Politician loyalties: party, big donors, Wall Street, voters, the common good. You may consider yourself a member of one of the parties and dislike the other, but without 2 we would definitely lose our democracy!
How? I ask because about 80% of the time people claiming our democracy (which isn’t what we actually have, technically, but, whatever) is slipping away don’t explain how, exactly. As for the other 20% of the time, they usually bring up something that’s been around forever and a day, like gerrymandering, but I don’t think they intended to mean our “democracy” has been slipping away veeeeerrrrrrryyyy slooooowly.
That the candidate you did not like won, is not the end of democracy. That our system of government was never meant to be a pure democracy as the Founders feared mob rule and so put many checks on electoral majorities. That the majority of the news media has been crying wolf for so long is a good reason to take what they say with a grain of salt.
For the record, we’ve never had a democracy. You won’t find the word in any of our founding documents. It is a constitutional republic. Hope we can keep it.
How many times do we have to cover this? The United States was not designed to be a democracy. It was designed as a federal republic with some elements of democracy included in the design. The Founding Fathers who composed the Constitution did not want America to be a pure democracy; they despised the concept of pure democracy and saw it as little more than mob rule. (And by the way, they were right!)
What exactly is slipping away???? You still have the right to draw a meaningless cartoon, publish it and have it read by vacuous minded people who agree with an empty fear mongering idea.
I have to pace myself on the caring; with the many and frequent opportunities for outrage, I find myself in danger of burning out on a regular basis. I try to see these turbulent times as an opportunity to choose and focus on what is truly important, but I care about so many of these multiple violations of decency and human compassion that it’s impossible to pick only one or two (or three or four). I just hope my stamina lasts another (interminable!) two years.
BE THIS GUY almost 5 years ago
Who needs democracy when the Dow is high and unemployment is low?
Bilan almost 5 years ago
It’s hard to not fall asleep when that’s been the headline news for the last two years and 172 days.
cdgar almost 5 years ago
It’s been several long years actually. Make the nightmare end.
DennisinSeattle Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Did another print newspaper close? Or did another giant media company buy your local news station?
PICTO almost 5 years ago
Not to worry, Pig, Dear Leader is putting the best people on it…
electricshadow Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Another newspaper taboo is shattered. (Note the pronunciation.)
Arianne almost 5 years ago
The Fourth Estate, beseeching the Turd Estate.
dadoctah almost 5 years ago
Rachel Maddow seems a little cranky tonight….
Troglodyte almost 5 years ago
Like Pig gives a $hit…
Gent almost 5 years ago
Democracy only works when the people are intelligent and matured, folks.
everett_r0 almost 5 years ago
Too late, they’re already coming to take you away to one of the camps…. File under : “You had your chance and you blew it”. …..Sieg Heil everybody…..
Breadboard almost 5 years ago
forterrionly almost 5 years ago
We live in a Republic, not a democracy……
chris_weaver almost 5 years ago
Too bad about that democracy thing – so, what are the Kardashians up to these days?
nosirrom almost 5 years ago
I think that some people would consider GoComics a social media site. Does anyone know it GoComics was invited to the Social Media Summit?
msnrykd8789 almost 5 years ago
We aren’t a democracy. Never have been. We are a Republic, which is something entirely different. Public school education failing us yet again…
Zebrastripes almost 5 years ago
Long year? It’s been a long 4 years….and same to you , you POS!
jimchronister2016 almost 5 years ago
Stephan, I do believe you mean a very long 2 years!
Reader almost 5 years ago
Politician loyalties: party, big donors, Wall Street, voters, the common good. You may consider yourself a member of one of the parties and dislike the other, but without 2 we would definitely lose our democracy!
scpandich almost 5 years ago
How? I ask because about 80% of the time people claiming our democracy (which isn’t what we actually have, technically, but, whatever) is slipping away don’t explain how, exactly. As for the other 20% of the time, they usually bring up something that’s been around forever and a day, like gerrymandering, but I don’t think they intended to mean our “democracy” has been slipping away veeeeerrrrrrryyyy slooooowly.
wolfhoundblues1 almost 5 years ago
I wish the press cared that much.
wrd2255 almost 5 years ago
Finding this approach doesn’t work when trying to register voters. But it is tempting.
mjb515 almost 5 years ago
That the candidate you did not like won, is not the end of democracy. That our system of government was never meant to be a pure democracy as the Founders feared mob rule and so put many checks on electoral majorities. That the majority of the news media has been crying wolf for so long is a good reason to take what they say with a grain of salt.
gojuguy almost 5 years ago
For the record, we’ve never had a democracy. You won’t find the word in any of our founding documents. It is a constitutional republic. Hope we can keep it.
mail2jbl almost 5 years ago
How many times do we have to cover this? The United States was not designed to be a democracy. It was designed as a federal republic with some elements of democracy included in the design. The Founding Fathers who composed the Constitution did not want America to be a pure democracy; they despised the concept of pure democracy and saw it as little more than mob rule. (And by the way, they were right!)
Skippy the Magnificent almost 5 years ago
We’re democratic republic by the way, not a democracy. Big difference.
froggie818 almost 5 years ago
Anyone remember when this strip used to be funny instead of constantly grinding a political axe? #bringbackthecrocs
VICTOR PROULX almost 5 years ago
We have lost the First and Fourth Amendment, but by god, we still have the Second.
Brian Fink almost 5 years ago
I expected Opus to walk into the frame. Or at least his schnozz
Ray almost 5 years ago
Alexis de Toqueville considered Liberty and Democracy to be mutually opposed. Something about “the tyranny of the majority.”
Tinman Premium Member almost 5 years ago
What exactly is slipping away???? You still have the right to draw a meaningless cartoon, publish it and have it read by vacuous minded people who agree with an empty fear mongering idea.
the lost wizard almost 5 years ago
Nightly news from Moscow. It was here for a while but you missed it.
RobinHood almost 5 years ago
Translation, Care about what I care about.
sparkle 13 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
And it’s NOT over yet……
DCBakerEsq almost 5 years ago
I should decide who gets to vote.
And, how they vote.
magdala666 almost 5 years ago
I have to pace myself on the caring; with the many and frequent opportunities for outrage, I find myself in danger of burning out on a regular basis. I try to see these turbulent times as an opportunity to choose and focus on what is truly important, but I care about so many of these multiple violations of decency and human compassion that it’s impossible to pick only one or two (or three or four). I just hope my stamina lasts another (interminable!) two years.
Kendall BoomSmith almost 5 years ago
We don’t live in a democracy… it is a Representative Republic. Democracy leads to socialism when the government gets too much power!
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
It has been the longest 3 years of my life. Except, I guess, the first three, most of which I don’t remember.
FassEddie almost 5 years ago
He drifted off during the lawyer ad. We all do.
walstib Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I’m getting prudish in my old age, as I find panel 3 unnecessarily coarse. How about something more elegant and indirectly suggestive, like “POS”?
daves787 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Yes, some people have to be shocked into realizing that their government is legislating away their priceless freedoms.
garibaldi99 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Nothing lasts forever, including the turd in the White House.
Sisyphos almost 5 years ago
Your TV is watching you, Pig! The news presenter is merely its disguise….
It is too late for you!
daking27 almost 5 years ago
I’m curious. Does anyone know if newspapers refused to print this one or edited it? Not taking sides, just curious.
amaryllis2 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Thank you, Mr. Pastis.
HaVoc about 3 years ago
Just you wait for 2020