The Profit Prophet

This is an old one, but a good one and you can fill in the states or locations of your choice. Still valid in today's political wheeling and dealing. Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House. One is from Illinois, another is from Tennessee, and the third is from Minnesota . All three go with a White House official to examine the fence. The Minnesota 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 Illinois 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 mea...