Speed Bump by Dave Coverly for August 05, 2024

It was Franklin (in response to a question about the importance of the Constitution as regards making the US a republic or a monarchy) who responded: “We’ve given you a republic — if you can keep it.”

The Democratic party, who whose members outnumber Republicans in the US, has only two jobs this year: to see to it that all potential voters are registered, and then see to it that they vote. In other words, rolls and polls. That’s how we can keep the republic, in spite of the Republicans.

Wonder what our founders would say if they could see how far we’ve strayed from what they set up?

An alternative interpretation, though not necessarily the cartoonist’s intent: Money buys votes.

I believe that the comic refers to the beliefs of Benjamin Franklin about voting. A quote from Ben Franklin: “Thank God! we are in the full enjoyment of all these privileges. But can we be taught to prize them too much? or how can we prize them equal to their value, if we do not know their intrinsic worth, and that they are not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature?”Benjamin FranklinMen, Law, VotingBenjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin, William Duane (1834). “Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin”, p.440He believed that everyone should take advantage of their right to vote.

Quite an atypical Coverly strip.

It’s the best government money can buy.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010).

Thank you John Roberts. /s

The “get out to vote” strategy currently employed by the DNC.

DC is great, but for some reason this one strikes me as too cute by half…

For those who think their vote doesn’t mean anything stop and think about how much money is spent just to get your vote.

The United States of America has the best government that money can buy.

The Benjamin needs more shading, since the toon is about the “dark money” polluting our politics since Citizens United. And now, more recently, the Subprime Court legalized bribery!

So did I !

Voting is the way we traditionally “overthrow the government” by non-violent means. Try it instead of wingeing and lying about it.

Whether it’s about Franklin encouraging people to vote, or about how cash influences elections, it’s right on the money (pun intended!). Anyone trying to make it about a specific political party is missing the point.

Mark Twain once said that "If voting made a difference, they wouldn’t let us do it. "

Bummer. Happens more frequently of late

Election Day is 3 months away.

Yes even the Dead Dead Dead Vote….

That is a disgusting, disrespectful remark to make about Pres Carter. You must be a Trumper who believes Trump is in his right mind….NOT!

I thought political comments were banned. Just on the political cartoons?