Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken wall at 10 Downing Street.
One from London, another from Bristol and the third, Liverpool.
They go with a government official to examine the wall.
The London 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 Bristol 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 Liverpool contractor doesn't measure or do figures but leans over to
the Government 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 Liverpool contractor whispers back, '£1000 for me, £1000 for you,
and we hire the guy from Bristol to fix the wall.'
'Done!' replies the government official.
And that friends, ...... is how it all works.
One from London, another from Bristol and the third, Liverpool.
They go with a government official to examine the wall.
The London 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 Bristol 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 Liverpool contractor doesn't measure or do figures but leans over to
the Government 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 Liverpool contractor whispers back, '£1000 for me, £1000 for you,
and we hire the guy from Bristol to fix the wall.'
'Done!' replies the government official.
And that friends, ...... is how it all works.
