Well, I can’t speak for Grover but I can tell you that Donnie John has no clue as to why “Venezuela” is circling the “toilet Bowl”.
The causes are complicated and the bugbear “Socialism” is NOT the root cause of their problems – that is incorrect and ridiculously simplistic, to boot!
Examination of the root cause of the problem would show that it all started to go to “heck” with the election of a minor moron with authoritarian tendencies, coupled with an imbecilic and quiescent legislature in cahoots with a judiciary hand-picked by the ruling party – and ALL OF THIS was aided and abetted by a massive influx of easy money siphoned off by the upper classes with just enough crumb thrown to the poor to make it look like “reform”.
And if parts of this scenario sound familiar, it’s because this has happened over and over and over everywhere in the world there are idiots, morons and imbeciles that are allowed to float it the top of the “septic tank”!
Americans might just possibly care to look inward, a bit – Donnie John’s leading us to EXACTLY what he’s warning us about. There are MANY roads to hell, and most are taken because of the fear of “the Other”!
I’m REALLY surprised the current occupant is going on about Venezuela. I would have thought that there were FAR TOO MANY SYLLABLES for him to be able to handle!
The key seems to be education — politically tainted education — where dictators are IN and democracy with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is BAD… e.g. “I’m from the government and I’m here to help”. The non-working 1% (job creators) are IN and equality of opportunity (envying the wealthy) is BAD. Homeschooling is IN and higher education is BAD. De facto theocracy is IN and having a choice is BAD.
There are two things I do not understand in this strip. What does “I would have left them to the British!” refer to? Also, what is the extra outline around Grover Cleveland in the last panel all about? Can somebody explain?
Venezuela is run by a corrupt dictatorship that puts staying in power ahead of its citizens needs. Would a corrupt capitalistic dictator have done more for the people?
Venezuela never gave away enough “free stuff,” and that is at the heart of its present problems. It has always been a petroleum-exporting state with the proceeds going mostly to the aristocracy that controlled the country. Nothing ’trickled down" to ordinary Venezuelans in the form of free education and nothing was done to develop an economy based on anything other than selling oil. It was the ideal country in the eyes of American conservatives. Had it been a little bit more socialist it might have benefitted everyone living there.
I’m wondering how much anyone knows… including myself.
With all the todo about Maduro being “socialist”, I have not seen any report that Juan Guaidó and the Popular Will party intend to abandon “socialism”, but only that they hope to end corruption.
I find it confusing that Trump is taking such a strong stand against dictatorial “president” Maduro while praising most other dictators, including and especially “communist” Putin and Kim.
Robert C. Premium Member about 5 years ago
Used to be “BENGHAZI” !
Daeder about 5 years ago
Whether it’s “Venezuela” or anything else, it fits the classic conservative tactic of “Lalala!…I can’t hear you!”
wellis1947 Premium Member about 5 years ago
Well, I can’t speak for Grover but I can tell you that Donnie John has no clue as to why “Venezuela” is circling the “toilet Bowl”.
The causes are complicated and the bugbear “Socialism” is NOT the root cause of their problems – that is incorrect and ridiculously simplistic, to boot!
Examination of the root cause of the problem would show that it all started to go to “heck” with the election of a minor moron with authoritarian tendencies, coupled with an imbecilic and quiescent legislature in cahoots with a judiciary hand-picked by the ruling party – and ALL OF THIS was aided and abetted by a massive influx of easy money siphoned off by the upper classes with just enough crumb thrown to the poor to make it look like “reform”.
And if parts of this scenario sound familiar, it’s because this has happened over and over and over everywhere in the world there are idiots, morons and imbeciles that are allowed to float it the top of the “septic tank”!
Americans might just possibly care to look inward, a bit – Donnie John’s leading us to EXACTLY what he’s warning us about. There are MANY roads to hell, and most are taken because of the fear of “the Other”!
feverjr Premium Member about 5 years ago
The Plutocrats have their new scare tactic, “socialism”…. just don’t ask the populace if they like Medicare or Social Security…
Masterskrain Premium Member about 5 years ago
I’m REALLY surprised the current occupant is going on about Venezuela. I would have thought that there were FAR TOO MANY SYLLABLES for him to be able to handle!
superposition about 5 years ago
The key seems to be education — politically tainted education — where dictators are IN and democracy with a government of the people, by the people, and for the people is BAD… e.g. “I’m from the government and I’m here to help”. The non-working 1% (job creators) are IN and equality of opportunity (envying the wealthy) is BAD. Homeschooling is IN and higher education is BAD. De facto theocracy is IN and having a choice is BAD.
The pattern is blatantly obvious.
jerrybarte about 5 years ago
There are two things I do not understand in this strip. What does “I would have left them to the British!” refer to? Also, what is the extra outline around Grover Cleveland in the last panel all about? Can somebody explain?
Kip W about 5 years ago
“I loathe and detest sporting games when every ignorant lout in the stands commences blowing upon those damnable Venezuelas!”
ChristopherBurns about 5 years ago
To quote one of my favorite movie characters: “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means”.
Scoutmaster77 about 5 years ago
Venezuela is run by a corrupt dictatorship that puts staying in power ahead of its citizens needs. Would a corrupt capitalistic dictator have done more for the people?
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member about 5 years ago
I sure the Venezuelans of 1903 loved the actions of TR.
Godfreydaniel about 5 years ago
I wonder how much of the gold flown to Russia will go directly to Putin…..
Fenshaw about 5 years ago
To Niflheim (or D.C. same sort of place) with talk of Venezuela. Today’s big question is: “Will The #FakePresident survive PECKERGATE?”
ThomasBonsell about 5 years ago
Venezuela never gave away enough “free stuff,” and that is at the heart of its present problems. It has always been a petroleum-exporting state with the proceeds going mostly to the aristocracy that controlled the country. Nothing ’trickled down" to ordinary Venezuelans in the form of free education and nothing was done to develop an economy based on anything other than selling oil. It was the ideal country in the eyes of American conservatives. Had it been a little bit more socialist it might have benefitted everyone living there.
gammaguy about 5 years ago
“Do you actually know anything about Venezuela?”
I’m wondering how much anyone knows… including myself.
With all the todo about Maduro being “socialist”, I have not seen any report that Juan Guaidó and the Popular Will party intend to abandon “socialism”, but only that they hope to end corruption.
I find it confusing that Trump is taking such a strong stand against dictatorial “president” Maduro while praising most other dictators, including and especially “communist” Putin and Kim.