Reality reflected

I thought the cartoon was spot on about a month ago when it came out, but Americans for Limited Government is taking it to a new level:

Tomorrow morning (9/10) beginning at 10:00 AM, Americans for Limited Government (ALG) will begin delivering an unusually graphic message to every member of the Senate and House – and it will come in the form of a 26″ by 30″ inch poster. The message: your world view is warped. 

The poster, by award-winning cartoonist William Warren, is captioned “How Washington Politicians See the World.” It shows an overblown view of Washington, with the Capitol, the White House, and various government buildings dominating the foreground. In the far distance, only inches wide is the rest of the United States peopled by “Angry Mobs,” “Uninformed Masses,” and “Un-American Malcontents.”

“The poster is clearly a take-off on the old New Yorker cover ‘How New Yorkers See the World,'” said cartoonist Warren. “But in this case, its message is far more accurate, and ominous.”

Warren pointed out that each of the labels affixed to the American people is drawn from an actual description by members of Congress.

“The truth is,” Warren said, “I had to soften it some. ‘UnAmerican,’ of course, came from Pelosi and Hoyer, and ‘uninformed’ is how many of the politicians described those who have protested the Obama health care takeover. But, I purposely refrained from using Harry Reid’s depiction of Americans as ‘evilmongers,’ or Rep. Baird’s labeling them ‘brownshirts.'”

ALG president Bill Wilson wasn’t as sparing of the politicians’ feelings in his comments on the poster delivery.

“We’re shoving their own attitude right in their faces,” said Wilson. “In the long history of this country, we have never had a gang of career politicians so outrageously out of touch with the American people as we have in Washington today. They have decided they are a world unto themselves – and we’re telling them they’re not.”

Throughout the country, Americans for Limited Government has taken the lead in helping grassroots leaders organize protests against the Obama health care plan and other incidents of what it terms “Big Government power grabs.” The poster is being offered to the organization’s 400,000 members nationwide.

“The problem the politicians have is that the poster doesn’t merely reflect how they see the American people,” Wilson said, “it also reflects how the American people see the politicians.”

In case you forgot, this is the cartoon in question:

I originally featured this cartoon by William Warren back in August, and given some Congressional behavior at TEA Parties the image rings more true than ever.

Most telling about the cartoon was the fact that the tone was moderated slightly. Obviously Warren is in the business of getting his cartoon into as many outlets as possible so sometimes he has to temper his opinion, whereas I don’t (at least here.)

Bill Wilson agrees with me in the sense that we on the pro-liberty side do need to be a little more “in their face” about issues – although I doubt an effigy is what he had in mind, either. And those of the left are sure to remind us that our side lost last time so we have to like it or lump it.

However, I’m not sure the terms were as clearly defined last November; certainly not compared to the reality which has now set in. I’ll admit that the takeover of government assets began under President Bush (not that I supported it anyway) but it’s been placed in hyperdrive by Obama and his cronies. No one dreamed that “hope” and “change” would mean the government and its chosen allies taking over banks, insurers, automakers – the list goes on.

It will be interesting to see what Congressmen do with the gift they’ll receive. Most likely it’ll be looked upon with a range of reaction from amused to angered, with the ones most angered being those that viewpoint hits home most with. Look for a number of interesting YouTube videos to come out of tomorrow’s encounters – that is if ALG wants to be “in their face” about it.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.