Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the Governor's Mansion in Springfield, Ill. One is from Chicago, another from Tennessee and a third from Kentucky. They all go with Governor Blagojevich to examine the fence.



The Tennessee contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figuring 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 Kentucky contractor also does some measuring and figuring and then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me."



The Chicago contractor doesn't measure or figure. He just leans over to Blagojevich and whispers $2,700.



Blagojevich, incredulous, whispers back, "You didn't even measure and figure like the other guys. How did you come up with such a high figure?"



The Chicago contractor whispers again, "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire that guy from Kentucky to fix the fence."