Tag: Occupy Wall Street

  • Editorial Cartoon: Occupy Police Crackdowns

    Editorial Cartoon: Occupy Wall Street Police Crackdown

    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?

  • I am the 1% T-shirt

     

    It has been a while since I created a new shirt design for my shop.   This one screamed to be done.  The great thing is it works whether you are part of the Occupy Wall Street (or Elm Street) crowd AKA the 99% or if you are part of the 1% crowd.  See how democratic I am.  Appropriate for all political spectrums and income levels.

  • Editorial Cartoon: Why Occupy Wall Street People are Rightfully Pissed

    Editorial Cartoon - Why Occupy Wall Street People are Pissed

    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.

  • Editorial Cartoon: Occupy Elm Street

    Editorial Cartoon Occupy Elm Street

    I was upset that I didn’t come up with the “Occupy Sesame Street” posts that are circulating on the internet.  But I think I am the first to call for the Occupy Elm Street protests

    Wasn’t sure if I liked the format of this as an editorial cartoon as above or a call to action poster as below with more subtlety to what they are protesting.  Which do you like better?

    Bearman Cartoons Occupy Elm Street Poster

  • I am the 1%

    Steve Jobs is the 1 percent Beartoons

    It started with Occupy Wall Street and has since spread to different parts of the United States and the World. People who are upset about joblessness, opportunities, corporations in bed with government and a host of other things (many legit, several absurd).  Those in the 99%, feel that too much power and money are being held by the 1% and positioning that the 1% is evil (and the 99% are not).

    I support many things that the protesters are seeking.  Tax reform to wipe out loop holes and shelters, limiting corporate (and PAC – which isn’t brought up enough) donations to political candidates, etc.  One I would like to see is limiting betting against companies stock going up and increase the tax on gains if you don’t hold the stock for say 30 days.  I am not a financial expert, but in my limited purview these tend to cause major negative swings that can be avoided.   But there are so many people with different agendas that I wrote this on Google Plus.

    People are sharing the Occupy Wall Street videos all over G+ and while I fully support their right to protest, I have a question:

    What is the end game? I hear 1000 different reasons why people are there and if it is just to blow off steam or even to be heard, that is great. But if there is going to be that point where the protesters feel they got what they wanted, it isn’t clear what that is.

    Had some nice discussion about that.  But beyond that, I created this poster to show that everything the 1% does isn’t necessarily bad and just because I am in the 99% doesn’t mean I am necessarily good or can relate to the needs of those in the bottom 10%.  We can’t broad stroke anyone.  Not all banks were involved in subprime lending, not all of Wall Street is out to hurt the little guy.

    We can get into whether Jobs is the best example given his notoriety for not being philanthropic like a Bill Gates or because his manufacturing is done overseas, but I am interested in your thoughts.  What is the top 2-3 things that would fix this (or your) country?