="Times New Roman"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comThe <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Florida</st1lace></st1:State> 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 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State> 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 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">New Jersey</st1lace></st1:State> 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 <st1:State w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:State> contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from <st1:State w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Tennessee</st1lace></st1:State> to fix the fence." "Done!" replies the government official. And that friends, is how it all works!