大选年。

While walking down the street one day, a U.S. senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
一天， 正在街上走着的一个美国的参议院议员，不幸被一辆卡车撞死了。他的灵魂来到了天国，圣彼得在天堂的门口迎接他。
"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."
“欢迎你到天国来，”圣彼得说。“你在这里安家以前，有个问题要解决以下。我们这里极少见到高级的官员，所以我们并不知道如何安置你。”
 "No problem, just let me in," says the man.
“没问题，让我进来就好了，”议员说道。
 "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."
“我倒是乐意，只是上面的命令我必须遵守。我们是要让你在地狱呆一天，在天堂呆一天。然后你可以选择在哪里永久地呆下去。”
 "Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.
“是吗，可我已经决定了。我就想呆在天堂，”议员说。
 "I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
“对不起，可这是我们的规定。”
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.
说着，圣彼得就将他送到了电梯，他随着电梯，一层一层的下行，直到地狱。门开了，他发现自己站在高尔夫球场上。远远的是个俱乐部，那门前站着他所有的朋友和其它和他共事过的政客们。
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.
每个人都兴高采烈，身着晚礼服。他们跑过来和他打招呼，握手，和他一起回忆他们如何搜刮民脂民膏中饱私囊的好时光。他们友善地打着高尔夫，然后吃着龙虾，鱼子酱，饮着香槟酒。
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.
魔鬼们也在周围，可他们都很友善，一边跳舞一边讲着笑话。他们如此愉快，不知不觉就到了该走的时间了。
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises. The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
 在电梯上升时，每个人都和他挥手热情告别。电梯一层层上升，天堂的门开处圣彼得在等着他。
"Now it's time to visit heaven."
“现在我们该去天堂看看了。”
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.
再后来的24 小时，参议员又和一群满心喜悦的灵魂在白云上飞翔，弹着竖琴，吟唱着歌曲。他们很愉快，转眼间24 小时又过去了，圣彼得回来了。
 "Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."
“既然你已经在地狱和天堂分别度过了一天的时光，现在你可以选择你永远安身的地方了。”
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."
参议员思索了一下，然后说道：“我从没想到我今天会这样说，天堂很令人愉悦，可我觉得我真的是更适于在地狱里。”
 So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
于是，圣彼得将他送到了电梯里，他一层一层地到了地狱。
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.
电梯门开了，他发现周围是一片不毛之地，布满了垃圾和废物。他的朋友们衣着破烂，各自拿着一个黑色的袋子在拾垃圾，而上面又不断地有更多的垃圾落下来。魔鬼过来将手臂搭在他的肩膀上。
"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?"
“我不明白，”他结结巴巴地说道。“昨天我还来过，这里是一片高尔夫球场和俱乐部，我们一边吃着龙虾和鱼子酱，喝着香槟酒，一边跳舞。过得好不快活。可现在这里是一片废墟，到处是垃圾，我的朋友都一幅可怜相。这是怎么了？”
 The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted."
魔鬼看了看他，笑着说，“昨天是我们竞选，今天你已经投了票了。”