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 senator.
>
>
>
>"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 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."
>
>
>
