physique
06-04-2009, 04:34 PM
Our Government at work
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the Parliament Buildings . One is from Toronto , another is from St. John's, and the third is from Quebec .
All three go with a Parliament official to examine the fence. The Toronto 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 St. John's 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 Quebec contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the Parliament 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 Quebec contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from St. John's to fix the fence."
"Done!" replies the government official.
And that, my friends, is how the new stimulus plan will work.
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the Parliament Buildings . One is from Toronto , another is from St. John's, and the third is from Quebec .
All three go with a Parliament official to examine the fence. The Toronto 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 St. John's 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 Quebec contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the Parliament 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 Quebec contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from St. John's to fix the fence."
"Done!" replies the government official.
And that, my friends, is how the new stimulus plan will work.