Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 23, 2021

Who is getting exiled? Right now, exiling Calvin to military school is looking pretty good to Dad.

The only one who decides to become a parent is the parent him/her self.

How does a first grader know all this stuff when he dislikes school?

I’d like to see Calvin in “Barbudos” clothes.

Yeah, Calvin CAN be pretty revolting…

From that smug, “superior” look on Dad’s face, I’d say a revolt is imminent.

And, maybe, necessary.

I doubt he has impunity. It’s Mom who holds the real power.

A benign dictator is a decent way to govern.

CALVIN, GET TO THE BARRICADES IN THE STREETS! (Use Les Miserables movie costuming as your guide for your street clothes.)

Better get with the first strike before the revolt happens, Dad!

Tonight’s bedtime story: Spartacus. The ending should impress him.

Calvin will lead the mutiny

Well Calvin, you are pretty revolting and if you were exiled Mom and Dad could make another kid, soooo I’m thinking it’s your move sparky.

Today’s reprint reminds me of the extreme Calvinists who were known as Puritans and their rebellion against the tyranny of Charles I which became the English Civil War.

Exile was considered as a solution when Charles I was overthrown, tried and convicted of treason. However, it was finally decided that it was safer to execute the tyrant-traitor than to send him into exile and risk his return.

After about ten years of republican rule, the English Monarchy was restored under Charles II who was succeeded by his brother James II who was soon considered a tyrant like his father. James II was indeed sent into exile following the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Some dictator this dad is. He does not even know his own name!

You just know Calvin would have been part of the January 6th riot. Which side is up for debate.

I guess a strange woman in a pond who gave Dad a sword made him dictator for life.

Watch out Calvin you could be exiled to your room for life- – until 18 at any rate.

Exile is an option. If you don’t like the rules….

As opposed to an amicable frank and open dialogue seeking consensus?

In the last panel the ceiling drone view from top is as intriguing as this conversation is becoming.

A father has many stakeholders to answer to.

I remember learning that lesson when I was a kid. We (my brother and I) went to my dad about something and he said “NO”. I responded “But we voted!!” Here’s were the lesson began, my dad’s response, “You are confused, this is not a democracy. It is a benevolent dictatorship, if you keep flapping your lip it will not be so benevolent.”

Obligatory “Children are revolting!” joke here. =)

A classic strip showing the brilliance and creativity of Bill Watterson!

This is what you get, when you let a kid go to the Library.

More of a benevolent dictatorship

Easy answer Dad:" Calvin, your mother and I stand together. Any more talk of revolt and you will miss dinner and go straight to bed. And Hobbes will stay down here watching your favorite TV shows."

This brings up one of the saying I like to use, “The only bad thing about being dictator for life is the retirement plan.”

Of course the more brutal and correct answer for Calvin is to remind his dad, “You are going to be old and in a nursing home some day; do you want the good one or the bad one?”

Parents do not have total impunity, or there’d be no CPS. But that may have been less of a thing in the early ’90s.

Way too much Fox news.

He doesn’t like authority, so at this point tell him ’it’s my way, or the highway!!’

Exile comes quicker than you think. And the strange thing is, you’ll look forward to it, and even enjoy it.