Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling for March 26, 2010

Are the premises conveyed by this comic the same as those which inspired Nietzsche to write “Human, All Too Human”?

Or, conversely, do they provide part (or all) of the justification for health care reform?

It’s not health care reform. It’s a major screw-up that needs reform itself.

I ate a vegan once. Tasted like chicken.

Republicans and Democrats used to have picnics together and would walk through DC hand-in-hand, until Louis came along

Eating vegan isn’t going to help the starving Africans, unless you send them all the meat, eggs, and cheese that you pass up.

Most kids DO feel responsible for much they don’t understand, especially parents fighting - yes, very sad…

OMGM!

Louis, snap out of it!

Louis, you’re not to blame. I am.

As usual, a scathing commentary on the state of the American psyche. EVERYTHING is about us (or rather, the “U.S.,”) isn’t it?

Keep those reality checks coming, Ruben. Thanks!

Louis, remember when your parents told you that there were starving children in Africa who would love to have that liver on your plate? they made you feel guilty, so you choked it down? Well, if you had made them wrap it up and send it to Zambia or Zanzibar there wouldn’t be a problem in Africa. It is your fault!

P.S.: The first time my parents pulled that “…starving children in…” line on me, I said, “Fine. Send it to them.” and walked away from the table.

Is Louis getting younger?

I find it funny that everyone must extrapolate deeper meaning from this comic. I just find it amusing seeing the world through the eyes of a young boy.

“…a scathing commentary on the state of the American psyche” Psh. Come on.

Louis is not getting younger - this strip is a repeat from a couple years back. But it is a fine strip, and worth reading again…

Chikuku - I’m a vegan of 17 years, animal rights supporter, etc, and i too believe that there is a sound and significant argument to be made for the environmental benefits of such a diet, generally speaking, especially with sensitivity to food selection and shipping, and especially in comparison to the average diets of many countries, including my own US. But such statements as yours do almost nothing to further the cause: asserting a simplistic causality between eating vegan and saving the lives of starving Africans, or between “everyone eating vegan” and there being enough food for everyone, come across like self-satisfying jingoism, and will only result in justifiable ridicule, especially in the typically hostile world of internet comment threads. At best, someone reads the comment, buys in, later feels betrayed when the facts muddy the waters, and often becomes a staunch advocate against veganism.

It’s a big, nuanced, complicated, messy world, and moral clarity is the tempting dark side. Please read a few (well-sourced, balanced) books on the subject of food/diet/politics/imperialism – if you already have, please flesh out your comments a little bit. And thanks for being vegan. :-)

There’s already enough food for everyone in the world. Distribution is the problem.

Vegans are hypocrites.