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.

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?

It is a sad day at the Friggin Loon’s site as she no longer has Kim Jong Il to kick around.  Happily though it looks like his son, Kim Jong Un, has taken up daddy’s job as Supreme Ruler so well that he has begun wearing the Pajama looking outfits made famous by his father.

And even the website Kim Jong Il Looking at Things has made the transition to Kim Jong Un Looking at Things.  Click here for Il and Un looking at each other wearing PJs.

So the winner’s of the Editorial Cartoon Caption Contest are Bo Lumpkin and Scott (Jynksie) Jenkins. Pairing up the devastating wind storms in California with the demise of Herman Cain’s campaign was both funny and timely.

Gentlemen, your prize is a tshirt of the design of your choice from WackSack.com.  So go pick your design and email me your shirt size and address.

For the losers, you can still get to visit WackSack and drool over the prize you didn’t win.

Today’s editorial cartoon started as usual with me reading about the terrible Wind Storms in California last week.  Of course nature was the cause but what if it were something else.  Thus began my problem.  There are so many choices for the cause of severe wind….

• A Republican National Debate was in town.
• The Friggin Loon visited California last week (for the uninformed she is reported to have terrible gas)
• An A-list actor purporting to support the Occupy movement while reaming his/her accountant for not finding enough tax shelters/loopholes.

So do you like any of those?  Or come up with something to top it.  Let your creative juices flow…

Today’s editorial cartoon was inspired by our friends at the United Nations who last week declared that Broadband internet access is now included in the list of Basic Human Rights. Yes right up there with food, shelter, clean water and healthcare is the right to spank your monkey watching full speed downloads of porn videos. OK maybe you have more lofty goals like coordinating protests ala the Arab Spring over the web.

But seriously, Broadband?? My in-laws still use dial up and are just fine.  Agree or disagree?  Any other “basic” rights you would add to the U.N. list?

Nominate Me (or our friends) for Best Webcomic

The Washington Post is having a contest for the Best Webcomics for 2011.  Feel free to nominate me over and over (or just once) by commenting at the link or even easier, sending an email to comicriffs@washpost.com

Today’s Editorial Cartoon is sponsored by your local police department.  OK maybe not but the cops are getting some bad reputations all over the U.S. as cities try to figure out how to manage the Occupy Wall Street and other Occupy protests.

First, I am a huge supporter of the police in general and the tough job they do.  And they are just following orders in many cases.  However, some of the tactics they have engaged in during the sweeps of the occupy locations are questionable at times.  Maybe it is adrenaline or maybe it is just a few assholes on the force happy to show who is boss, but there has to be a better way.

Now I don’t for a minute think that in all cases the protestors who claim innocence are in fact so.  When you come at a cop with a potential weapon or show aggression in response to an order, all bets are off.

But to let a group assemble for an extended period only to decide you have had enough and aggressively remove them without warning is wrong IMO.  I get it though.  If the cops announced they would be removing people at a specific time, they run the risk of additional protestors coming out in force to try and stop it putting officers at risk.   Maybe a better way would have been to surround the park with officers and announce to the protestors that they had 30 minutes to remove themselves and any belongings they wanted to keep from the park.  After that the park would be emptied with force if necessary.  Seems to be what they are doing in Toronto by serving eviction notices.

Any thoughts on how to best manage the occupy movements so that they can remain peaceful, without crimes, sanitation issues and other problems that tend to start after prolonged encampments?

Today’s editorial cartoon is inspired by the financial crisis in Greece.   Where is Pythagoras when you need him? How is it that a culture that is known for their advancement in certain areas falls away from what made them great?

Many would argue the same is happening in America today.

So I am sure this editorial cartoon may ruffle some feathers.  If you are new here first let me explain and also remember I was the guy that was praised for my last cartoon.

There were two situations in the last few weeks that prompted this.

The first was someone I was talking to who refused to continue looking for a job.  She said that she earns just as much money on government assitance as she does with the jobs she had been offered (even though several included benefits and a path to making more money)

The second I actually feel for.  His company closed and has been looking for months.  He had his mind set on getting the same salary he was earning before and has passed up several opportunities because it meant a significant drop in what his salary was.  The problem is he is so loyal to the companies he works for that he knows he isn’t the type to keep looking once he lands somewhere.   So instead of taking a job again that he could earn some money, he keeps holding out and making none.

Times are tough and I know many people are hurting because of lack of jobs.  I am very grateful for everything I have.  But I have told my wife, I am not above going back to cleaning toilets (my very first job) if it meant adding even the slightest to the household.  My dad worked a full time job and several part time jobs.  We didn’t eat dinner most nights until 8PM when he came home.

Want a job in an industry you prefer.  One suggestion.  Volunteer.  Volunteer for a trade organization or even a company you are interested in just to learn, get new marketable skills, and get connections.  When they see your value, they will come after you.   If I didn’t volunteer at various times in my life I would not have the job I have or have even met my wife.

So am I off on this one?  C’mon don’t hold punches.

UPDATE

Forgot to add this gem of fan art I got from Tony at Mental Pills.  It is his rat character Cedric trying to bring down the man wearing my I am the 1% design.  Why he put Cedric  in a baby onesie, I am not sure..haha

This editorial cartoon is for my Occupy Wall Street friends.  I am sure I will piss you off with a future cartoon but for now, I wanted to show my solidarity for one reason people should be rightfully pissed.  Companies talk about teamwork and performance, etc etc etc.  But damned if the executives can’t find a way (read excuse) to make sure their bonuses are intact while the rest of us have to do more with less.

Of course this isn’t a blanket statement for all executives or companies.  So, any examples in your own companies where executives seem to get perks that are continually denied to the rest?

Oh yeah, 3 panels and 9 people in this one.  You are welcome all you people who think I should spend 3 hours doing one cartoon.