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[bob ford <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>]

While walking down the street one day a Politician 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 Politician.   
 
"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 Politician.  
 
"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 Politician 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 Politician 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 Politician. "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."