Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for July 10, 2022

“…are the ones with cake.”

Oh… I misread that for a moment.

That Senator reminds me of many Italian politicians. It is really true that they are the same at any latitude.

“So if you help us, you’ll become a lobbyist and get rich.”

“Holy cow, I never thought of it that way! Of course I’ll help you!”

Wouldn’t it be nice if it worked that way?

Throw in some pizza, and I’m all in. You can have the beer, and I’ll bring some sodas.

Some of the founding fathers thought political parties were a REALLY BAD idea. They got THAT right!

time for a top down review and revamp of our system…i value that. Mr Pastis thinks beyond parties and critiques process!

As several people pointed out in a different comic a few weeks ago . . .

Congress is the opposite of Progress.

Same old story. Gilbert and Sullivan wrote “Ruler of the Queen’s Navee” in 1878. “I always voted at my party’s call, And I never thought of thinking For myself at all.”

There are parties even worse than these ones, like the party that just finished up at the Death Moon.

What the USA needs is more than two parties! (And I don’t care if they’re “spoilers”…)

I ran for class president…the eraser got more votes than I did.

I’m up for a cake party.

Good one Pastis. As a Green Party member I totally understand this strip as the repubbas are in bed with the 1%ers and a majority of the democrats are like the guy in you strip except for a few progressives like Bernie, Liz Warren and AOC and the squad in the house but 10 people out of 565 who are committed to humanity and not greed, lobbyists and personal gain.

So true it hurts.

“Poly” is Greek for “many,” and ticks are blood-sucking insects. Ergo: Politics…

This is the point I make to all the politicians I meet with. Party politics should be done away with. In Canada, the parties have “whips” whose job it is to make all the member toe the line and vote the party, rather than their constituents’ wishes, or even their own conscience. In the North West Territories, it is my understanding they do things different: all candidates run as independents. After the election, they meet together and decide among themselves who will be the premier.

You may find this video exposé revealing: “Whipped- the Secret World of Party Discipline”:

https://vimeo.com/69710023

I’m not sure there are many issues that 90% of us agree on. 60% at most.

The REAL truth, oh my! Good one Stephan!

Rat is accurate with this one

Never vote for a person that wants to be elected.

NAILED IT, RAT!!!

We ALL know the major i$$ue with American Politic$ nowaday$. It’$ not about helping the voter$, but rather it’$ ALL about the Benjamin$…and covering their own A$$E$ with the Party Leader$ and their Corporate owner$.

Term limits for Congress!

I’ll never run for office. It’s a big waste of time.

I doubt there is any issue that 90% of the people agree on. Not even cake, which will draw the wrath of the anti-gluten and anti-carb factions, and not even beer.

That attitude stems from the arrogance that only develops when the politicians are certain that their constituents will never vote for any other party.If enough folks voted third party (any third party) then maybe the folks in the two major parties would take notice and begin to actually do something.

What would it look like to choose candidates after we abolish all political parties?

FALSE EQUIVALENCY ALERT!!!!!, the effects being paralysis among those lacking discernment skills and fortitude

Don’t think you have to look at Italy…this attitude is much closer to home.

The 6th panel – the condescending poke in the nose and pursed lips – that is fantastic!!

Senators spend 90% of their time raising money for their own re-election, the other 10% is kinda working on bills for the constitutions that voted them in…yeah right…

BEST COMIC OF THE DAY!!!!

Joe Biden in a nutshell.

Bring on the new party spawned from the Internet! Although the forums would immediately fracture into two camps and spend all the time arguing what to name this new party.

This is too accurate to be funny! :o[

As the saying goes, both parties are just the two cheeks on the same butt.

I’m with Goat on the cake parties. I also say try asking first what you can do for your country.

I know how to simplify all of that. Vote Trump in 2024. Then you won’t have to worry about elections anymore.

Unbelievably accurate.

Once again we see, humor is not pretty! Loads of truth here.

Two parties is not enough. The possibility of absolute power, which a party would acquire if it won the presidency and a veto-proof majority in Congress, corrupts just as surely as the actual possession. And it means that politics attracts people who like to push other people around, instead of people who actually want to address problems.

Political parties, lobbyists, and PACs should all be outlawed. I’m sure they started out as good ideas, but they’re all corrupt now.

‘Civilized’ societies still function, at the very core, like primitive tribes. We pretend otherwise.

I’m in with Rat.

Haha well done. Although this has been a typical theme for cartoonists since the dawn of politics, today’s strip bests them all.

Or come to Illinois and visit one of our many legal dispensaries.

How about we give early retirement to a lot of these senators whose only purpose is to obstruct everything in the name of party. We can do it, we can VOTE

Ain’t it the honest to God truth!

Term Limits would cure that problem. Also prosecuting corrupt politicians would help. Start with the President.

The only difference between Democrats and republicans is that republicans tell you they hate you, but Democrats pretend to like you while actively working with republicans to make sure everyone knows how much you’re hated, then send you fundraising emails complaining about how much republicans hate you and you should send them money so they can “fight for you”

Rat’s drawing skills have improved.

Sooo True, especially nowadays.

It seems to me that this is something just about all Americans can agree on no matter where they fall on the political spectrum – get the money out of politics. This would be a simple thing to do, but will never happen because those in power would never allow it.

F.A. Hayek describes how it gets this way in his 1978 “Law, Legislation and Liberty.”

I love a good bipartisan perspective. This isn’t about one party or another; it’s about politics in general.

And the truth does HURT, us that is……

With beer you get a supreme court judge.

Yep! In a nutshell, Stephan!

Three things are wrong with The USA’s political parties and the elections, #1- Money #2- Money #3-Money.

This is why I look forward to the return of Jesus. The government will be on HIS shoulders, not ours, and incorruptible.

Rat is right about alcohol. I didn’t like scotch until the pandemic started.

Once elected, or appointed, any government official should have to renounce all party affiliations, including fundraising for the party or its candidates as well as attending any party held events or anything sponsored by their former parties.

They should also have to work the same number of hours per week as the average person in their district/state/county/city as well as get the same average benefits and pay.

Come reelection time, they would have only 6 months to campaign, all funding would come from a common pool of money so everyone can campaign equally, and only support their party as a private citizen, including other candidates.

Nor could they run for any office but the one they are holding – and they would still have to work the same number of hours a week at their elected position and campaign in off hours.

Nor should any party have more than 25% of the eligible voters in a given area – making room for multiple parties or at least 4 of them.

I don’t believe that there exists ANY issue needing congressional action that 90% of Americans agree on.

It’s sad whenever I concur with Rat. Politics has become so hypocritical and solely self-serving….

Of course that’s not money. Just a bowl of salad. Yes, the Vegan Party is a bit strange sometimes.

NEWSDAY censored this one

Justice Kavanaugh agrees

Donald Trump ran for President on his own money, so he was not beholden to anyone. That made him beyond the control of any special interests. And what politicians cannot control, they try to destroy.

Well, what’s the point of all that power if you don’t DO anything with it?