Freedom is so annoying. You have to work at it. Stuff like learning what your options are and thinking about what the best decision is.
About 30% of most populations are “authoritarian followers”. Those are the hard-core who always want to be told what to do and what to think. Usually they aren’t going in the same direction, but sometimes they find a leader, and there are always a few wannabe dictators running for that job. When they do get moving the same way, then it gets dangerous because they can put pressure on the “soft” followers who can be sucked or pressured into joining the mob and the entire country can go down the toilet. Many historical examples, so pick your favorite.
And try not to weep for the future of America. Happy new year? Not so much.
Super Pacs remind me of the rent-to-own industry’s customers. They make periodic payments to politicians to get the use of them, and eventually they own them.
Lots don’t vote. In 2016, Donald J. Trump won the Electoral College with 304 votes compared to 227 votes for Hillary Clinton. It’s not the fault of the E.C.
Theoretically, no one rich group is going to be successful putting up a candidate who will secretly work to support some agenda of theirs which doesn’t match a large number of average (poor and not rich) citizens. The super-PACS are generally pretty open about what they are pushing for. Part of the problem was politicians making a career out of it for the love of money and/or power. The big problem we have today is that we don’t have the same basis for deciding what’s good and what’s evil anymore.
The USA is a Republic. it was never formed as a Democracy. Free States and the 10th Amendment are not allowed in a Democracy. And no, it is not immaterial, but the exact opposite. Steve should have paid attention is school.
Rat had The Count’s vote at the first panel and sealed the deal with the last. Bonus points for not needing to be led offstage by his wife or caught from wandering off from the airplane by some guy in a uniform.
This certainly reflects my feelings about the current election cycle. All the politicians have great plans to help everyone but me. Of course, my taxes will have to go up to pay for it.
Again: we don’t live in a Democracy; it is a Representative Republic. Greece tried Democracy all those centuries ago, and it failed miserably. Since then no one has tried it. We call it Democracy but that is just for PR.
Democracy is majority rule which the US DOES NOT HAVE. If majority ruled, our entire country would be ruled by the will of L.A. and a few other major Democrat-governed cities. The votes of millions across the “fly-over” country would useless. So we have a representative republic, like xSigoff said above. We gotta stop allowing the media to claim it’s all majority rule. If that were true, Hillary would’ve been president and maybe Al Gore before her. But they weren’t.
It reads as if Rat has encountered the L’il Abner “bald Iggle”, a bird who’s gaze compels people to tell the truth and ended up having the politicians having them killed or deported, I forget. Need to crack open my Frazetta hardcover.
Rat would make a terrible senator. And regardless of who gives who money, everyone still gets to vote. They can elect whoever they want. Mike Bloomberg had by far the most money in 2020 and his campaign went nowhere.
I really hated when Reagan admin allowed lobbying etc. in government. Or that no one is stopping the congressional insider trading that Pelosi is so easily getting away with.
Seeing “politics” laid out so barely makes me almost wish for more in the line of Trump’s blatant narcissism and self-aggrandizement and his complete disregard for anyone other than himself – almost.
Lets address the incorrect statement said “DEMOCRACY”. The United States is a constitutional republic. People who relish power want you to believe its a democracy, which is always failed socialism!! In a “democracy” they don’t care if you vote either way.
In the house of representatives there are only about 30 seats that are not foregone conclusions for one party or the other because of gerrymandering. In the 2022 election my state of NC voted from fairly drawn maps for the first time in decades and it was a 7 7 split reflecting the politics of the state. Republicans with a super majority in the legislature and on the court have once again gerrymandered the maps this year it will likely be 11-3. This is not representation when people pick their voters they absolutely owe them nothing and treat them accordingly.
Makes you wonder if the right has been deliberately making participatory democracy as unattractive as possible so we won’t mind when they destroy it altogether.
BE THIS GUY 6 months ago
Discouraging people not to vote can be an effective strategy.
BasilBruce 6 months ago
And that’s why no one has heard of an honest politician.
DanielRyanMulligan1 6 months ago
And the truth shall set you free…or trap you, I always forget which…Dan aka…
Ratkin 6 months ago
Ironically those PACs are called super
Asharah 6 months ago
At least he’s honest about it.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 6 months ago
Corporations are people. Free spending is free speech. The Subprime Court said so in Citizens United, so it must be true.
Bilan 6 months ago
And we now finally have a Super PAC Rat.
ronaldspence 6 months ago
enter poor leave rich…
minty_Joe 6 months ago
I’ve already got my presidential candidate picked for Election Day. We’ll just have to see what happens afterwards.
Sanspareil 6 months ago
Rat’s predicament is sad but Soooooo true!
priyansh.jeziel 6 months ago
You have to admit, he hit the nail on the head by admitting how “representative democracy” really works.
hariseldon59 6 months ago
Living in a Ratocracy.
Keno21 6 months ago
Let us face it; if voting actually changed anything, it would be illegal.
enigmamz 6 months ago
“Know your role and shut your mouth!”
Cornelius Noodleman 6 months ago
Blue cups!
cracker65 6 months ago
Slavery never ended.
Zykoic 6 months ago
True but so very sad…….
tonypezzano 6 months ago
He did.
orinoco womble 6 months ago
Tis true, tis pity—and pity tis, tis true. (Shakespeare)
shanen0 6 months ago
Freedom is so annoying. You have to work at it. Stuff like learning what your options are and thinking about what the best decision is.
About 30% of most populations are “authoritarian followers”. Those are the hard-core who always want to be told what to do and what to think. Usually they aren’t going in the same direction, but sometimes they find a leader, and there are always a few wannabe dictators running for that job. When they do get moving the same way, then it gets dangerous because they can put pressure on the “soft” followers who can be sucked or pressured into joining the mob and the entire country can go down the toilet. Many historical examples, so pick your favorite.
And try not to weep for the future of America. Happy new year? Not so much.
Purple People Eater 6 months ago
An honest politician? When did that last happen?
Ellis97 6 months ago
Running for office is the perfect ambition for someone like Rat.
markkahler52 6 months ago
Rat, you’re off the ticket in Colorado and Maine (so far)
phritzg Premium Member 6 months ago
Super Pacs remind me of the rent-to-own industry’s customers. They make periodic payments to politicians to get the use of them, and eventually they own them.
TampaFanatic1 6 months ago
Good one Pastis!
Huckleberry Hiroshima 6 months ago
It has not been a democracy for quite some time.
Squoop 6 months ago
Gotta give him points for honesty.
jbmlaw01 6 months ago
I never vote for anyone. I vote against the stupider policies. Generally an easy choice.
Egrayjames 6 months ago
It only hurts when I vote!
aerotica69 6 months ago
The pols have started early this season – I have already ignored seven “spam risk” calls.
Hamady Sack Premium Member 6 months ago
All hail the ruling class.
diskus Premium Member 6 months ago
Free speech is very pricey
Anters55 6 months ago
Small but important technical difference: we live in a Constitutional Republic – not a democracy.
MS72 6 months ago
Lots don’t vote. In 2016, Donald J. Trump won the Electoral College with 304 votes compared to 227 votes for Hillary Clinton. It’s not the fault of the E.C.
KageKat 6 months ago
I fully expected the guy to stuff Rat into his hat.
Ignatz Premium Member 6 months ago
The Supreme Court made bribery legal. What could go wrong?
NaGrom Premium Member 6 months ago
Give people the right not to vote and they’ll take it.
DaBump Premium Member 6 months ago
Theoretically, no one rich group is going to be successful putting up a candidate who will secretly work to support some agenda of theirs which doesn’t match a large number of average (poor and not rich) citizens. The super-PACS are generally pretty open about what they are pushing for. Part of the problem was politicians making a career out of it for the love of money and/or power. The big problem we have today is that we don’t have the same basis for deciding what’s good and what’s evil anymore.
harbormoon 6 months ago
Never has a comic strip more accurately reflected the reality of American politics
jtburgess Premium Member 6 months ago
Sad to say, but I think Rat got it right.
sams1960 Premium Member 6 months ago
Nailed it!
asmbeers 6 months ago
The USA is a Republic. it was never formed as a Democracy. Free States and the 10th Amendment are not allowed in a Democracy. And no, it is not immaterial, but the exact opposite. Steve should have paid attention is school.
Count Olaf Premium Member 6 months ago
Rat had The Count’s vote at the first panel and sealed the deal with the last. Bonus points for not needing to be led offstage by his wife or caught from wandering off from the airplane by some guy in a uniform.
rossevrymn 6 months ago
I cannot see how anyone could see a single remnant of politics in this piece……….Pearls Before Swine Politics Police?:
Gerard Cannie Premium Member 6 months ago
This certainly reflects my feelings about the current election cycle. All the politicians have great plans to help everyone but me. Of course, my taxes will have to go up to pay for it.
Dom999 6 months ago
senators don’t represent people, they represent states. the house members represent people, well, supposedly they do.
Goat from PBS 6 months ago
I don’t want to do my part in… politicians.
PoodleGroomer 6 months ago
Election campaigns no longer represent the populace. We need to tax lobbyists $34 trillion to pay off the national debt.
ajr58(1) 6 months ago
Just decide to run in a different district than you currently represent <Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beatle…..>
xSigoff Premium Member 6 months ago
Again: we don’t live in a Democracy; it is a Representative Republic. Greece tried Democracy all those centuries ago, and it failed miserably. Since then no one has tried it. We call it Democracy but that is just for PR.
Spence12 Premium Member 6 months ago
Democracy is majority rule which the US DOES NOT HAVE. If majority ruled, our entire country would be ruled by the will of L.A. and a few other major Democrat-governed cities. The votes of millions across the “fly-over” country would useless. So we have a representative republic, like xSigoff said above. We gotta stop allowing the media to claim it’s all majority rule. If that were true, Hillary would’ve been president and maybe Al Gore before her. But they weren’t.
syzygy47 6 months ago
It reads as if Rat has encountered the L’il Abner “bald Iggle”, a bird who’s gaze compels people to tell the truth and ended up having the politicians having them killed or deported, I forget. Need to crack open my Frazetta hardcover.
CaveCat87 6 months ago
Rat, what you’re doing is the opposite of democracy.
RobinHood 6 months ago
Telling the truth is not appreciated that much now.
Zebrastripes 6 months ago
Crooked, evil, lies
VOTE THE GARBAGE O. U. T. !
Otis Rufus Driftwood 6 months ago
Why truth in advertising laws need to be applied to political campaigns. Also, we need to seriously reconsider campaign donations as speech..
kwstorer 6 months ago
This sums it up perfectly on all politicians.
ladykat 6 months ago
You talked too much, Rat.
kevinclark 6 months ago
Rat would make a terrible senator. And regardless of who gives who money, everyone still gets to vote. They can elect whoever they want. Mike Bloomberg had by far the most money in 2020 and his campaign went nowhere.
dadlivonia 6 months ago
Honesty in politicians?? A sign of the apocalypse
Dapperdan61 Premium Member 6 months ago
Rats first mistake was being honest. He needs to learn to lie like every other politician
apoch003 6 months ago
I really hated when Reagan admin allowed lobbying etc. in government. Or that no one is stopping the congressional insider trading that Pelosi is so easily getting away with.
mindjob 6 months ago
Wearing a flag hat just hides how you really feel
wellis1947 Premium Member 6 months ago
Seeing “politics” laid out so barely makes me almost wish for more in the line of Trump’s blatant narcissism and self-aggrandizement and his complete disregard for anyone other than himself – almost.
It's Not Easy Bein' Me 6 months ago
Old Joe never met a war or a defense contractor he didn’t like!
cupertino jay 6 months ago
maany years ago i did a precinct GetOutTheVote thing, discovering it’s hard
zeexenon 6 months ago
Mr. Good Citizen must be living the life of Riley in our Trickle-Down Economy.
RonnieAThompson Premium Member 6 months ago
TFG loves power, too. And money.
hooglah 6 months ago
If only politicians told the truth.
JPuzzleWhiz 6 months ago
“Some people just don’t want to do their part in a democracy.”
They’re called “Trumpers”!
Kurtass Premium Member 6 months ago
Hi, I’m a Supreme Court Justice and I need funds to live a lavish lifestyle…..
smalleychris880 6 months ago
at least someone got it right !
Carl Rennhack Premium Member 6 months ago
Is Rat a RAT-publican or a Demo-RAT?!?
Honda0203 Premium Member 6 months ago
Lets address the incorrect statement said “DEMOCRACY”. The United States is a constitutional republic. People who relish power want you to believe its a democracy, which is always failed socialism!! In a “democracy” they don’t care if you vote either way.
elgrecousa Premium Member 6 months ago
A good cartoon strip is based on some kind of surprise. This one hits you over the head with an 8×64.
_lounger_ 6 months ago
way too much information, Rat
Beowulf 406 Premium Member 6 months ago
Truth isn’t funny. Where’s the gag.
sisterea 6 months ago
In the house of representatives there are only about 30 seats that are not foregone conclusions for one party or the other because of gerrymandering. In the 2022 election my state of NC voted from fairly drawn maps for the first time in decades and it was a 7 7 split reflecting the politics of the state. Republicans with a super majority in the legislature and on the court have once again gerrymandered the maps this year it will likely be 11-3. This is not representation when people pick their voters they absolutely owe them nothing and treat them accordingly.
John Jorgensen 6 months ago
Makes you wonder if the right has been deliberately making participatory democracy as unattractive as possible so we won’t mind when they destroy it altogether.
eladee AKA Wally 6 months ago
Is it any wonder why they don’t?
AndrewSihler 6 months ago
Strange. What man could resist such blandishments?
eddi-TBH 6 months ago
Does winning with 55% of the popular vote count as a landslide if only 10% of the voters actually cast ballots?
morgankhat 6 months ago
Geez, they can’t be any worse than the Dumbocrats.
Solarist 6 months ago
We’re not a democracy.
ericandjan1 6 months ago
The problem with our nation’s politics in one cartoon!
ira.crank 6 months ago
I knew the word “democracy” would bring out the constitutional experts. If you substitute it with “republic”, the comic still gets its point across.
dogday Premium Member 6 months ago
And that is the best 21st century civics lesson you’re likely ever to get.
Cathy P. 6 months ago
U.S.A. Is not s democracy. We are a Constitutional Republic. There is a huge difference!
Sisyphos 6 months ago
Rat’s problem is that he’s trying to be a politician and to tell the truth at the same time. That does not work!
alantain 5 months ago
Is going from president to senator something of a demotion?