How government works

The government had a scrap yard in the middle of the desert.Congress created a night watchman position and hired a person at $20,000 per year to guard it.

Then Congress created a planning department for the scrap yard and hired two people—one to write the instructions for $25,000 and one to do time studies for $30,000 per year.

Then Congress created a quality control department and hired two people--one to study the watchman's efficiencies for $35,000 and one to write reports for $40,000.

Then Congress created a timekeeper for $45,000, a payroll officer for $50,000, an Administrative Officer for $60,000, an Assistant to the Administrative Officer for $35,000 and a Legal Secretary for $80,000.

The following year Congress said, "This scrap yard has been operating for one year for $420,000. We must cut back $20,000." So they laid off the night watchman!

_{tnx Al Lowe}