How we got in this economic mess…

Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One from Illinois, one from Tennessee and a third from Virginia. They all go with a White House official to the fence.

The Virginia contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. “Well”, he says, “I figure it 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 Illinois contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, “$2,700.”

The official, incredulous, whispers back, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?”

The Illinois contractor whispers back, “$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire that guy from Tennessee to fix the fence.”

“Done!” replies the government official.

NOW YOU KNOW HOW WE GOT INTO THIS MESS WITH OUR ECONOMY!!!