I don't reproduce cartoons as visual tweets anymore, but this was a winner back when I was doing that, so in the spirit of the brackets -- all the weekly winners advanced -- I included it. I also have started avoiding the blatantly political tweets because I found voters were rewarding them based simply on their message rather than their cleverness.
Thanks for your explanation. I still like the political tweets, but you are correct some of the weaker political tweets were getting more votes merely like you say on the political message rather than the cleverness.
Johnson’s race-rhetoric is nothing more than an appeal to prejudice aimed at and disparaging White America (for people who make the racial distinction) – it says nothing about the socio-economic reality of the status quo in society but is pandering to Black identity to garner racially motivated votes in the 2023 mayoral race in Chicago: This, along with the general lack of substance, is reason enough to consider seriously what political action Johnson may actually intend for the City if elected mayor. Buyer beware.
Regarding composting the dead: This may have been covered, but traditional Jewish burial practices are quite in keeping with environmental concerns. There's no embalming; a coffin is a plain wood box, which decomposes quite readily; and where it's allowed, some people are buried without a coffin at all--just wrapped in (linen) shrouds. So perhaps we were ahead of our time....
martire is as prickly as ever in response to a good faith criticism. his way is, of course, the only way that the IL and Chgo pension systems can be saved. he takes credit for the decision of a liberal Democrat-supermajority IL supreme court. 'I Alone Can Fix It’ - remind you of a recent-vintage politician?
I am always baffled by the 'either or' logic. The pensions were never affordable. If they were then they would have always been funded. It may be true that, at this point, reductions of benefits alone cannot solve the problem, but that is still no reason to continue on the same track and continue to dig the hole deeper. I also noticed that he didn't mention the refusal of the legislature to allow the citizens to vote on an amendment to remove the idiotic protection. But instead they allowed an amendment to expand public employee union power.
I've been saying since back in 2010 (when I still lived in IL) that the best course of action was to let the pension funds collapse and turn the whole mess over to the pension benefit guarantee trust.
IL can't tax their was out of this mess and it has been true since I last lives there.
Hundreds of millions only become "rounding errors" because today's budgets are so astronomical. Common sense pensions reforms would have, and still can, make a significant difference over time. It would also help the revenue side, as more people might be open to supporting tax increases if there was more effort on the spending/benefit side. How about we consolidate the thousands of unnecessary units of government, and eliminate compounded COLA for the 130,000 six-figure pensioners, THEN ask for more money from taxpayers? It's hardly just a funding problem.
Branden Johnson is and always has been a prevaricator because he knows that his far left ideology is not palatable to a general audience. When his audience is fellow far left folks, he is quite open about his defund position, and he knows that they will understand his winking response to mainstream audiences. The far left believes: 1) Black neighborhoods are over policed which results in unjust citations and arrests; 2) Police are a primary source of violence in Black neighborhoods and are a greater threat to citizens than criminals; 3) the purpose of police is to protect wealth and capital and to subjugate the masses 4) Policing cannot be reformed and must be reduced or eliminated; 5) Addressing economic and social issues is the only way to reduce crime. 5) Any disagreement with any of these points is evidence of ignorance and racism. Johnson's proposals fit this model as does his 'equitable' budgeting notion. His characterization of community policing as an affront to Black communities is another example. He knows that he cannot 'remove us from state sponsored policing' in the short run but I do not doubt that he believes in the goal. He also knows that such a position would make him unelectable, so he needs to appease the ignorant and the racists that believe in policing. I certainly see no evidence of his moderating his views.
I'm open to some forms of 'equitable' budgeting, but with honesty. Johnson: "35% of families on the north side of Chicago make $100k or more. Half of the west and south siders make less than $25k/yr."
No question there are income disparities between Chicago neighborhoods, but without fact checking the statement, there was a noticeable switcheroo. "Families" vs. "individuals". How many of those making less than $25k/yr aren't yet in their adult working years? How many are stay at home parents? What's the average age between groups? How many incomes per family? Are government benefits included in income?
I think that if we had rank order voting that Lightfoot would have done quite well and possibly won. I suspect that she would have been the second choice for a lot of voters. And I am certain that Johnson will have a very short honeymoon period.
Regarding the gun shops and abortion clinics tweet, um I thought that men CAN get pregnant these days (or, pssst, is that just a steaming load of horse puckey). I would also expect that a woman would be capable of attempting to buy a gun, but sometimes my utter lack of identity politics or sense of sophistication just fail me flat.
Yeah. The waiting period in Illinois for a gun is 72 hours, nationally it ranges from 3-14 days. Nationally, purchasers of long guns must be over 18, handguns must be over 21. Most states require parental supervision for rifles and shotguns for use by under 18. Gun shops and ranges are heavily restricted, traveling to other states for purchase and ammunition is common. Then there is the 3 pages of personal information on the background check that requires 4 pages of instructions and provides a federal record of personal information and the gun purchased. In Illinois you also have to have a Firearm Owners Identification photo ID card, which puts you on file with the State Police. Other than that, the cartoon is spot on.
Is simply reproducing a cartoon exactly as it was meant to be published really a visual tweet?
Yeah, I had qualms about that entry also.
I don't reproduce cartoons as visual tweets anymore, but this was a winner back when I was doing that, so in the spirit of the brackets -- all the weekly winners advanced -- I included it. I also have started avoiding the blatantly political tweets because I found voters were rewarding them based simply on their message rather than their cleverness.
Thanks for your explanation. I still like the political tweets, but you are correct some of the weaker political tweets were getting more votes merely like you say on the political message rather than the cleverness.
Thanks for providing the literal translation for the coffee mug visual tweet. At least now I get it.
As a non-musician, I, too, needed the explanation . . . .
Me too! I kept singing the notes to see if the melody was something I recognized!
Choosing between semi-finalists is getting to be a real challenge!
Johnson’s race-rhetoric is nothing more than an appeal to prejudice aimed at and disparaging White America (for people who make the racial distinction) – it says nothing about the socio-economic reality of the status quo in society but is pandering to Black identity to garner racially motivated votes in the 2023 mayoral race in Chicago: This, along with the general lack of substance, is reason enough to consider seriously what political action Johnson may actually intend for the City if elected mayor. Buyer beware.
After this tweet madness is over, Eric, you should interview Uncle Duke.
I have asked him for an interview!
Regarding composting the dead: This may have been covered, but traditional Jewish burial practices are quite in keeping with environmental concerns. There's no embalming; a coffin is a plain wood box, which decomposes quite readily; and where it's allowed, some people are buried without a coffin at all--just wrapped in (linen) shrouds. So perhaps we were ahead of our time....
My desire to stay ahead of the curve is why I married into your tribe, Josh.
martire is as prickly as ever in response to a good faith criticism. his way is, of course, the only way that the IL and Chgo pension systems can be saved. he takes credit for the decision of a liberal Democrat-supermajority IL supreme court. 'I Alone Can Fix It’ - remind you of a recent-vintage politician?
I am always baffled by the 'either or' logic. The pensions were never affordable. If they were then they would have always been funded. It may be true that, at this point, reductions of benefits alone cannot solve the problem, but that is still no reason to continue on the same track and continue to dig the hole deeper. I also noticed that he didn't mention the refusal of the legislature to allow the citizens to vote on an amendment to remove the idiotic protection. But instead they allowed an amendment to expand public employee union power.
amen
I've been saying since back in 2010 (when I still lived in IL) that the best course of action was to let the pension funds collapse and turn the whole mess over to the pension benefit guarantee trust.
IL can't tax their was out of this mess and it has been true since I last lives there.
Hundreds of millions only become "rounding errors" because today's budgets are so astronomical. Common sense pensions reforms would have, and still can, make a significant difference over time. It would also help the revenue side, as more people might be open to supporting tax increases if there was more effort on the spending/benefit side. How about we consolidate the thousands of unnecessary units of government, and eliminate compounded COLA for the 130,000 six-figure pensioners, THEN ask for more money from taxpayers? It's hardly just a funding problem.
amen
visual tweets, round 6 - too many good choices! i'm paralyzed with indecision.
Branden Johnson is and always has been a prevaricator because he knows that his far left ideology is not palatable to a general audience. When his audience is fellow far left folks, he is quite open about his defund position, and he knows that they will understand his winking response to mainstream audiences. The far left believes: 1) Black neighborhoods are over policed which results in unjust citations and arrests; 2) Police are a primary source of violence in Black neighborhoods and are a greater threat to citizens than criminals; 3) the purpose of police is to protect wealth and capital and to subjugate the masses 4) Policing cannot be reformed and must be reduced or eliminated; 5) Addressing economic and social issues is the only way to reduce crime. 5) Any disagreement with any of these points is evidence of ignorance and racism. Johnson's proposals fit this model as does his 'equitable' budgeting notion. His characterization of community policing as an affront to Black communities is another example. He knows that he cannot 'remove us from state sponsored policing' in the short run but I do not doubt that he believes in the goal. He also knows that such a position would make him unelectable, so he needs to appease the ignorant and the racists that believe in policing. I certainly see no evidence of his moderating his views.
I'm open to some forms of 'equitable' budgeting, but with honesty. Johnson: "35% of families on the north side of Chicago make $100k or more. Half of the west and south siders make less than $25k/yr."
No question there are income disparities between Chicago neighborhoods, but without fact checking the statement, there was a noticeable switcheroo. "Families" vs. "individuals". How many of those making less than $25k/yr aren't yet in their adult working years? How many are stay at home parents? What's the average age between groups? How many incomes per family? Are government benefits included in income?
I think that if we had rank order voting that Lightfoot would have done quite well and possibly won. I suspect that she would have been the second choice for a lot of voters. And I am certain that Johnson will have a very short honeymoon period.
Regarding the gun shops and abortion clinics tweet, um I thought that men CAN get pregnant these days (or, pssst, is that just a steaming load of horse puckey). I would also expect that a woman would be capable of attempting to buy a gun, but sometimes my utter lack of identity politics or sense of sophistication just fail me flat.
Yeah. The waiting period in Illinois for a gun is 72 hours, nationally it ranges from 3-14 days. Nationally, purchasers of long guns must be over 18, handguns must be over 21. Most states require parental supervision for rifles and shotguns for use by under 18. Gun shops and ranges are heavily restricted, traveling to other states for purchase and ammunition is common. Then there is the 3 pages of personal information on the background check that requires 4 pages of instructions and provides a federal record of personal information and the gun purchased. In Illinois you also have to have a Firearm Owners Identification photo ID card, which puts you on file with the State Police. Other than that, the cartoon is spot on.