IMO, one of the greatest political cartoons ever (in only 27 words)

[Land Shark]

It's basically nonpartisan, by Tom Toles, and one of the greatest political cartoons ever IMO because it's so important, it's inherently in favor of democracy, and in support of government accountability and the public's right to know. All of these are further destroyed (not simply "threatened") if campaign contributions are made secret in whole or in part.

Disclosure: I've been warning this is the main post-Citizens United goal in other posts here on DU, so if my choice of topic clouds my judgment on "greatest ever" then the cartoon is "merely" very, very important. :) See, e.g., http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7564610

Please see the cartoon at the top of Ezra Klein's Washington Post blog here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/07/tom_toles_is_worth_a_thousand_42.html

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Here's the toon.

[Land Shark]

2. Thank you for posting it

I'd debated about sending folks to WaPo to support their clicks over there and risk losing them to the discussion here, but having the toon posted as the #1 reply works perfectly. Thanks again.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. You're quite welcome. Thanks for posting in the first place.

[2 Much Tribulation]

6. Even greater than "be the media" is "Be the FOCUS" in this age of overload

I recommend the OP's link as a great example of focus, or touchstone, or guide-star, or whatever term one would prefer to use for something that crystallizes the heart of a matter!

[Land Shark]

7. That's more concse than the OP! ; ) n/t

[lib_wit_it]

18. And here's the color version:

http://politicalirony.com/

[Ignis]

4. K&R. Tom Toles has done some great work over the years.

:kick:

[Land Shark]

5. Yes, indeed. n/t

[DirkGently]

8. Yes. Awesome.

[Hubert Flottz]

9. K&R

[Joe Chi Minh]

10. Great DU post you link, Paul, and great work. The cloak and dagger of secrecy.

Two secret or clandestine 'services' you can do well do without: secretive voting machines; and secret campaign contributions. With daggers at the ready, already breaking the skin, on their way to pierce the heart of your democracy.

The secrecy they are seeking to increase was never about privacy, it was not about copywrite or patent protection. It has always been about power at the expense of the American people (and incidentally, the individual, as in 'totalitarian')

[Land Shark]

12. Yup, pretty much it, it's about democracy and human dignity, not intellectual prop or even 1st Am.

As important as the first amendment is, it was misread in CU and in any event, if there were a direct clash between the sovereign unlimited power of the people to choose whoever they wish and inform themselves how they wish and the first amendment, the first amendment would have to yield in the interest of an informed electorate and the greater sovereign power of the people to FREELY vote in FREE elections. If our hands are tied such that we have no right to even the most basic and simple order of political speakers, and one or a small handful of people can speak AT us in ads in unlimited ways (much less remain secret in their identities) this is a direct denial that we the people are in charge - a denial that we are the sovereign.

In a monarchy, the king or queen is the sovereign. Can we imagine claiming a RIGHT to speak in UNLIMITED length to a sovereign king or queen, much less claim the king or queen had no right to even know who was speaking, so identities should be kept secret? The idea is preposterous, as is secret contributions for political ads and such.

The so-called "secret ballot" is no precedent at all, but they try to use it as such. it is a private ballot exercised by voters in those unique moments in which they are all equally sovereign voters under one person one vote -- each is equal in power. As radical equals in voting (but not necessarily in any other context) there's no basis for any one equal to demand of the other equal disclosure of identity as a condition of voting).

But non-voting individuals (at the time of campaign contributions for example) or non-voting corporations do not enjoy this status of being equal "kings and gueens" acting in their VOTING hats so to speak, they are, as we all are the rest of the year when not voting, subject to being ruled by We the People via majority rule law-making in what's called democracy (or, are SUPPOSED to be, even if the system's being violated by Citizens United and other things...)

[defendandprotect]

11. K&R -- great cartoon -- !!

[H2O Man]

13. Recommended!

Great cartoon! Absolutely right on target.

[midnight]

14. Touche!

[Land Shark]

15. Thank you. n/t

[lib_wit_it]

16. K&R. This whole matter is proof positive that the Teabag Nation cares naught for "freedom," despite

their shrieking to the contrary. We knew they would fail to add Citizens United to their list of grievances.

But where was the Democrats' call to a million man, woman. and child march on DC to protest this blow to truth, justice, and the American way? WTF are we waiting for? Time to act up in a way that'll upstage the 'Baggers.

And this previous OP, by and linked to in, the current OP needs to be widely read and shared:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7564610

[mmonk]

17. Didn't Mr. Bopp's secrecy side lose one recently?

[Land Shark]

19. A temporary disappointment rather than a loss n/t

[newtothegame]

20. Govt. accountability and the "public's right to know" isn't important when a (D) is in office. nt

[Kurovski]

21. Toles is a smart man.

Just like Land Shark! :)

K&R

[PufPuf23]

22. K & R & Forwarded - Be sure to read LandShark's earlier thread

Fascist rat bastards indeed!


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7564610

[Land Shark]

23. Thanks for the kick and recommend of the earlier thread as well! n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

24. hee! great cartoon

[Land Shark]

25. Kick for a still-relevant post (for the cartoon) n/t

[varelse]

26. Thank you for posting this

I intend to share it :)

[Land Shark]

28. That's great! Thanks. n/t

[scentopine]

27. Thanks Landshark - It would be interesting to hear OFA and DLC talking

points on this ruling. Obama expressed that he wasn't happy with this, what has been happening in the meantime?