Pat Oliphant for March 27, 2013

And yet it is a 1000% better than where they are.

It never ceases to amaze me how cartoons such as this denigrate our lifestyles, government, culture, social systems as if they were changed by some alien that swooped down and practiced mind control on us all.

Why is there such a large income disparity between the upper and lower wage earners? Because for years we sat around being fat, dumb and happy and let our politicians legislate the tax laws to their hearts content. Who bought all the cheaper products from overseas and supported the outsourcing of America? We did, right up to the point that our jobs started disappearing, because manufacturing couldn’t compete with cheaper overseas labor and the government did nothing to encourage self sufficiency for America. Who allowed the wars and defense spending to grow to the point that a huge portion of our economy is a nonproductive industry that is crippling our economy? We did, I sure didn’t see the people on the streets like we did over Viet Nam…

My point is this: we are now locked in a partisan blame fest that accomplishes nothing but “kicking the can” down the road on taxes, spending, education, energy policy, entitlements and the military. We have allowed this, democrats and republicans alike. Pick any administration and you will find they all grow the size and spending of government and become more detached to the real needs of the people and our future.

Until we communicate what we want to Washington (and your state and local governments) they all blithely bumble along spending wantonly and legislating our lifestyles. We will continue with these chickenshit wars in the middle east until we demand their end. We will waste billions on the military until we demand that it ends. Nothing will change until WE get involved. Write, telephone, email and show up in person to make your voice heard. Our problems and inequities didn’t happen by accident and they aren’t going to be solved until we get truly engaged in the process. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for letting me share…

Sad but true. Our rich-poor disparity is now at banana republic levels.

jdpearce is right, I remember read a some where like 10-15 . years ago that this was the GOP plan. They worked hard and suceeded. Now they are poised to make us a 1 party country.Another reason I know that is they are saying that the Democrats are the ones wwho are trying to do that. They always use projection as a tactic. We have to stop RED-MAP happening in blue states with red state government. No gerrymandering. !!

the reason kids do not learn is because “self esteem” is more important than knowledge USA ranks first in $$$ per kid http://rossieronline.usc.edu/u-s-education-versus-the-world-infographic

Mickey: of course both “Capitalism”, political campaigns, and guns, work best when “well regulated”, and not allowed to run rampant and unrestrained to benefit the few.

This is rich coming from Pat. Italy just announced they were going to retry Amanda Knox because they didn’t like the appeal. Cyprus is seizing 40% of all bank accounts. France is having anit-gay rights riots. Russia has been connected to the death of one of Putin’s largest opponents. Germany just announced they are a nation of renters with only the super rich owning buildings.

The old geezer needs to hang it up.

I agree with the comments by mickey and prfesser, and would like to add a few more:*When they know their elected positions are safe, politicians will take huge amounts of money from a relative few and do what those contributors want. However, when they think they might lose their seats, they will turn on their contributors in an instant. *The problem for us voters is that the threshold required to instill a level of fear or insecurity in these elected politicians is very high. A few hundred angry letters isn’t enough. The combination of gerrymandering and predictable, low-information voters creates a safe bubble around far too many of them.*How do we solve that problem? I wish I knew.

Other than the part about politicians who are owned by billionaires, I’d say Lady Liberty sounds like a lot of the pessimistic conservatives on this site.

“…there’s not a damn thing we can do about it…” We can do something!Examples: TEA candidates getting elected and re-elected to stand firm against over-spending.Obama getting unprecedented Media support for re-election.TOONists smearing people that disagree with their point of view.Activist Judges rewriting the law to fit their viewpoint of justice.

“…it does not belong to man,who is walking, even to direct his step…”Jeremiah 10:23…

.“…the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one…” 1 John 5:19…

Right on Mr Oliphant, what a grand bitch slap toward those bunch of hoodlums running this country. To bad your brothers in media especially in television don’t join in. And yes they need a bitch slap even more. They love to tell about the goings on behind closed doors of Hollywood celebrities but not a word about the backroom deals and midnight meeting and shenanigans of our Washington elite. Yes Mr Obama I enclude you. And shame on me, I voted for you twice.

“….a group of people…” My point- People CAN get their representatives elected. I am only mentioning ‘TEA’ because they have demonstrated it can happen. . You Can Do It Too. Do Not Give Up. Support Your Priority.

Why switch? Because they can move here and liberals will pay for all of their worldly needs, and they can live like kings (compared to life in their old country). Only requirement? Vote Democrat.

I find this particular cartoon very offensive. Maybe you should move to one of those countries in Europe where you will find all those things like “Free” heath care. You know, the countries that America spends billions of dollars for their defense while they contribute little….the countries where thousands of U.S. men and women lost their lives to prevent fascists from enslaving or murdering millions of people because of the religious belief. Or, maybe one of the many areas where U.S. taxpayers feed millions who are unable to feed themselves. We are not perfect by any means, but we are still the greatest country on earth!

“We have met the enemy and we is it.” “Pogo” the possum. (as close as I can remember it)

Pat is too close to the truth to dismiss.

The little bird should have said “You think your huddled masses are tired?”

@BillH77:

“Cyprus is seizing 40% of all bank accounts.”

You’ve got your math wrong.

“France is having anit-gay rights riots.”

Which, btw, is not unique to France. Plus, of their riots problems, this is a minor one.

“Russia has been connected to the death of one of Putin’s largest opponents.”

Only one?

“Germany just announced they are a nation of renters with only the super rich owning buildings.”

And that, my friend, could juts be a Good Idea. It is definitely a better idea than a housing bubble, as many homeowners and ex-homeowners have experienced or are currently experiencing. I know quite a few renters who are definitely better off than quiet a few homeowners.

The real point that Pat misses is: at least you guys have a moderately functional democracy. Countries like Hungary or Russia don’t.

America began it’s decline into banana republic status at noon, on January 20th, 1981…