Right in the middle of an intense campaign, the latest joke goes, a Mexican politician dies and goes to the gates of heaven, where St. Peter tells him: ‘Look, I’ll give you one day in hell and one day in heaven. Then you choose where you want to spend eternity.’

The politician accepts, and soon drops to the depths of hell at St. Peter’s side. When the elevator opens, he gazes upon an Elysian golf course and sees old friends, who ask him to play. After a few rounds, they head to the clubhouse where they down the finest brandies and, after St. Peter leaves, recall old times of raiding the public till. Beautiful women arrive and the party lasts through the night.

The next morning, the politician rises to heaven. He sees no friends, only elderly women passing from one cloud to the next as harp music plays. He grows bored.

After a day, St. Peter asks him where he wants to spend eternity. The politician waits a pensive moment and declares: ‘Well, heaven has everything a pure soul like mine deserves. But in solidarity with those who have had wretched luck, and forgoing the rewards that my life of service merits, I will choose hell.’

St. Peter accepts the choice, and accompanies him down the shaft. When the elevator opens, instead of green fields all the politician sees is a burning desert. Demons chase poor souls mercilessly, poking them repeatedly. ‘I don’t understand,’ the politician mumbles, ‘this was just fun and fiesta before.’

The chief demon responds amid raucous laughter: ‘That was the day before yesterday, during the campaign. Today, you’ve already voted for us!’

Hat tip to Manuel Ajenjo, the always-entertaining columnist for El Economista, for the laugh of the day.