There goes Steve Kelley, again repeating the tired old cliché of “Progressive policies means getting “FREE STUFF” as he (yet again) demonstrates utter and complete CLUELESSNESS about what liberalism means, how it works, or its role in the world today.
Progressive policies are NOT about expecting “FREE STUFF” any more than you expect law enforcement, emergency first responders or “free” public schools to be provided by “other people’s money.”
We all contribute and we all benefit.
There are good ways in which public resources are allocated for public benefit but which no one would seriously consider “free stuff.” for the legitimate purpose of protecting PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, maintaining public order and helping those who actually need it:
• Universal comprehensive no-fee health care
• Universal tuition-free public education through college
• Guaranteed secure retirement program
• Job retraining, job placement assistance
• Proactive social services to PREVENT crime
• Public infrastructure for general use and general beneift
• Law enforcement, firefighting, emergency disaster relief
• Military protection from foreign threats
.
Ways in which public resource allocation is ABUSED as “free” giveaways — the real “free stuff” — are when they go to the few richest elites who already have the most with no benefit to the general public:
• Corporate welfare (socialism for the rich)
• Socialized professional sports (all benefit goes to people that are very rich)
• Tax exemptions for churches that non-believers have to make up for (socialized religion)
.
• Example of worst kind of bad public resource allocation (cited by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez): Trump has a country club / golf course in her district. It was developed with public funds, but HE gets to keep all the revenue. Pure corporate welfare. Donald Trump: the real “Welfare Queen” of Queens.
Democrats believe that all citizens should get something for their tax dollars, while republicans don’t. Republicans want a government OF the people, but not BY or FOR them.
Odd that in a few decades Republicans can no longer distinguish between assets and liabilities. Morphing from fiscal in social conservatism seems to have cost them a hefty price in logic, reasoning, and effective governing. A healthy education, conservatively speaking, has always been an asset to any society. Only an extreme radical libertarian or anarchist philosophy would see having an able, educated workforce as a liability.
The richest among us, including Trump, get their free stuff by not paying their taxes. Trump also gets a lot of profit by not paying people who work for him. He’s a deadbeat.
Democrats never said anything was free. Each of them has a detailed explanation of where the money is coming from, and to sum them up, it involves having the 10% of the people who have 90% of the money pay for it. The idea that it is promised “free” is obviously impossible, and is just a Republican ploy to try to make the whole idea of creating a society that is good for the majority of people instead of just the rich impossible.
Seems to me that the list by DD Wiz was nothing but free stuff – I worked and paid my way through college, and have worked my whole life after….even though I’m 70 this year, I still work part-time – don’t really have to, but I like what I do. Too many of these Liberal types think that asking someone to get off their butts and get out of self, is mean and heartless. Well, it’s Life. Healthcare is a responsibility, not a right.
Mr. Kelley. I’ll type slowly so you can understand. No one is offering to give away free stuff. There are certain things the civilized societies believe are a right and not a privilege. These include a decent education and access to healthcare. The progressive candidates do indeed have plans to pay for these things. These plans usually start with making the super-wealthy pay their fair share. The $1.5T your conservative buddies added to the deficit with their tax break for the rich would be very helpful in this regard. America was supposed to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people, but you and your friends favor a government by the rich for the rich. How’s your history? Do you know what usually happens when the wealthy stomp too hard on the poor for too long? It’s not pretty. Think France 1789, or or Russia 1918. But that kind of situation can probably be avoided with equitable representation and some human decency. Too bad you don’t know anyone like that.
How many Republicans started as candidates in 2016, I forget but it seems there were at least a dozen or more, and look who won it all which proves Republicans are not very smart. I just hope the Democrats are not that dumb.
It ain’t like the right wingers don’t offer stuff that they have no intention or ability to provide. Better health care than Obama care. You betcha. Tax breaks for the working class. Absolutely. Working longer hours and playing less golf than Obama. How can you doubt it? And that’s just (some of) the recent BS.
But the main objection I have to this cartoon is the stupid idea that somehow spending money on things that the citizens actually need and want is “free stuff.”
How about, just for a brief and shining moment, Kelley looks up from the GOP Book of Lies and Distortions and notices that we’re a nation that’s going downhill in terms of how healthy, wealthy and wise our population is.
DD Wiz Premium Member almost 5 years ago
There goes Steve Kelley, again repeating the tired old cliché of “Progressive policies means getting “FREE STUFF” as he (yet again) demonstrates utter and complete CLUELESSNESS about what liberalism means, how it works, or its role in the world today.
Progressive policies are NOT about expecting “FREE STUFF” any more than you expect law enforcement, emergency first responders or “free” public schools to be provided by “other people’s money.”
We all contribute and we all benefit.
There are good ways in which public resources are allocated for public benefit but which no one would seriously consider “free stuff.” for the legitimate purpose of protecting PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, maintaining public order and helping those who actually need it:
• Universal comprehensive no-fee health care
• Universal tuition-free public education through college
• Guaranteed secure retirement program
• Job retraining, job placement assistance
• Proactive social services to PREVENT crime
• Public infrastructure for general use and general beneift
• Law enforcement, firefighting, emergency disaster relief
• Military protection from foreign threats
.
Ways in which public resource allocation is ABUSED as “free” giveaways — the real “free stuff” — are when they go to the few richest elites who already have the most with no benefit to the general public:
• Corporate welfare (socialism for the rich)
• Socialized professional sports (all benefit goes to people that are very rich)
• Tax exemptions for churches that non-believers have to make up for (socialized religion)
.
• Example of worst kind of bad public resource allocation (cited by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez): Trump has a country club / golf course in her district. It was developed with public funds, but HE gets to keep all the revenue. Pure corporate welfare. Donald Trump: the real “Welfare Queen” of Queens.
RAGs almost 5 years ago
Democrats believe that all citizens should get something for their tax dollars, while republicans don’t. Republicans want a government OF the people, but not BY or FOR them.
Daeder almost 5 years ago
“I may have 23 candidates, but NONE of them is a rapist, douche-bag traitor!”
Patjade almost 5 years ago
Same old trope from the same old dope.
superposition almost 5 years ago
Odd that in a few decades Republicans can no longer distinguish between assets and liabilities. Morphing from fiscal in social conservatism seems to have cost them a hefty price in logic, reasoning, and effective governing. A healthy education, conservatively speaking, has always been an asset to any society. Only an extreme radical libertarian or anarchist philosophy would see having an able, educated workforce as a liability.
Zev almost 5 years ago
As compared to the elephants, who see what they can grab for free for themselves and their rich pals.
Ontman almost 5 years ago
suzalee almost 5 years ago
The richest among us, including Trump, get their free stuff by not paying their taxes. Trump also gets a lot of profit by not paying people who work for him. He’s a deadbeat.
Alberta Oil Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Not at all like the Republican method of winnowing candidates.. where competence is ridiculed and he who can spin the most lies wins the prize.
Dave Ferro almost 5 years ago
“Free” stuff.
Diane Lee Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Democrats never said anything was free. Each of them has a detailed explanation of where the money is coming from, and to sum them up, it involves having the 10% of the people who have 90% of the money pay for it. The idea that it is promised “free” is obviously impossible, and is just a Republican ploy to try to make the whole idea of creating a society that is good for the majority of people instead of just the rich impossible.
Rise22 almost 5 years ago
Seems to me that the list by DD Wiz was nothing but free stuff – I worked and paid my way through college, and have worked my whole life after….even though I’m 70 this year, I still work part-time – don’t really have to, but I like what I do. Too many of these Liberal types think that asking someone to get off their butts and get out of self, is mean and heartless. Well, it’s Life. Healthcare is a responsibility, not a right.
Mr. Blawt almost 5 years ago
unlike the Republicans who only want free stuff for rich white men.
DrDon1 almost 5 years ago
Just consider that this lame, misleading ’toon may be the best that Kelley has to offer!
BubbleTape Premium Member almost 5 years ago
republicans prefer the free for a few at the cost to the many.
hwolfe22 almost 5 years ago
Mr. Kelley. I’ll type slowly so you can understand. No one is offering to give away free stuff. There are certain things the civilized societies believe are a right and not a privilege. These include a decent education and access to healthcare. The progressive candidates do indeed have plans to pay for these things. These plans usually start with making the super-wealthy pay their fair share. The $1.5T your conservative buddies added to the deficit with their tax break for the rich would be very helpful in this regard. America was supposed to have a government of the people, by the people, for the people, but you and your friends favor a government by the rich for the rich. How’s your history? Do you know what usually happens when the wealthy stomp too hard on the poor for too long? It’s not pretty. Think France 1789, or or Russia 1918. But that kind of situation can probably be avoided with equitable representation and some human decency. Too bad you don’t know anyone like that.
Gary Williams Premium Member almost 5 years ago
How many Republicans started as candidates in 2016, I forget but it seems there were at least a dozen or more, and look who won it all which proves Republicans are not very smart. I just hope the Democrats are not that dumb.
pamela welch Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Steve, you are almost as much an idiot as that POS in the WH
Concretionist almost 5 years ago
It ain’t like the right wingers don’t offer stuff that they have no intention or ability to provide. Better health care than Obama care. You betcha. Tax breaks for the working class. Absolutely. Working longer hours and playing less golf than Obama. How can you doubt it? And that’s just (some of) the recent BS.
But the main objection I have to this cartoon is the stupid idea that somehow spending money on things that the citizens actually need and want is “free stuff.”
How about, just for a brief and shining moment, Kelley looks up from the GOP Book of Lies and Distortions and notices that we’re a nation that’s going downhill in terms of how healthy, wealthy and wise our population is.
All the dinosaurs feared the T-Rex almost 5 years ago
As usual, Kelley is tone deaf. Can’t believe he gets paid for this drivel.