Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence

At Government House.

One is from Cabramatta, another is from

Marrickville, and the third is from Engadine.

All three go with an official to examine the fence.

The Cabramatta 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 Marrickville contractor also does some measuring

And figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700.

That's $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100

Profit for me."

The Engadine 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 blokes. How did you come up with such a

High figure?"

The Engadine contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me,

$1000 for you, and we hire the bloke from Marrickville to

Fix the fence."

"Done!" Replies the government official.

And that, my fellow tax payers, is how any Government plan works