(Make sure you read through the joke!)
If you don't think your vote is important think about where we are now. Politicians promising Universal Health Care and the protection of preexisting conditions and then working to dismantle the only public health care option we've ever had and specifically focusing on eliminating the protections for preexisting conditions. Promising tax cuts only to vote in a thinly veiled tax raise on what remains of the middle class to fund their corporate giveaways (think corporate socialism). Promising to "build a wall and have Mexico pay for it" only to try and plunder our military and homeland security budgets so that US tax payers pay for what amounts to an ineffective eyesore on the landscape and a weakening of our military and border protections.
I think this old joke sums it up nicely:
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 who welcomes him. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem to address. 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 official. “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 hell.
The politician finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. He sees his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and dressed in evening attire. 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. Next, the politician goes over to the doors of heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. “Now it’s time to visit heaven.” So, 24 hours pass with 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 and 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 trash and putting it in black bags. 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 club, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now all is 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.”
The moral of the story is "Beware of false campaign promises" and in November "Get out and vote for what you know is right!"
