previous post next post  

How Government Contracts Work

This one from Walt, one of the old farts former crewchiefs in the 162d AHC:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Three contractors are bidding to resurface the Congressional Parking Lot -- one from Florida, another from Tennessee and the third, New Jersey. They go with a House official to examine the parking lot.

The Florida 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 New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the House 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 New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to do the work."

"Done!" replies the House official...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Heh. Who sez I don't comment on political stuff?

7 Comments

And that is why Joisey is second in government corruption to Nawlins and also why it's one of the richest states in the union.
 
what? youse got a problem wit dat?
 
MajMike - What's with the Brucklyn accent? Only folks born within olfactory detection distance of the Gowanus Canal tawk like dat dere...
 
Two-Niner -- Nawluns is number one because they've had more practice. Every twelve years or so, we elect a Republican governor who chips away at the mess. As soon as his/her second term expires, the Dems are back in and they have to start all over again.
 
Bill - this isn't funny -- too true!
 
Barb - our crooks have one saving grace (if you can call it that) -- they don't start preaching that they're doing it for the children. They *know* that we know they're crooked as a scruple's hind leg. They don't want to get us totally hacked off because *some* of us'll be sitting jury duty when they finally get a bit too greedy, like Wayne Bryant did. Right now, I think there are still four Dems in the NJ Senate who *aren't* under federal investigation. But then, it's only April...
 
Yes...his analysis of his life leads me to believe that someone either paid him a visit or spoke to him and made him an offer he couldn't refuse. He has a pension, so why not? Scary.
 
© 2008 John Donovan
All rights reserved.