How Government Works

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 figure 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