Cartoons: above all corporations must PROFIT

Now that we're in full bow-to-the-billionaires mode; and corporations have finally taken over the U.S. government, bending it to their wills, what's the punchline? I keep thinking of Max Headroom's dystopia. But for a taste of the full scope of dystopian societies in fiction, take a look at Wikipedia's lists.

So much for Trump's promises of more jobs. According to the New York Times, the Coal Mining Jobs Trump Would Bring Back No Longer Exist.

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David Horsey, The Week

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I don't think this is the 50 shades of gray that people wanted to see.

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David Fitzsimmons, The Week

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Don't forget that corporate image is very important, even when the public doesn't know certain legging-wearing people are associated with the company (until the stewards draw attention to them). And what about that leg room?

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Steve Kelley, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoon: And what a swamp Washington is

With all the accusations and counter-accusations, news from Washington has a foul smell to it. Add to that all the recent decisions that favor big companies, and Trump's promise to "drain the swamp" has the look of a will-o'-the-wisp.

Steve's cartoon sums it up well.

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Steve Kelley, The Week

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Donald, there is a difference between exceptionalism and exceptionism.

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Adam Zyglis, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: Say good-bye to Big Bird

If the federal budget as currently proposed passes, Big Bird, National Public Radio (NPR), and support for local art projects may go away: Trump's Budget Plan Cuts Funding For Arts, Humanities And Public Media. These aren't the only proposed cuts, but the ones that strike me hardest.

"Millions of Americans depend on their local public radio station for the fact-based, objective, public service journalism they need to stay informed about the world and about the news in their own communities. Public media serves the public interest with essential educational, news and cultural programming not found anywhere else, as well as vital information during local and regional emergencies. Federal funding is an essential ingredient to making this possible." -- NPR COO Loren Mayor 

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Gary Varvel, The Week 

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Speaking of strikes, Trump's hit a lot closer to home than Obama's did.

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Tom Toles, The Week

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So who's running the White House: Trump or Bannon?

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Drew Sheneman, The Week

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Am I being paranoid or is the aim of Trump's billionaire cabinet to take total and absolute control?

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Bill Day, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: for many the doctor is out

After 7 years of trying to repeal Obamacare, the House Republicans have come up with its replacement-- the  American Health Care Act (AHCA).  The Atlantic reports in The People Helped by the Republican Health-Care Bill stating:

Though most old and sick people will be worse off under the GOP bill, it might be a boon—real or perceived—for people earning just above the Obamacare subsidy cutoff.

If it doesn't help sick people, what's it for? They could have spent the time working to make Obamacare better. Wikipedia gives a history of the GOP's efforts to repeal Obamacare (ACA).

Here are some of the editorial cartoonists' comments.

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Steve Sack, The Week

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RJ Matson, The Week

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Adam Zyglis, The Week

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Meanwhile President Trump lives in a conspiracy theorist's world.

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Jack Ohman, The Week

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-- Marge

Cartoons: the big-time operators' tactics

You've probably guessed by now that I see Republicans' tactics as anathema to the well-being of America. Author Robin Abcarian quotes Allen Frances, who recently joined the Democratic Party, in President Trump is a 'world class narcissist,' but he's not mentally ill, says the psychiatrist who helped define narcissism:

Until recently, he said, “I would not have felt wedded to either party, but my highest political principle is fairness. Republicans do everything to rig the system against fairness. I don’t have personal love for the Democratic Party, but it’s the last salvation against the Dark Age.”

My thoughts exactly.

Here are some observations by cartoonists on the Republican approach to repealing Obamacare (AKA the Affordable Care Act).

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David Fitzsimmons, The Week

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Joe Heller, The Week

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And this little gem sums up Republicans' economic approach well.

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Chan Lowe, The Week

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-- Marge