Divided government and wild dysfunction has completely decimated the traditional idea of how the United States government is supposed to pass and enact legislation. Look for nothing of value to get through Congress or, for that matter, from the President’s desk.
The muckraking journalist Lincoln Steffens pointed out that a half-measure in politics can actually make a problem worse. Media and voters believe that a problem has been addressed or that Congress has done as much as it is able or willing to do about it. That reduces the chance of a real, complete solution. Congress appears to be moving to a possible 1% solution on mass shootings with assault weapons.
Politics is all about framing. Part of why the the ambitious Democratic $3.5 trillion spending bill is down to $1.9 trillion and might go even smaller is because nobody, even in the media, knows what’s in it. How can you ask the public to support something nebulous?
On issues like the drive to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $15 an hour, many Democratic defenders of President Biden indulge in magical thinking, pretending that he actually wants to get this done even though there is very little evidence that it’s on his agenda.
Joe Biden is the latest Democratic president to imply that he has all sorts of radical solutions to the extreme problems faced by the country at this time but that they are being blocked by the Republicans. The problem with his argument, however, is that he hasn’t proposed these solutions in the form of legislation.
President Obama gives one speech after another on important issues: Guantanamo, the NSA, jobs and the economy, race relations. But then…nothing. No bills are proposed. He just talks…as if talking were enough. In other words, he governs the way he campaigned — purely based on platitudes. And apparently it’s enough.
I draw cartoons for The Los Angeles Times about issues related to California and the Southland (metro Los Angeles).
This week: The State Senate has approved an anti-“swatting” bill. “Swatting” is the act of pranksters who make false 911 calls in the hope of prompting a heavily-armed police response, typically to the home of a celebrity.
I draw cartoons for The Los Angeles Times. This week we look at the possible imminent conclusion to the long wait LA commuters have endured until their Metro system finally makes it all the way to Los Angeles International Airport.
Some people I showed this to asked why I depicted a woman instead of a man because you know, the “generic human” is a white male in his 50s (perhaps, in an editorial cartoon, wearing a hat). As readers know, I try to avoid such tired tropes as much as possible. Women take trains too.
Regardless of what it’s actually about, every bill is branded as a response to whatever polls say is people’s top priority.
Republican Congressmen pledge to reverse Obama’s policies. Why? His policies were pro-Republican.
