Bearman Cartoons - Editorial Cartoons, Pop Culture Cartoons, Other BS

Editorial Cartoon: The Generosity of Warren Buffet

on January 18, 2012 - 71 Comments
Posted in: Beartoons

Today’s editorial cartoon was inspired by a blog post from Jeff Jena that blasted Billionaire Warren Buffet for his pittance of a challenge to Republicans in Congress. Now on one hand, I agree with Buffet that certain tax shelters need to be right sized. CEOs who take little salary yet rake in stock options because Capital Gains are charged at a lower rate than income. In the late 80′s and 90′s that rate was closer to 30% and now it is somewhere around 15% so there is precedent for a higher rate. And we are familiar with the notion that Buffet paid less as a percent of income in taxes than his secretary. Maybe Warren should start paying her in stock instead.

A Republican pushed through the Buffet Rule Act that gives individuals an option on the tax form allowing them to give more to the IRS to lower the national debt. Buffet responded saying he would match any Congressional Republican’s donations to the debt dollar for dollar. While it can be looked at as a “put your money where your mouth is” bet, it is CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP on his part.

Based on recent data, Buffet’s net worth is somewhere around $50 billion and the entirety of Congress is around $2 Billions (well overpaid but still 25x less than Buffet). Let’s put that in perspective you and I could understand. It would be the same as someone earning $100,000 a year (Person A) saying he would match dollar for dollar in donations that someone earning just $4,000 (Person B) did. Let’s say they each donate $1000. That is only 1% of Person A’s income while it is 25% of Person B’s. $1000 to Person A is nothing so even if all the Republican’s in Congress donated 100% of their yearly income, it wouldn’t even put the slightest dent in Warren’s pocketbook.

71 Comments

Editorial Cartoon: Welfare Drug Test

on January 15, 2012 - 110 Comments
Posted in: Beartoons

Today’s editorial cartoon is inspired by the noise coming out around some states and even the federal government trying to put laws in place that would require anyone requesting government assistance first pass a drug test. (source). I don’t believe those who don’t pass shouldn’t get benefits but rather have 90 days to enroll in a drug treatment program and then pass the test at completion and be subject to additional screenings. Yet, people are up in arms saying it violates the Fourth Amendment against unnecessary search and seizure. The ACLU has been successful in halting Florida’s program using this same argument. Personally I think the war on drugs is a complete failure, however much like my cartoon implies if I wanted to be hired by the government or a business I would have to be subjected to random drug testing. In face, just yesterday I heard about a hospital that no longer will hire anyone that smokes or has even been using a smoking cessation treatment in the last 90 days. And they plan to do hair tests. Why are my rights as an employee somehow less than someone seeking government assistance? In response to the judge’s ruling in Florida the ACLU put out a statement saying in part: “Last month in federal court in Orlando, the Governor’s attorneys pushed the startling proposition that some Floridians – namely poor families asking for temporary government assistance – were not protected by the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Judge Scriven rightfully tossed out that notion and the arguments made to support it. “Governor Scott is sadly confused about conservative principles. No true conservative would defend a program that allows government to conduct intrusive, privacy-violating searches on people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing, but who are simply applicants for government services.

If we put up TSA intrusive searches when flying in the name of safety, why aren’t we OK with someone having to pee in a cup to get some money?

110 Comments

Best of 2011 Recap

on January 11, 2012 - 49 Comments
Posted in: News

If are new to Bearman Cartoons, you can save yourself time digging through the archives by reviewing the best of 2011. If you aren’t new, take a trip down memory lane with me.

Caricature Creation Process

on January 8, 2012 - 51 Comments
Posted in: Caricatures

Been busy this week with getting back to work and doing promised guest cartoons for George Ford and Aidan Casserly. Also had some paying commission work as well. Claude Rieth contacted me via Google Plus and was gracious enough to let me share my work with you.

Here was his original picture he sent.

I thought look at that hair, look at the expression. This one is going to be easy. Ok I was wrong. I have never done that expression so getting it to look like someone was twisting their face on purpose is actually very hard to do. So many attempts. When I do commission work I tend to send a draft to the client so they can either approve or not. If they feel I didn’t capture what they want in that draft I have no problem with them walking away and me not going any further. As I have said, there are some people who I can’t capture a likeness.

So this is what I sent to Claude.

Given his expression I was hoping he would be OK with the more cartoony look but wanted to give him options. Thankfully he was in agreement and with a little tweaking, you can see the final result. Thanks Claude for being a great subject that challenged me and a better client.

51 Comments

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