One day a US senator is struck by lightning 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 are
>>>> having such a good
>>>> time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
>>>>
>>>> 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, 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."