Auchtoon!Nobody Wants to Be a Sucker
Here’s a theory that might help to unify us in these difficult times: What all Americans really, really hate is to be a sucker. Whatever else we disagree on — politics, ideology, economics, dessert toppings, the truth — a common bond is that nobody likes being a sucker.
I think that had an enormous effect on getting Trump elected. Consider this: Many white folks who felt disenfranchised (a fancy word for feeling like a sucker) voted. Many black folks who felt disenfranchised didn’t vote. A little amplification by the electoral college, and — boom! — the GOP wins.
And as I say in the cartoon (literally, that’s me), my inclination is to respect the results. I’m good American. I believe in our system of government. I want to play along. But based on Paul Ryan’s habit of continuously abandoning his moral convictions, Mitch McConnell’s unrelenting enthusiasm for not doing his job (until now), and Donald Trump’s entire life history, I have some reservations. I share with you, my fellow Americans, your same passion: I. Don’t. Want. To. Be. A. Sucker.
That makes sense, right? I mean, whether you are for or against the objectives of the Republican party, you can at least understand my desire to resist. Yes? No? Well, in any case, you decide. Because that’s another thing we Americans really, really hate: Being told what to think.
Donald Goodman said,
November 18, 2016 @ 12:53 pm
Come on, be honest. Americans BEG to be told what to think, what to like, what to want, what to believe. Every religion, government announcement, tv commercial, politician’s shout or shriek, and plea or cry for help insists that we FEEL a certain way about a certain person, group, animal, or cause.
Tell me what to feel, tell me what to believe, tell me what to do…
Thoreau, Emerson, even Mark Twain are all gone. Americans are looking for a mob they can follow, a bumper sticker they can chant, an ochlocracy they can join.
John Auchter said,
November 18, 2016 @ 1:33 pm
I don’t disagree, Don. I probably could have been more nuanced by saying once we Americans make up our minds (often by blindly and continuously consuming an ideology we find particularly tasty), we don’t like to be told to think otherwise.
A pretty good example: Obama said with the ACA that “we would be able to keep our insurance if we liked it.” Never should have said that. Because the truth was, if people did have crooked, onerous insurance the ACA was in fact designed to replace it with better options. For their own good. But that didn’t matter because we hate to be told what to do.
mert said,
November 18, 2016 @ 3:50 pm
Not only do we not want to be one, but I think suckers have fallen so far out of grace that nobody even wants one anymore. Think about it, when was the last time you said, “Wow, I’m gonna drive to the store cause I really gotta a hankering for a sucker!” If it wasn’t for banks giving them out for free, I don’t know if they would even exist anymore …Thanks Chocolate!
mert said,
November 18, 2016 @ 3:53 pm
BTW – I don’t think the clock on your blog ever got switched for Daylight Savings Time…