On a rowed vessel the rowers face aft, that means that all of these rowers are seated on the port or left benches. It is the benches on the right that are empty and therefore not pulling their weight. I think that is Wiley’s message de jour.
Don’t read more into it than there is, Lewreader. They had to be on one side or the other, so they were placed on that side for composition reasons. Besides, they’re actually on the left side of the ship, as the bow of the ship would be at their backs. Depends on where you’re standing.
I note there are no rations in sight. Must be that the money was spent on lots of wars in other countries that the people in the US are forced to pay for. Did you know that in countries invaded by the US health care is free and gasoline is subsidized. US taxpayers pay for all that too.
Pursuant to AFSCME work rules, for one hour the crew on the right rows while the crew on the left is personing the cannon. Then they switch tasks for an hour, and so on.
pouncingtiger over 13 years ago
LIke the U.S. with a Republica President (case in point, Reagan and Dubya).
Chrisnp over 13 years ago
Whenever the other party gets elected, all these guys get fired and they get a new bunch to row on the other side.
GROG Premium Member over 13 years ago
Looks like what’s been going on with the proposed budget cuts…..just going around in circles.
Bittermelon of Truth over 13 years ago
Government doesn’t pull its own weight.
loudmouthbass over 13 years ago
looks about right to me…moochers on the left either late or not bothering to show up at all….until the first of the month of course
Olfarto over 13 years ago
Sure it does, BinaryWiener - the government is the one playing the drums!
Can't Sleep over 13 years ago
But think how much money we’re saving!
ostviking over 13 years ago
On a rowed vessel the rowers face aft, that means that all of these rowers are seated on the port or left benches. It is the benches on the right that are empty and therefore not pulling their weight. I think that is Wiley’s message de jour.
lewisbower over 13 years ago
Wonder why the only ones working are on the right? Wiley, you trying to say something?
Wiley creator over 13 years ago
Don’t read more into it than there is, Lewreader. They had to be on one side or the other, so they were placed on that side for composition reasons. Besides, they’re actually on the left side of the ship, as the bow of the ship would be at their backs. Depends on where you’re standing.
Potrzebie over 13 years ago
So the boat currently lists to the left?!! I guess the slavedrivers change every four years and then it lists to the right?!
twj0729 over 13 years ago
Either way, they are going to go in circles!
Superfrog over 13 years ago
Don’t worry. It’s probably just a three hour tour.
vzs1022 over 13 years ago
“Clowns to the left of me, joker’s to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with you”
Destiny23 over 13 years ago
As long as you switch sides every four years, your journey averages out to a straight line!
tizzo over 13 years ago
I think he’s pointing out that the people on the right do all the work.
phuhknees over 13 years ago
Avast, ye scurvy bilge-rats!!
“Left?”
“Right?!”
Shiver me timbers!!
It be “port” and “starboard,” ye balmy lubbers!!
Aye, me parrot concurs…
Varnes over 13 years ago
Phuh, thank you for setting us straight…….and Wiley’s right, the way they’re sitting, the boat would circle to port….Mmmmmmm….Port wine…..
ImaginaryFriend over 13 years ago
Those are all the citizens, not the government. The empty side represents the union workers. They all got (off shored) outsourced anyway.
This comic is great in so many ways!
Elaine Rosco Premium Member over 13 years ago
Maybe it’s the Circle Line.
Zorcher over 13 years ago
A similar situation in the Canadian Commons. Empty seats and government still getting paid.
ilsapadu over 13 years ago
Put the oars back together with red tape.
DjGuardian over 13 years ago
All around the mulberry bush…
WaitingMan over 13 years ago
Democrats are gutless. Republicans are insane. America is in deep doodoo.
rowena28 Premium Member over 13 years ago
It might be more accurate to show the rowers on each side of the boat rowing in opposite directions so the boat remains stationary.
treered over 13 years ago
loudmouthbass hasn’t seen Ben Hur, here, the LEFT shows up for work, the right is just no no no…. Wiley, sorry for politizing, great cartoon!
lazygrazer over 13 years ago
LOL, that’s perfectly funny, Wiley! Well done.
bmonk over 13 years ago
It does remind me of when John XXIII was asked how many people work at the Vatican, and he replied, “About half.”
The Catholic Church has a longer experience of bureaucracy than anyone–they’ve been working on it for some 1400 years or so.
dflak over 13 years ago
I love my government. It’s the people we’ve hired to run it that I have a problem with.
Spyderred over 13 years ago
I note there are no rations in sight. Must be that the money was spent on lots of wars in other countries that the people in the US are forced to pay for. Did you know that in countries invaded by the US health care is free and gasoline is subsidized. US taxpayers pay for all that too.
worldisacomic over 13 years ago
And the guy in the front row is asleep at the oar! Sounds familiar.
runar over 13 years ago
bmonk, the Chinese empire had bureaucracies well before the Catholic church even existed.
RevvieQuar over 13 years ago
Seems to me the rowers on the wrong side.
They should be on the left, rowing in leftist circles, given who’s in the White House now.
AH, I get it! This is a Wisconsin ship, where the Lefties fled their duties and hid!
treered over 13 years ago
RQ, please catch up. the one’s working are OUR SIDE, the awol ones are YOUR SIDE. as if it is that easy to tell one from the other…
BornintheUSA over 13 years ago
Where’s Capt’n Eddie when you need him?
farmermatt over 13 years ago
The ship of state goes ‘round and ‘round.
Bender_Sastre over 13 years ago
As my Grandpappy used to say, “too much left wing or right wing and the whole government flies up it own _”.
lindz.coop Premium Member over 13 years ago
Just another cushy govt job – double the work for half the pay.
bergamot over 13 years ago
Just like the control towers at the airport… (This is NOT a jab at air traffic controllers, they have been understaffed and overworked for years.)
prrdh over 13 years ago
Pursuant to AFSCME work rules, for one hour the crew on the right rows while the crew on the left is personing the cannon. Then they switch tasks for an hour, and so on.
ellery_l over 13 years ago
With Reagan and Dubya, it’s one tier of rowers; with a Democrat president, there’d be no rowers.
Cassie1027 over 13 years ago
brilliant
kelzzy about 13 years ago
Lets hope that side is leading you to the right way