While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically
>
>hit by a truck and dies.
>
>His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
>
>"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
>
>there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
>
>you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
>
>"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
>
>"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do
>
>is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can
>
>choose where to spend eternity."
>
>"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says
>
>the senator.
>
>"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
>
>And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes
>
>down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself
>
>in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse
>
>and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians
>
>who had worked with him.
>
>Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet
>
>him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had
>
>while getting rich at the expense of the people.
>
>They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar
>
>and champagne.
>
>Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has
>
>a good time dancing and telling jokes. They were having such a
>
>good time, that before he realizes it, it was time to leave.
>
>Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...
>
>The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where
>
>St. Peter is waiting for him.
>
>"Now it's time to visit heaven."
>
>So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
>
>moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have
>
>a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and
>
>St. Peter returns.
>
>"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
>
>choose your eternity."
>
>The senator reflects for a minute, and then he answers: "Well, I would
>
>never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I
>
>think I would be better off in hell."
>
>So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
>
>down to hell.
>
>Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
>
>land covered with waste and garbage.
>
>He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting
>
>it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
>
>The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
>
>"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here
>
>and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and
>
>caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now
>
>there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look
miserable.
>
>What happened?"
>
>The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were
>
>campaigning... Today you voted."
>
>hit by a truck and dies.
>
>His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
>
>"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems
>
>there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
>
>you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
>
>"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
>
>"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do
>
>is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can
>
>choose where to spend eternity."
>
>"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says
>
>the senator.
>
>"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
>
>And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes
>
>down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself
>
>in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse
>
>and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians
>
>who had worked with him.
>
>Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet
>
>him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had
>
>while getting rich at the expense of the people.
>
>They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar
>
>and champagne.
>
>Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has
>
>a good time dancing and telling jokes. They were having such a
>
>good time, that before he realizes it, it was time to leave.
>
>Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...
>
>The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where
>
>St. Peter is waiting for him.
>
>"Now it's time to visit heaven."
>
>So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
>
>moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have
>
>a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and
>
>St. Peter returns.
>
>"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
>
>choose your eternity."
>
>The senator reflects for a minute, and then he answers: "Well, I would
>
>never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I
>
>think I would be better off in hell."
>
>So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down,
>
>down to hell.
>
>Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
>
>land covered with waste and garbage.
>
>He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting
>
>it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
>
>The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
>
>"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here
>
>and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and
>
>caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now
>
>there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look
miserable.
>
>What happened?"
>
>The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were
>
>campaigning... Today you voted."
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