Executing Engineers

A revolutionary, a journalist, and an engineer get arrested by a despotic government, are summarily tried and sentenced to death by electrocution. They lead the revolutionary in.

“Any last words?”

“You may kill me, but the revolution lives on!” They throw the switch.

Nothing happens.

Executioner looks perplexed. “According to the law, because we can’t execute you, you have to go free.” They throw him out, lead in the journalist and throw them in the chair.

“Any last words?”

“The free press shall break all tyrant’s chains!”

Throw the switch, again nothing happens. Executioner sighs, explains the law, throws out the journalist.

They lead in the engineer, hook him up.

“Any last words?”

“Yeah, did you notice the red wire on that switch isn’t properly connected?”