Auchtoon!

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
November 24, 2013

It should come as no surprise that this editorial cartooning thing comes easiest when something really and truly ticks you off. Such is the case when Secretary of State Ruth Johnson recently proposed that Michigan consider some transparency in the financing of so called “issue ads” (Issue ads are those campaign spots that can serve up whatever slanderous bile they want so long as they don’t endorse a candidate. And as a bonus for being slimy, they don’t have to reveal who paid for the ad.)  The Supreme Court left it up to the states to decide whether the money source must be revealed. Many states require it. At this point, Michigan does not.

And it doesn’t look likely that Michigan will. Because almost immediately after Johnson floated the transparency idea, Senator Arlan Meekhof and senate leader Randy Richardville rammed through a bill to do exactly the opposite — keep the revenue sources anonymous and then doubling the amount allowed to be given. The defense for this (and a rather cynical one at that) is free speech or the claim that donation sources need to be hidden because otherwise those who make them might feel uncomfortable. First, I’m sure they type who have the likes of Senator Meekhof do their bidding are plenty lawyered up to deal with the consequences of being revealed. Second, is it not a virtue to stand up  for what you believe in?

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
November 17, 2013

Hmmm… This is one of those cartoons that felt like it had a strong statement when I did it. Now it seems a little mushy. The point is that politicians on both sides of the aisle tend to be much better with coming up with good ideas than actually executing them. Entitlements are a perfect example. It’s fun to propose programs, project, subsidies, but it’s a drag to figure out how to run them and fund them. Did you guys get that? Well, it was a great idea when I came up with it, but I guess I didn’t feel like figuring out the best way to draw it…..

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
November 10, 2013

Growing up in Flint, there were many, many GM facilities scattered in and around town. But the four main complexes were Buick, Chevy in the Hole, Truck and Bus, and AC Spark Plug. Truck and Bus is the only one now still functioning (and actually doing quite well turning out Silverados). Most of what was AC Spark Plug has been gone for quite some time, but the last piece (which final name was Delphi Flint East) is no more. I thought it appropriate to draw a cartoon to mark the occasion. But I didn’t want to do the typical reminiscing of the good ol’ days or the lamenting of the loss thereof. No, the main reaction I had was to the folks not from Flint (or Detroit or Saginaw) who confidently chime in to tell us who was solely to blame: “It was the unions!” “It was General Motors!” “It was the lazy workers!” “It was the incompetent management.”

Yeah, sure. All that and more. But if you’re not from Flint, you have no real appreciation for the subtleties and complexities of how things turned out the way they have. And it’s more than a little annoying to have somebody tell you with great confidence how AC Spark Plug would be a humming beehive of activity if only they had been in charge. I don’t think so. There are historical reasons for why things turned out the way they did. There were some very bad decisions, but there were also some great successes, and we would be wise to learn from both.

So the two folks choking each other to death is more of a cautionary tale for those who have never been to Flint but think they know exactly what happened there. I purposely didn’t draw them as a blue collar guy with a lunch bucket and hard hat, and a rich guys with a top hat and monocle. That’s the past. Future problems are more likely to be caused by folks who appear relatively the same but are still playing the blame game.

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
November 3, 2013

My intention here was to show Michiganders’ greater interest in the next manager of the Detroit Tigers than in the next mayor of our largest city (which, for a while anyway, is still Detroit). The joke kind of hinged on the Tuesday election coming first. Alas for me, the Tigers found their manager and the news leaked Sunday. But I think more people probably knowing Brad Ausmus (a journeyman player and first-time manager) than the mayoral candidates (Mike Duggan and Benny Napoleon) also proves the point.

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
October 27, 2013

Credit for the initial observation goes to my friend, Mert. Growing up in Michigan, it seemed like Richard Austin was the de facto Secretary of State (which is what Michigan calls its department of motor vehicles). He was the guy with his picture on the wall, so he must be the guy we elect. And checking Wikipedia, true enough, he served from 1970 to 1994. He may have been a fine fellow and done some good things, but from a general citizen point of view, going to the Secretary of State office back then was a decidedly unhappy experience. So was there a great hue and cry to stop the existence of the Secretary of State? To obstruct it? To defund it? To kill it? Well, yeah, probably. (We were no less prone to emotional reactions back then.) But did we listen? No. No instead we elected leaders to improve the situation and now — again from my general citizen point of view — dealing with the Secretary of State office is not so bad. I think there’s a lesson there somewhere….

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
October 20, 2013

So the US Supreme Court has agreed to decide an affirmative action case coming out of Michigan. Here’re the details, but in short, Michigan passed a constitutional amendment back in 2006 stating that race cannot be considered as part of college admissions. Colleges like the University of Michigan argue that this has had the net effect of reducing the number of minorities on campus. Those who support the law, such as Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, say it prevents discrimination. Like most things having to do with race in America, it’s messier than that.

What makes the issue so difficult is a lack of trust. The first panel is an actual quote from Bill Schuette, and I want to believe that he knows of better ways to promote diversity, but in the articles I read, he didn’t elaborate much. So, yeah, I get it — affirmative action and specific set asides seem unfair and unworkable in the 21st century, but why exactly can’t race be taken into some account for admissions purposes? Relatives of alumni (legacy students) are given preferential treatment, and that tips the balance toward existing racial patterns. Why must it be illegal to consider race? Is there actually a better way to promote diversity?

But most importantly, did anybody get the Blues Brothers references in the cartoon?

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
October 13, 2013

Since my deadline is Thursday and Game 5 of the ALDS was Thursday night, I actually drew two versions of this cartoon. One if the Tigers won (in which Boston hates America), one if the Tigers lost (in which Oakland hates America). It fit well with my general theme — in the current political climate, we tend to demonize anything not on our team. Actually, my first inclination was to equate the big bushy playoff beards of the A’s and Red Sox players with the Taliban. Turns out, there’s nothing funny down that road….

In any case, I was certainly happy the Tigers won. But then in Game 1 and most of Game 2 of the ALCS night, Detroit shut down Boston so thoroughly that I was concerned Tigers fans would not be generate the proper amount of animosity toward the Red Sox necessary for the cartoon to work. Oh, sure, there was the Sox constant bitching to the umps about strike calls. (Geez frickin louise, did they recently have a whiner-himer workshop with Phil Jackson? It’s the playoffs, cupcake. You gotta swing at the close ones!) But with our bullpen collapse to give away Game 2, animosity is now on! So I’ll likely be channeling my inner Ted Cruz to twist any perceived Boston misdeed — no matter how slight — to be a sign of the apocalypse. God have mercy on my soul….

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
October 6, 2013

First, let me assure you that, yes, I am well aware that Democrats and the Democratic Party have had many instances of wild inconsistency in their actions, behave hypocritically, and let their ends justify their means. For the record, I see all sorts of organizations and individuals do the same: businesses, trade associations, unions, you, me. It’s an endless source of material for cartoonists in general and editorial cartoonists in particular. But I only get to draw one cartoon a week, so I have to be judicious and callout the worst offender. And this week, after willfully (and sometimes gleefully) causing a partial shutdown of the federal government, the Republicans absolutely earned it.

The Michigan spin here refers back to end of last year when, in a lame duck session, the state GOP pushed through some controversial legislation (including a right-to-work law) with some dubious, though legal, actions. And they advised anybody who questioned their actions that they could do any number of the following: Stop whining, don’t be a crybaby, grow a pair, put on a pair of big boy pants, don’t like it? lump it, or simply shut up. An anxious nation now awaits as the House GOP searches for its big boy pants.

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
September 29, 2013

This one was funnier in my head when I thought of it. You see, when Rick Snyder was first elected governor three years ago, his theme was a better Michigan through “relentless positive action.” The idea was to avoid the quagmire of petty politics by plowing right through the petty politics with a big smile. And by and large Snyder has done just that. But as he has begun the process for re-election for a second term, I imagine that the stress of that sometimes forced positivity would be taking some sort of toll on Snyder. Relentless can be relentless, and a re-election year plus four more of governing — that’s a lot of relentless.

So I imagined him under a “### Days Since Last Accident” sign with beads of sweat on his stressed face and several handlers looking anxiously on from the side. But I was afraid that Snyder, me, and maybe a dozen other people would have gotten that. So I sifted in more context, which diluted the funny. Oh well. I never promised relentless humorous action. Too stressful….

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
September 22, 2013

For those of you who don’t already know about ArtPrize, it’s:

A radically open, independently organized international art competition with an unprecedented $200,000 top prize decided entirely by public vote.

For 19 days, three square miles of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, become an open playing field where anyone can find a voice in the conversation about what is art and why it matters. Art from around the world pops up in every inch of downtown, and it’s all free and open to the public.

It’s unorthodox, highly disruptive, and undeniably intriguing to the art world and the public alike.

Links with more info: http://www.mlive.com/artprize/

Turns out, “unorthodox” “highly disruptive” and even “undeniably intriguing” are all ways I would describe the tea party’s ongoing efforts to deny, derail, and defund Obamacare. Passionate, dogmatic arguments. Visceral emotions. A fundamental desire to advocate for your understand at all cost. This is art, folks!