Don’t much like political chat at the comic site but… I see all the Republican’s efforts to maintain power… ethically or otherwise… as the death throws of their party. They are down to a coalition of disparate groups like fundamentalist Christians, White Supremacists, the NRA and the 1%, each advocating for their own agenda. They have taken a posture of ultra-nationalism in a world that grows smaller everyday that every human being has to live in. Their message of America First and fear or ignore everyone else does not play well with voters who understand that if we can’t ALL get along on issues like nuclear arms and climate change… there will be no future to pass on to the next generations.
The currently popular choice here is neither. It’s to run over the sign and blast forward with eyes closed and head down until you reach the abiss! Almost there……
When I watched the cheering crowd pull down the statute of Abraham Lincoln in Portland on Sunday I realized this crossroad choice had already been made.
I think the cross roads is less a T and more of a Y. Whichever way you chose you think you can just take a path over to the other road but the ways get farther apart and harder to get to as you go.
BOTH Parties, over the past two+ decades. Cry about the other party’s infractions until they’re no longer in power, then use it as a foundation to grab more…
Dear Mr. Wiley Miller, Love today’s comic. Thank you for continuing to use this art form as way to stimulate reflection and emotion. I agree with some of the other suggestions regarding the depiction of the two paths. Perhaps the one could simply incline the left path and make the right path downhill. In reality, if the left path was easy everyone would go that direction. It requires work, self reflection, and courage to take that less comfortable path. Kindest regards…
Let me speak up on behalf of political parties. I belong to 4 of them myself (Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Greens), not because I’m officially registered with them (Wisconsin doesn’t require party registration) but because I send them money and read their literature. Unlike issue-specific pressure groups, political parties have to be able to form majorities in order to succeed, so they perforce have to cast a wide net to try to entice as many people as possible to support them. It’s not surprising that this can lead to strange bedfellows. But look at what Franklin Roosevelt was able to pull off, convincing White farmers and Black maids, coolly reflective college professors and ardent Southerners, workers in factories, offices, and coal mines alike, and a wild gallimaufry of other disparate Americans that they’d be better off in a coalition with each other than they would be with the Republicans. Who, of course, formed their own coalition out of a different set of disparate elements. In many ways, political parties represent what e pluribus unum was supposed to be all about.
Sad to say, this political crossroad can’t be limited to the Republican right only. The grab for power is intoxicating. Having said that, at this time, far too many Republican office holders ignore ethics altogether, especially here in Florida.
Democrat OR Republican politicians always go right. It is the nature of the beast. Both sides believe that theirs is the right way, but both sides lie and cheat their way to the POWER GRAB in the end.
Amazingly, America keeps trucking on, no matter which party is in charge. And, whichever side loses gripes about the party in power.
Both parties are not the same. When President Obama was President he never once said or did anything like Trump in regards to only helping the states with governors from his party.
President Obama didn’t send good ventilators to Russian only to turn around and buy overpriced defective ventilators from Russia. Which sounds like Trump is still laundering money for the Russian mafia, only now with taxpayer money.
The Physiocrats were among the first to espouse that an unregulated market was part of the “natural order” of things and that therefore government should not regulate it or control it in any manner. On the other hand they believed that the government should consist of a ruling despot with the ability to decree laws over every other social institution and individuals. Hypocritically the Physiocrats also insisted that such a despot must protect private property so that the “free market” would work and, although it never crossed their minds, provide stable value to currency. Without government protection of private property and provision of money the “free market” would fail. Private property and money are the two linchpins of capitalism. Hitler was one of those despots they were talking about and did just that. Protect private property and stabilized the govt, economy and currency. At first.
“The Remissness of our People in Paying Taxes is highly blameable; the Unwillingness to pay them is still more so. I see, in some Resolutions of Town Meetings, a Remonstrance against giving Congress a Power to take, as they call it, the People’s Money out of their Pockets, tho’ only to pay the Interest and Principal of Debts duly contracted. They seem to mistake the Point. Money, justly due from the People, is their Creditors’ Money, and no longer the Money of the People, who, if they withhold it, should be compell’d to pay by some Law.
“All Property, indeed, except the Savage’s temporary Cabin, his Bow, his Matchcoat, and other little Acquisitions, absolutely necessary for his Subsistence, seems to me to be the Creature of public Convention. Hence the Public has the Right of Regulating Descents, and all other Conveyances of Property, and even of limiting the Quantity and the Uses of it. All the Property that is necessary to a Man, for the Conservation of the Individual and the Propagation of the Species, is his natural Right, which none can justly deprive him of: But all Property superfluous to such purposes is the Property of the Publick, who, by their Laws, have created it, and who may therefore by other Laws dispose of it, whenever the Welfare of the Publick shall demand such Disposition. He that does not like civil Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it.”— Benjamin Franklin, December 25, 1783.
willispate about 4 years ago
if i saw that sign i’d be like “Ah screw it, I’m going to Vegas.”
mr_sherman Premium Member about 4 years ago
Left or right?
I Mad Am I about 4 years ago
The other side of the sign post has a tiny sign that points out into No-Man’s-Land… it reads – “Attempt to stay out of jail.”
Bilan about 4 years ago
You don’t even need the sign on the left. Anybody with a shred of ethics wouldn’t even consider politics.
in.amongst about 4 years ago
Historically, power grab always works – ethics can be sorted out later, if needed.
eastern.woods.metal about 4 years ago
Is this a sight gag or is there a political message?
braindead Premium Member about 4 years ago
Republicans* no longer even espouse ethics.
They never believed in ethics, but used to claim they did.
.
Now, with almost 220,000 covid deaths, “It is what it is”.
ObiJoan about 4 years ago
If he has any doubt, he’s not a real politician.
The Old Wolf about 4 years ago
Robber: “Your money or your life!”
Jack Benny: “I’m thinking. I’m thinking!”
hitmouse about 4 years ago
hangedman about 4 years ago
The Machiavellian truth is that politics and morals are mutually exclusive.
nosirrom about 4 years ago
A real politician would make a right turn without having to think about it.
bryce.gear about 4 years ago
What, no tightrope between? So one can waffle between the two?
KenseidenXL about 4 years ago
The GOP always make right turns….
mikeyman about 4 years ago
Politics = Poly + Tics = Many + Blood sucking parasites
R.R.Bedford about 4 years ago
the nation needs Richard M. Nixon…or Barry Goldwater [in your heart you know he’s right!!!]
Stonehouses3 about 4 years ago
Funny, I thought it was about Pelosi; and democrats in general. You know, espousing diversity only with people that agree with them.
Prey about 4 years ago
In reality the left road is a tight rope with a knot in the middle and the right is a 16 lane superhighway!
Masterskrain about 4 years ago
And we ALL KNOW WHICH ROAD THE REPUBLICANS WILL TAKE!!!
unclepablo about 4 years ago
Don’t much like political chat at the comic site but… I see all the Republican’s efforts to maintain power… ethically or otherwise… as the death throws of their party. They are down to a coalition of disparate groups like fundamentalist Christians, White Supremacists, the NRA and the 1%, each advocating for their own agenda. They have taken a posture of ultra-nationalism in a world that grows smaller everyday that every human being has to live in. Their message of America First and fear or ignore everyone else does not play well with voters who understand that if we can’t ALL get along on issues like nuclear arms and climate change… there will be no future to pass on to the next generations.
sandpiper about 4 years ago
As currently applied, it’s a distinction without a difference
Hipshot Percussion about 4 years ago
The road to the left should be grown over with weeds and trees, as almost no politician takes that path.
yimhere about 4 years ago
The currently popular choice here is neither. It’s to run over the sign and blast forward with eyes closed and head down until you reach the abiss! Almost there……
Michael G. about 4 years ago
Path of least resistance, as usual. Which way does water flow?
becida about 4 years ago
When I watched the cheering crowd pull down the statute of Abraham Lincoln in Portland on Sunday I realized this crossroad choice had already been made.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member about 4 years ago
I think the cross roads is less a T and more of a Y. Whichever way you chose you think you can just take a path over to the other road but the ways get farther apart and harder to get to as you go.
Linguist about 4 years ago
A perfect picture of the Coney-Barrett confirmation hearings!
waes-hael about 4 years ago
BOTH Parties, over the past two+ decades. Cry about the other party’s infractions until they’re no longer in power, then use it as a foundation to grab more…
Jaddis about 4 years ago
The look on LvP in the 3rd panel is priceless.
Egjen Skis Premium Member about 4 years ago
Dear Mr. Wiley Miller, Love today’s comic. Thank you for continuing to use this art form as way to stimulate reflection and emotion. I agree with some of the other suggestions regarding the depiction of the two paths. Perhaps the one could simply incline the left path and make the right path downhill. In reality, if the left path was easy everyone would go that direction. It requires work, self reflection, and courage to take that less comfortable path. Kindest regards…
Richard S Russell Premium Member about 4 years ago
Let me speak up on behalf of political parties. I belong to 4 of them myself (Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, and Greens), not because I’m officially registered with them (Wisconsin doesn’t require party registration) but because I send them money and read their literature. Unlike issue-specific pressure groups, political parties have to be able to form majorities in order to succeed, so they perforce have to cast a wide net to try to entice as many people as possible to support them. It’s not surprising that this can lead to strange bedfellows. But look at what Franklin Roosevelt was able to pull off, convincing White farmers and Black maids, coolly reflective college professors and ardent Southerners, workers in factories, offices, and coal mines alike, and a wild gallimaufry of other disparate Americans that they’d be better off in a coalition with each other than they would be with the Republicans. Who, of course, formed their own coalition out of a different set of disparate elements. In many ways, political parties represent what e pluribus unum was supposed to be all about.
michaeljwolff about 4 years ago
He’s actually pausing?
MaybeMaybe about 4 years ago
Pathetic comment.
Feathered Premium Member about 4 years ago
Sad to say, this political crossroad can’t be limited to the Republican right only. The grab for power is intoxicating. Having said that, at this time, far too many Republican office holders ignore ethics altogether, especially here in Florida.
reverendike about 4 years ago
For many it’s not a crossroads at all, the road to the right is a high-speed onramp.
Radish... about 4 years ago
Talk about power grabs, Mitch and Trump are trying to destroy our 244 year old democracy to install a covid spreading insane dictator.
mwksix about 4 years ago
What crossroads? As long as he’s Republican, he gets rich either way!
wjbillthompson about 4 years ago
Moscow mitch also.
WGillete about 4 years ago
Trump recently called himself “your leader,” not your president. Guess what fuhrer means.
Lee26 Premium Member about 4 years ago
Democrat OR Republican politicians always go right. It is the nature of the beast. Both sides believe that theirs is the right way, but both sides lie and cheat their way to the POWER GRAB in the end.
Amazingly, America keeps trucking on, no matter which party is in charge. And, whichever side loses gripes about the party in power.
Thinkingblade about 4 years ago
I wonder how many conflate the two – that the ethical imperative is to grab power because the alternative is untenable.
GiantShetlandPony about 4 years ago
Both parties are not the same. When President Obama was President he never once said or did anything like Trump in regards to only helping the states with governors from his party.
President Obama didn’t send good ventilators to Russian only to turn around and buy overpriced defective ventilators from Russia. Which sounds like Trump is still laundering money for the Russian mafia, only now with taxpayer money.
willie_mctell about 4 years ago
If you’re going to congress, take the right hand road…
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 4 years ago
The Physiocrats were among the first to espouse that an unregulated market was part of the “natural order” of things and that therefore government should not regulate it or control it in any manner. On the other hand they believed that the government should consist of a ruling despot with the ability to decree laws over every other social institution and individuals. Hypocritically the Physiocrats also insisted that such a despot must protect private property so that the “free market” would work and, although it never crossed their minds, provide stable value to currency. Without government protection of private property and provision of money the “free market” would fail. Private property and money are the two linchpins of capitalism. Hitler was one of those despots they were talking about and did just that. Protect private property and stabilized the govt, economy and currency. At first.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 4 years ago
“The Remissness of our People in Paying Taxes is highly blameable; the Unwillingness to pay them is still more so. I see, in some Resolutions of Town Meetings, a Remonstrance against giving Congress a Power to take, as they call it, the People’s Money out of their Pockets, tho’ only to pay the Interest and Principal of Debts duly contracted. They seem to mistake the Point. Money, justly due from the People, is their Creditors’ Money, and no longer the Money of the People, who, if they withhold it, should be compell’d to pay by some Law.
“All Property, indeed, except the Savage’s temporary Cabin, his Bow, his Matchcoat, and other little Acquisitions, absolutely necessary for his Subsistence, seems to me to be the Creature of public Convention. Hence the Public has the Right of Regulating Descents, and all other Conveyances of Property, and even of limiting the Quantity and the Uses of it. All the Property that is necessary to a Man, for the Conservation of the Individual and the Propagation of the Species, is his natural Right, which none can justly deprive him of: But all Property superfluous to such purposes is the Property of the Publick, who, by their Laws, have created it, and who may therefore by other Laws dispose of it, whenever the Welfare of the Publick shall demand such Disposition. He that does not like civil Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it.”— Benjamin Franklin, December 25, 1783.
[Unnamed Reader - c91c61] about 4 years ago
No integrity? No problem!
bakana about 4 years ago
The GOP didn’t even slow down.
They took that turn on two wheels.
Kali about 4 years ago
So, turn right for the US Congress. Got it….
Radish... about 4 years ago
Republicans are leading the USA off a fascist cliff.
dwkiser28603 about 4 years ago
did anyone noticed that the power grab….. WAS ON THE RIGHT!
yimhere about 4 years ago
Yogi would say – take it!