Editorial Cartoon: Obama and Reagan
So my last politically inspired cartoon poked fun at the Republicans so now it is the Democrats turn. Time and time again I see Democrats invoking the spirit of Ronald Reagan to shame Republicans into agreeing with their policies. Somehow Reagan has turned from representing all things evil with Conservatives to the voice of an elder (albeit deceased) elder statesman.
Recently President Barack Obama invoked a quote from Reagan to defend the Buffet Rule (a plan to up the tax on the rich) calling Reagan (gasp) “a socialist” compared to the ‘Republicans of today. At the same time he said “Trickle Down Economics” didn’t work…a phrase that was the basis of the Reagan plan.
The difference is how they are looking to go about it. Obama wants to raise tax on the über rich…something the majority of Americans will get behind simply because it doesn’t affect them. However, what Reagan wanted to do was similar to all Republican platforms generally and fight to reduce taxes. I am not one of those people that clamors for tax deductions. I think they are a necessary part of living in an advanced society. However, I hate it when my tax money is wasted because of politics that both sides tend to partake in.
AND, I agree with Reagan that the key isn’t to just raise taxes on the rich. It is to remove all the tax loopholes that seem to be available to the rich such that people like Warren Buffet pays less as a percent of income than his secretary. Hilarious that Buffet will make that point but still take advantage of those loopholes himself. Simplify the tax code, get rid of the loopholes that seem to pop up and we won’t need to worry so much about whose taxes should be raised or not.
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Excellent Bearman. And who makes sure those loopholes are there? Both sides of the aisle that’s who. Shame on all of them.
Have a terrific day.
Each spends so much time blaming the other that they can’t see their own limitations and do something.
I love this one! I try to stay out of the political arena myself..
I try to jump in with both feet.
I’m with you that they are neccesary & see no point complaining about taxes. But like you I hate seeing the Governmental wastage of our tax money then scream about how tight the budget is & the need to make cuts to important things like health, education, police & emergency services to save money while they continue the tax wastage on frivolous unnecessary things
It’s as if we are going to reelect them strictly because they get funding for a pet project that I probably will never see or have use for.
Worse still is when our tax dollar is used on advertising to convince us that the governments introduction of a carbon tax is a good thing!!!!
Just creating another monetary market for people to exploit
And they can exploit. How many billions have been raised for campaigns? I say let them all ride the train and get it done on $100,000. Even the playing field.
Red.
Make it a closed market like the NFL??
Carbon Tax Grrrrrr…. I’m predicting massive job cuts in the auto industry & massive jumps in bicycle sales ‘cos we won’t be able to afford petrol once that comes in
You not going to jump into religion next are you? Oh wait, I think you have covered some religious topics in the past.
Brave cartoonist ready to draw on anyone.
Too much money to influence the system in my opinion. At times it seems we still have the old feudal system with kings, dukes, barons, etc. The names have been changed to Fortune 500 CEO, political consultant, hedge fund manager, PAC’s, lobbyist, etc.
I figure with such a small following, it isn’t helping or hurting me to stick my neck out. If someone gets pissed and walks away it is up to them. I try to be respectful of differing opinions when I post though.
Well stated brother Bear. That’s the part that continues to be the irritating part for me. People over look the true problem… loopholes. But I think there are always, by nature, loopholes. Loopholes are things what people just figure out about a system so they can do what they what to do. Sort of like a computer hacker.
People will always find the path of least resistance.
down with loopholes
Amen
The only loophole I support is in a noose. Pick a politician. It would only take one for the rest of them to get the idea.
Red.
Osama Bin Laden???
Hmm… If someone deliberately put IN loopholes then can you still call them loopholes? Exploits, maybe? Or just plain robbery? Graft? All of the above? Yes.
I don’t think they are deliberately put in. They just weren’t accounted for in the writing of the tax laws and people exploit that fact.
Why is it that Ronald Reagan is still the go to man? Oh wait, George Bush senior, Bill Clinton, George W ….never mind!
Clinton did balance a budget. But yeah typically Democrats go back to FDR or JFK as the go to men.
I liked Clinton as President. I feel he was a better President than Reagan.
I think FDR is looked upon by many Democrats as someone who was an unapologetic liberal…. and probably our best President since Lincoln. My late mother who was born in the 1920′s said that she had never heard a bad word about FDR until she started working in the 1940′s, when some of her wealthier co-workers would bitch about him. Most Americans loved FDR.
I’m not terribly knowledgeable when it comes to politics, but I know what I would do if I had my hat in the arena: the same things the other guys do (try to benefit myself and the people I roll with). All I know is, I haven’t seen any loopholes that help me out at all during tax time.
Great cartoon, B!
Probably right. I think we all have ideals that get caught up once we are in the system.
I have to say, without you I’d be outta the loop in US politics. it’s definitely more interesting than Canadian politics!
Well I am completely out of the loop on Canadian politics
I’m just out of all loops.
I have nothing more to say about politics outside of the fact that all politicians lie. But the drawing is great, Bearman!
And some lay.
Yeah…thinking of new lies…:-)
Another funny thing (I think)… the majority of the demographic he is trying to win over here would NEVER believe this argument…
it’ll only irritate them all the more…
I don’t think he is trying to win over the Republicans. I think he did it to show them that they are being ridiculous as Reagan would agree with him. But he only talked about the part Reagan would and not the entire thing.
Very possible…
but why go to the effort of pointing out how ridiculous you find your opposition if you aren’t trying to change anyone’s point of view?
Solidify your own base
With a ‘like Regan’ reference?
It’s the zaniest reality show out there!
They should put cspan on MTV.
“Simplify the tax code” that is music to me ears. I also appreciate that you give equal cartoon time to both parites.
Both parties are nice enough to be asinine.
I feel to politically stupid to converse on this post.
May the best liar win
Come back…my cartoons tend to be dumber
I don’t have a lot of regard for politicians on either side. I knew a man when I was growing up that would call someone a politician if he really wanted to insult them. I kind of agree with him.
I agree with you Senator.
Politics aside, your Obama and Reagan are priceless!
Thanks. My Obama is different in every cartoon I do. Never happy with him. I think I got Reagan after the 2nd attempt. Thinking of making a WWRD? Shirt out of it.
Perfect timing Bearman. Just had a discussion on this very topic (using a euphemism here) over the weekend with one of my few Right Wing friends. He claimed there WERE no loopholes. I just shut up after that comment.
The cartoons on this one are dead on as always.
You rule.
Never got the ‘Reagan is a god’ thing myself. Oh well. Better to have no party line than party all the time. Reminds me of a song…
Great job my friend!
Either your right wing friend is so rich he doesn’t want you to know about his loopholes or he is sucked into the fact and needs to take his blinders off.
Since so many politicians come from rich or privileged families, they don’t seem to have much of an incentive to close any of the loopholes. Hey, when you’re earning a few million a year, you need all the help you can get!
I need some help to earn a few million a year.
As someone who was alive during the Regan years, I’d just like to say, I think Ronald Regan sucked balls.
I am not quite catching onto whether you think that is a good thing or a bad thing..haha
They’ll use whatever they can if they believe it gives them an advantage. Well put, sir.
So will I….I am not above it. I just like to call it out.
recently I feel like I have to keep my mouth shut on these topics. I think no body really understands what is going on. I have seen statements like I payed more taxes than so and so. And that just isn’t true, and smaller percentages of large numbers stills equals out to more than most people make in a year. Taxes are necessary, and loopholes are bad but some of those are necessary to. Some loopholes promote business in areas where before it didn’t, these people invest monies into communities and allow them to expand, without these 1%’ers we would all be hurting. Just think if we don’t give them some allowances someone else will gladly take their money and the jobs they offer, cause these guys can afford to uproot and move shop.
There is a difference between tax friendly business policies that many municipalities offer businesses and tax loopholes that individuals use to shelter money.
Reagan seemed like a decent president. I was just playing with G.I.Joes when he was in charge, so since he didn’t take those away – yea – he seemed alright.
AS a conservative he wasn’t taking money away from the military. haha