While walking down the street one day a Member of the Australian Federal Parliament is tragically hit by a truck and loses his life.....

His soul arrives in Heaven and of course he is met by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates 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..... is the seating comfy, and what time is lunch and are the meals subsidised?, says the MP..

"Well, I'd like to let you in immediately, however I have orders from higher up,"

"What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one day in Heaven...then you can choose where to spend your eternity."

"Oh really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the MP.

"I'm really sorry but we do have our rules." and with that St. Peter escorts the protesting MP to the Heavenly elevator, and he went down, down, down to Hell.

The elevator doors open and he finds himself in the middle of the greenest golf course he has ever seen,

and in the distance is a Club House and standing in front of it he is surprised to see many of his former MP friends and colleagues.

Everyone is really happy and dressed in evening dress. They run out to greet him, and reminisce about the great times they had had,

their world travel junkets, and their former power and glory days, generally at the expense of the average people...

They played a friendly game of golf, then dined on lobster caviar and champagne as had been their custom.

Also present is The Devil, who really is a nice and very friendly approachable bloke, who has an excellent time dancing and telling the funniest jokes imaginable.

They are having such a great time that before he realizes it it's time for the MP to go...

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell with kisses from the Ladies, a meaningful firm handshake from The Devil, and they all wave whilst the elevator rises.

The Heavenly elevator completes its upward journey and the door opens in Heaven, where a smiling St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now its time to visit Heaven"..

So 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented honest souls moving gracefully from cloud to cloud, playing their harps and choral singing.

They have a very relaxed and truly meaningful good time, however before he realizes it, the 24 hours have passed, and St. Peter returns.

"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The MP reflects fully five seconds and responds, "Well I would never have said it before, I mean Heaven has been rather delightful,

but I think I would personally be better off in Hell."

So St. Peter shrugs his heavenly shoulders and escorts him to the elevator once again, and he goes down,down,down to Hell.

When the doors open slowly he sees nothing but a barren land covered with waste and garbage,...all his MP friends are in rags, picking up trash,

and putting it in black bags whilst a never ending load of garbage continues to fall from above..

The Devil comes over and is no longer smiling and muttering something about Debt and Deficit,and puts a comforting arm round the MP's shoulder.

"I don't understand', stammers the now frightened/agitated MP. Yesterday I was here and there was the greenest golf course, fantastic clubhouse, lobster, caviar,

and we drank champagne and danced in merriment....Now there's just wasteland, garbage, and my friends look absolutely miserable..Wha..What happened?"

The Devil looks at him, no compassion evident, and declares...."YESTERDAY WE WERE CAMPAIGNING"............

                "TODAY, YOU VOTED,.. SCHMUCK!"....GET TO WORK ...UNTIL YOU'RE 75!..

Hoo Roo <with apologies to no-one really>...

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