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
September 28, 2014

When people ask me whether I’m liberal or conservative, I say neither because I like to keep my options open. It’s not that I can’t make commitments — I did the rough sketch for this cartoon with a pencil I bought at the Michigan Tech bookstore 30+ years ago. How’s that for commitment! No, it’s more that I don’t want to wear a label that others define (then violate).

What I’m saying in the cartoon I believe to be absolutely true: in general, those who identify themselves as liberals tend to want to be so fair about everything that it can create a mess. At a certain point, legislators need to consider whether the laws they propose are actually functional. Conservatives, in general, have great disdain for this. Until, of course, they see a very specific fairness they want to legislate. Case in point, Michigan Speaker of the House Jase Bolger floating the idea of paring a gay right amendment with a “religious freedom” act. Uh-huh. That wouldn’t open a Pandora’s Box of differing interpretations, counter laws, and lawsuits.

So, yeah. Keeping my options open…

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 21, 2014

Of course this was much more topical when it ran on Sunday. Now the fact that the Tigers have been shutout two games in a row is more of the stress 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
September 14, 2014

Two recent inspirations for this:

• Burger King acquiring Tim Horton’s and incorporating in Canada mostly as a way to weasel out of paying higher US corporate taxes.
• Legislation to fix loophole exposed by a Michigan Supreme Court decision that could possibly cost our state $1 billion.

My solution for cartooning about such dry, unappealing topics? Steal great artwork.

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 7, 2014

Well I haven’t had anything particularly nice to say for a good, long stretch. And while that is just fine in the world of editorial cartooning — in fact, expected, condoned, encouraged — I still feel the need to occasionally look for the positive, if for no other reason than a change of pace. So I was flipping through a newsletter from Feeding America, an awesome organization that Jane and I support, and I came upon this Double Up Food Bucks program. I was struck by what a great idea it is. Grand Rapids and many other Michigan cities have been adding and expanding Farmers Markets, which make fresh and inexpensive produce and other healthy foods available to city residence on food assistance. The Double Up Food Bucks program helps develop this relationship, and Michigan is leading the way. I thought more people should know about it.

Next week, likely a return to bitter cynicism…

Originally published in the Ann Arbor News, Bay City Times, Flint Journal, Grand Rapids Press, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, Muskegon Chronicle, Saginaw News
August 31, 2014

Yes, yes of course we have a racism problem. And we also have a problem when our first reactions to somebody being killed is hoping it was done randomly, not with a weapon we like, and not too close-by.  We (myself most definitely included) have lots of stuff to work on.