This Comic Will Forever Change the Way you Look at Privilege

[ehrnst]

"Toby Morris describes himself as “an Auckland-based illustrator, art director, comic artist and recently the author of Don't Puke On Your Dad: A Year in the Life of a New Father.”











Source:

http://www.vagabomb.com/This-Comic-Will-Forever-Change-the-Way-You-Look-at-Privilege/

[FSogol]

1. K & R. n/t

[DawgHouse]

2. This is great, thanks!

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

3. K&R nt

[HughBeaumont]

4. . . . . and the people who NEED to read this will be saying "But . . . . "

K & R.

[mountain grammy]

5. Nobody ever handed me anything on a plate..

and people actually believe it. Just work hard and you'll succeed. Just work hard and you'll get ahead. Actually works, about 1% of the time. As for the 99% that are still trying.. geez, you're just not working hard enough. Do you expect to be handed everything on a plate? Three jobs? Hey plenty of time for more... get off your lazy butt..

[HughBeaumont]

8. In America . . . .

. . .. you pretty much better be without a landmine to your name, or you're screwn.

[mountain grammy]

35. Wow, you've said it all! As true today as 5 years ago

even 10 years ago. In fact, it's, mostly, always been true. I look back at the bumps and bruises of my own life and thank my good luck every day for landing on my feet. Not that life is smooth sailing, never is for working people, but this is one working family that had the good fortune to retire relatively financially secure, and I say that with my fingers crossed and knocking wood.

And by good fortune, I mean having the GI bill to pay for school, landing good union jobs with pay, benefits and pensions, staying mostly healthy, and avoiding any major disasters or legal troubles. Also, in America, it's helps to be white, which we are.

The post and the comments are spot on.

[ejbr]

6. Outstanding! n/t

[el_bryanto]

7. Very good comic. nt

[aikoaiko]

9. Seems like those are issues of economic classes and not privilege.

[daleanime]

10. Yes and no....

also no and yes.



But anyway you look at it, it must be addressed.

[gollygee]

13. Wealth is one kind of privilege

They might have chosen that type of privilege to illustrate so white people will identify with it more and understand it better.

Wealth is one kind of privilege I have and I very strongly see my family on the left side of that. It's a bit spooky how on point that comic is as far as wealth privilege goes.

When I talk about privilege, I'm not just talking about other people. I'm interested in privilege most because, when I first learned about it, I was shocked by how much privilege I am swimming in. I talk about male privilege as well as other privilege, and although I don't have that, I might very well be more privileged overall than most white men at DU. When I talk about male privilege, it is not to call out men and say they have an easier life than I have. It's just to talk about one of the kinds of privilege that exists, understanding that I am among the people who has a great deal of privilege in this world.

Edit: There is also some overlap. "I have friends who work there. I'll put a word in for you" is also white privilege, due to employment discrimination. Great schools is also white privilege due to segregation between cities and school districts, which was created through violence.

[Ms. Toad]

26. Precisely why I don't think this particular is helpful

I see a lot more pushback from people like the girl in the right pane who do not see that in many ways she (although I hear it far more from males) is privileged with respect to similarly situated minority individuals. Their view is that it is only the 1% which is privileged - not middle class or poor white folks.

[phil89]

83. Be sure to give away your wealth

To offset your privilege! Or let me guess... You won't be doing that?

[gollygee]

85. I do give a lot of money to charity

however, that isn't really the point of it. Me becoming poor as well doesn't really help people who are currently poor.

Easieri to attack me rather than the fact of privilege, though, isn't it?

[BlancheSplanchnik]

89. ^ yes indeed.

Well put.

[jeff47]

27. There is not one kind of privilege. There are several.

A white, wealthy woman won't have "male privilege". But she will have "white privilege" and "wealth privilege". If she's a lesbian, she won't have "straight privilege".

The point of talking about privilege is there's a lot of them.

[aikoaiko]

46. I do understand the multiplicity of privilege, but I guess my point is that most ...

...other forms of privilege are not based on anything real or functional.

Wealth is functional because it buys good things as it should.

Of course I recognize that we can help the poor with much, much better services, but the wealthier will always have advantages. That is the purpose of wealth at every level.

[jeff47]

51. It's still a privilege.

There's no requirement that privilege be based on bigotry. There's "right-handed privilege".

You primarily left-click on your mouse, because it's easier to use your index finger. If you're right-handed, your index finger is left-clicking. If you're left-handed, it would be easier to use a mouse on the opposite side of the keyboard, and use your index finger. Which would make it a right-click.

Yes, it's a trivial example. It's just easy to explain in a post without having to show pictures. If you'd prefer, think about the awkward positions left-handed people use write on paper. Or even think about what side the slots are on the vast majority of ATMs.

It probably has no major effect. But it is something that gets in the way for left-handed every single day. That results in a minor privilege to right-handed people.

[Lordquinton]

100. right handed people live longer

So it's a little more than trivial.

[jeff47]

104. The difference is not nearly as large as wealthy vs poor or black vs white. (nt)

[Lordquinton]

105. no it's not

Bu the takeaway, i think, is that even small seemingly inconsequential privileges can have real effect on people's lives.

[Lordquinton]

106. just saw this video on youtube

Very related:
Freedom in Indiana, year 20??:

[cui bono]

63. Economic classes are also created from various sorts of privilege.

[treestar]

78. But it simplifies it so white people of the middle class and up

cannot seriously try to deny it.

It explains it well.

They could do one on male privilege too. Starting when you are a little girl, you hear different messages than the boys do.

[myrna minx]

11. K&R nt

[daleanime]

12. Title is wrong, didn't change a thing about how I think of it....

it still sucks that we're wasting so much potential.

[ehrnst]

30. I think that the intended audience is those that don't see privilege as such a divider.

I posted primarily so that people here can share with those people.

[d_legendary1]

14. That's our economic system in a nutshell

The ruling class get the resources, the rest get to work for the ruling class.

[Romeo.lima333]

15. wealthy people have always had easier lives. lousy example

[gollygee]

16. That's exactly what privilege means

so it's a good example. It's just using a type of privilege you recognize.

[Romeo.lima333]

38. parents using the fruits of their labor to help their child do well is a priviledge that need to be

dealt with?

[gollygee]

41. Is that all you see there?

You don't see that different schools give completely different levels of education? You don't see economic justice issues - one parent has to work two jobs and still can't provide a comfortable house or good food?

[Romeo.lima333]

62. what i see here in this example is cherry picking, assumptions and extrapolations

i dont believe that schools give completely different levels of education. the cirriculum is relatively standardized. in areas of lower taxes class sizes will be larger but that doesnt mean that the teachers are all burned-out lack-luster lousy teachers dreaming of a way out.

one parent has to work two jobs and still can't provide a comfortable house or good food? i see that but what does that have to do with richards story.the fact that minimum wage needs to be raised seems to have more to do with this than what ever is going on in richard's life.

2 lives are being compared here and the premise seems to be that one is not as legitimate as the other because the other has to work harder than is supposed to.

that being said i believe education should be provided since an educated populace benefits us all but like i said this is a poor example of the negativity of priviledge that those who think priviledge is a bad thing is supposed to represent.

[tkmorris]

66. "i dont believe that schools give completely different levels of education"

Stopped reading right there. You are completely, demonstrably, and inexcusably wrong on this point.

[Romeo.lima333]

67. demonstrably?

[gollygee]

77. Google and read.

It isn't hard to find information comparing wealthy to poor school districts.

[Romeo.lima333]

82. well im waiting for tkmorris to give me the demonstrable info.

i have teachers in my family and one works with the cleveland school system and according to her it isnt the curriculum that's the problem. i havent talked to the other about her experiences. i know i can google any info i want but im curious as to where im demonstrably wrong about the curriculum

[gollygee]

84. There is more to it than the curriculum

I quickly googled and found this, as an example: http://www.schottfoundation.org/media-center/news/rotting-apple-education-redlining-new-york-city

[tkmorris]

92. And you can continue to do so

Demonstrable means capable of being demonstrated. It doesn't mean I am volunteering to do so. If I sensed there was anything to be gained by the effort I most definitely would, but you don't give off that "I'm willing to learn" vibe, friend. I will say however that there is quite a difference between what is officially on the curriculum and how effectively that curriculum is taught. Schools in poorer districts deal with more problematic students, in greater densities, with fewer resources, and generally lower quality teachers, administrations, and infrastructure than schools in more tony areas.

The above is quite provable overall; in fact it has been proven many times over if you'd just care to look. The effect that has on the student bodies is also quite measurable, and has indeed been measured, also many times over. I sense however that you know this already, and somehow dismiss it anyway, presumably because you have developed a world view in which these facts don't fit comfortably. That's no way to go through life, but I'd be lying if I pretended to care.

You have a smurfy day now, hear?

[Romeo.lima333]

95. oh ok i thought b/c you said demonstrable that you had that

and that you could provide it. I certainly wasn't expecting you to do a google search for me. but what you said here
Schools in poorer districts deal with more problematic students, in greater densities, with fewer resources, and generally lower quality teachers, administrations, and infrastructure than schools in more tony areas. although idk what a tony area is
I have developed a world view perhaps the problem is more complex than just saying the schools are underfunded, which I believe they are but that can be fixed by raising taxes which no one wants to do.however there are poor kids who manage to do very well in poor areas with less than affluent schools and non-poor kids who fail out of more affluent schools
my sister in law works in the Cleveland school systems and knew tamir rice she works with kids who aren't as quick to learn as others she was telling me about the kids that she sees, they come with out supplies, pencils, pens, shoes, without lunches after having nothing for breakfast, some come ready to fight they don't pay attention, talk on the phone during classes all of which im sure leads to generally lower quality teachers & administrations.
I am willing to read given credible sources but my time is limited and fishing thru pages of a google search when I don't know what is credible and what isn't is not something I am able to do
gollygee gave me alink to the schott foundation but I don't know if it's credible I read it and it says what you said in your post

btw is this cartoon by you I noticed the author's name and it's very similar

[gollygee]

76. Larger class sizes absolutely lead to burned out teachers

I come from a family of teachers and hear this regularly. Do you know many teachers?

The premise is that one has an easier life. There is no comment on legitimacy. If you recognize you have privilege and aren't a total jerk like in the last frame, then you aren't doing what the privileged person example did.

[Divernan]

102. You are sadly misinformed as to the state of education.

The difference in the quality of education varies quite significantly from school district to school district, and that difference has a lifelong impact on the quality of life of students in those districts.

I'm an active member of AAUW and we are quite involved at the local, state and national levels in addressing the inequities of public education. That ranges from attending board meetings and hosting debates among people running for school board to monitoring the budget process and lobbying state legislatures, etc.

Of course there will always be a range of "privileges", i.e, monetary benefits among families. But the point is do not kid yourself that you pulled yourself up by your bootstraps, when you were custom fitted with Jimmy Choos in the nursery; or that you were born on third base and think you hit a triple.

[daleanime]

50. ......

[jtuck004]

54. Did you read the last cartoon on the left? Do you read what comes from your keyboard?

Nothing wrong with them helping - but they taught the little bastard that other people aren't worth what he is.

That was a mistake.

[Romeo.lima333]

64. it's that self made man crap

[jtuck004]

65. Exactly. There is no such thing. People work hard, and some are lucky enough to make a

success from that.

But I've never seen a case where they accomplish this without the labor of everyone else who is working around them.

[heaven05]

17. says it all

concerning privilege for certain classes/races/cultures/genders.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

18. Add to the general unfairness the fact that one emergency can wipe you out if you're poor.

[redgreenandblue]

19. I think no one really disputes this. The million dollar question which causes the ideological divide

... is whether race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion etc. overrides economic background in a substantial manner.

[gollygee]

22. I don't know if it's best to look at it as a competition

Also I think that the relationships between different kinds of privilege can have a multiplying effect, like white privilege + wealth privilege is a really powerful combination, and people of color with wealth privilege miss out on a lot of common aspects of wealth privilege due to their lack of white privilege. It's harder to get jobs even though they have wealth privilege. The criminal justice system is cruel and particularly unfair, even though they have wealth privilege. There's discrimination in housing and banking, even though they have wealth privilege. The more kinds of privilege you add up, the more they work together and help you.

[Ms. Toad]

31. Precisely, and none of that

is reflected in the cartoon.

[gollygee]

32. The cartoon is from New Zealand

so the particulars are different, but it introduces the idea anyway.

[Ms. Toad]

71. Ideas that are already recognized by a significant portion of the population

that is privileged in many ways but does not see itself as privileged. This cartoon only serves to reinforce their biases.

[gollygee]

74. In your opinion

Not in mine. And a significant portion of the population does not recognize these ideas yet.

[jeff47]

36. First you have to get people to recognize privilege exists

The wealth privilege in the cartoon doesn't require someone to be "bad". Both sets of parents would love to shower their kid with resources. Both are good parents. Only one can pull it off.

Race privilege requires someone to be bad. We don't like to think of ourselves or the people we know as "bad". That generates resistance when you're trying to introduce the concept privilege to people who don't see it.

Starting with one, non-accusatory and easy-to-show privilege is a way to get the foot in the door about the overall concept. Once you've got them listening to the overall concept, you can start adding multiplicative privilege effects later.

[Rilgin]

69. With Respect

You say, "First you have to get people to recognize privilege exists".

Maybe, just maybe, that is because it might just be the wrong word. The word privilege has lots of connotations. Posts (including most in this thread) who use "privilege" are trying to convince people that a word that has connotations for most people either does not have connotations or should be read to not make those connotations.

The second problems is that, again despite, the attempts to say it is not, one connotation is that it is accusatory of individuals and is not a description of society. If you have something undeserved, most moral codes of people become personally and individually uncomfortable about themselves (and not society) because it does not call on them to help others, it calls on them to somehow lose their "privilege" because it is not deserved.

What some of us here have said, is that the word privilege is bad no matter how many times you explain that it just means "inequality". Just using the words "inequality" "racism" or "institutional racism" will not have the same connotations. If there are unequal schools, most people will say bring up the bad schools as the solution without cognitive dissonance on whether if they or a kid goes to a good school, they are somehow bad or personally repressing others. Referring to above, if however there are "privileged" schools, it might be the reaction to close the good schools so they are no longer privileged and do not have to individually feel bad.

People who you are trying to convince of a social problem will probably recognize that our society is not equal in various ways. Inequality as an issue is being increasingly recognized both in the population and the pundits. This is shown in poles on issues in society. People generally are increasing their awareness that there are problems in our criminal justice system because those are the common words that directly describe the issue. They also might recognize and even acknowledge that there exists pockets of actual and institutional racism in our society. This shows that the right words are making headway in our population. In contrast, using the word "privileged" does not seem to actually cause people to increase recognition, it causes internal resistance.

Those are the major problems with the concept and the word and the attempt to get people to recognize the word.

When you try to use a word that does not mean exactly what it means to most people, it prevents you from actually obtaining the recognition of problems you seem to want from people. This would seem to be the goal, getting recognition of issues and not having people fight recognition of social problems. Again, with respect, the problem with this and other threads trying to get people to adopt the word is that it is like trying to fit a square peg of a word into a round hole, rather than using a round peg that people understand.

[jeff47]

79. I really don't care if we call it frobbizblorgen.

The second problems is that, again despite, the attempts to say it is not, one connotation is that it is accusatory of individuals and is not a description of society. If you have something undeserved, most moral codes of people become personally and individually uncomfortable about themselves (and not society) because it does not call on them to help others, it calls on them to somehow lose their "privilege" because it is not deserved.

And you minimize that problem by starting with a privilege (or frobbizblorgen) that the vast majority do not have - wealth.

Just using the words "inequality" "racism" or "institutional racism" will not have the same connotations

The difference is racism requires something overt - you have to think or do something to be racist. That makes it very easy for the privileged to dismiss the issue entirely. If they are not personally racist, it's not something for them to work on. I didn't do anything to make black people more likely to be pulled over by the police, so there's nothing for me to stop doing or change.

Privilege is passive. You didn't do anything to get it. Not being personally racist won't make race privilege go away. It better confers the societal effects, IMO.

In addition, there's lots of other privileges besides race and sex and wealth. For a relatively trivial example, there's a lot of right-handed privilege in our modern world. Virtually all devices are designed to be operated by right-handed person. The slots on the ATM are on which side? Yes, this isn't exactly a massive societal problem.

Point is to illustrate privilege comes in many forms, and using terms like racism means we have to re-teach the concept in each situation. "Handism" has to be explained separately from racism because it has a different name. If it's just yet another privilege your further down the road to doing something about it.

Like virtually everything with attempting to change society, there's no perfect answer.

[Rilgin]

94. We do not disagree on substance

If you do not care what you call the concept, my suggestion is, again, that you look at the public connotations of the word "privilege".

It was your words, that first you need people to recognize the problems in society. I am suggesting that the words used either hinder or help that effort.

With respect to your concept of passive and active. Before the word privilege became the new word, there were lots of descriptive words to describe racial affects not caused by direct conscious racism of individuals. People have racial bias. There is institutional racism. There have been a lot of analysis of the types of racism. I merely suggest that if you want to actually describe the concept of inequality, those words are best if talking about racial inequalities. Other inequalities have other words that better describe it mostly from talking about the individual who has hardships rather than the person who is not facing a hardship.

The word privilege is directed at the individual. No matter how many times you say dont take it a certain way. It connotes the people of the Great Gatsby partying in East Egg.

It does not say anything about societal problems. You can not say Society is privileged. You say "you are a priveleged individual". A class of people can be privileged but ultimately when talking to someone of that class the logic is that if you are a member of the class you are privileged. Therefore it is a claim about indivduals. The problem is the individual can not do anything about privelege. He can do something about society. But society is not privileged... society is just unequal.

With respect to inequality and injustice (in my world, good words to describe societal problems), it is clear that there is increasing societal recognition of the problems in these areas for the general population (not DU social warriors). I submit that is what you seem to want. I also submit that the increased recognition is because there are problems that people are starting to actually see and the words used to describe the problem are both better in describing the problem and do not have connotation problems.

[Ms. Toad]

70. But it puts the bulk of the population in the unprivileged class

They already see that the wealthy have privilege. What the straight white males in the lower 99% don't see is that they also have privilege - and they resent the similarly situated minority, LGBT, females they see as pushing them farther down the ladder which they already perceive themselves to be at the bottom of.

And race no more requires someone to be bad than wealth does.

[jeff47]

73. The bulk of the population is in the unprivileged class.

At least when it comes to wealth privilege. There's no requirement that the unprivileged group be a minority - after all, women outnumber men by a few percent.

What the straight white males in the lower 99% don't see is that they also have privilege

And you can either do a "frontal assault" against that, and face more resistance. Or get them to understand the concept of privilege by showing them a situation where they are unprivileged and expand from there into other areas.

And race no more requires someone to be bad than wealth does.

Race privilege requires someone to be racist. The privilege comes from not dealing with the effects of racism.

I won't get pulled over due to the color of my skin. That privilege requires racism by the police officer.

[jeff47]

34. I think for the majority of people it isn't an ideological issue.

It's hard to notice privilege when you're receiving it. In the cartoon, the "successful" guy doesn't know that he received advantages. They are "just what happens" in his world.

He didn't go to the crappy school, and never experienced a crappy school. So he assumes all schools are roughly like his.

As a result, for most people it's a lack of awareness instead of an ideology. Separating them from the objectivists who actually are ideologically-driven will help fix a lot of these problems. That requires increasing awareness. Such as this cartoon.

[Romulox]

43. It may be that one side *approves* of class/economic based privilege, but isn't honest about it. nt

[Thespian2]

20. K & R !!!

The cartoon reflects reality for many, many people.

[Omnith]

21. The comic was all well and good but

I didn't see anything policy changes bring suggested. What was the point of the comic? To point out inequality or make us mad? But to what end? There is nothing about change here. Getting mad about something means nothing unless there is a way to fix it and the comic didn't even try.

[ehrnst]

28. The first step towards change is making people aware there is a problem.

This audience for this cartoon is those who may be uncertain as to the idea of what "privilege" is, and how lack of it can impact one's life choices.

Even if the answer was simple, I don't think it would fit in one comic.

This simply points out the steps along the way where privilege, or lack of it, determines many choices.

The last frame is dead on target - it shows how those who have money, and belittle those that don't as moochers, don't understand what has been handed to them.

[Saviolo]

29. The problem is too complex

...to fix in a comic. It's going to take far-reaching, systemic, and policy changes to make things better.

This comic isn't to make you mad, it's just there to show the problem in a way that people can relate to, instead of couching it in broad, fuzzy terms of privilege and class. These are actual, concrete examples of how privilege works and how tiny little things that mostly go by unnoticed will add up to a bigger problem.

Did the boy who succeeded work hard to get where he is? Sure, but on the way he was helped in tons of tiny ways by a privilege he didn't even know was there, because he couldn't see the girl's struggle. Likewise, the girl faced challenges that she felt were normal. Tiny roadblocks that go by unnoticed, but add up to a much bigger challenge. They're both running the 100m dash, but her track has hurdles and is uphill.

The point of the comic is to start a dialogue. With so many people denying that privilege is even a thing, it's important that it's laid out in this practical and relate-able way.

[Omnith]

56. I see your point.

I just didn't like feel of the comic. It didn't offer hope and I believe there is hope.

[Saviolo]

59. I agree

I think there is hope, too. But the hope comes from starting the dialogue and actually getting people talking about it without throwing up knee-jerk "there is no privilege" arguments. Hopefully this sort of thing will get people to recognize it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. kick

[demmiblue]

24. Wow, that was great. K&R

[thesquanderer]

25. Interesting: the author/artist is from New Zealand

It's not just the U.S. that suffers this malady...

[napkinz]

33. K&R!!!

[AikidoSoul]

37. Great post. Thank you. NT

[Overseas]

39. K&R. Well said.

[WillyT]

40. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[Romulox]

42. DU is awash in defenders of class based privilege and the economic status quo.

It's not because they don't understand the material in the comic; it's because they thing it is "right" and "fair" that the rich enjoy more rights in this society, and that the true outrage is when a rich POC doesn't get all the privileges that are "due" to him.

[Saviolo]

52. One reason...

is that the rich have spent a LOT of money to tell us through media that they should enjoy more rights in this society. For decades. Incessantly.

Higher taxes on the wealthy are "punishing success and hard work."

Poor people begging for higher minimum wages are "class activists."

The wealthy are "jobs creators."

People on welfare or food stamps are "takers."

It's not easy to reverse decades of this kind of brainwashing pumped to us through every media filter out there.

[geardaddy]

55. Spot on, Romulox. n/t

[Octafish]

72. + The Dude and his still-present Toad Swarm.

"Conscious Capitalism"

Most importantly: Excellent summary on the Big Picture, yours, Romulox.

[packman]

44. I, and many others in post WWII era, were children of the middle class

and sons/daughters of a strong middle class with relatively good wages and a relatively good life style. Not super privileged, but not poor either. Opportunity was open to us because our - at least mine - parents saw to it that the path was made smoother, the way a bit clearer.
However, today the children are being denied those paths. The doors are being shut by poor wages and lack of opportunities and the light at the end of tunnel - once bright - is dark. And each generation in America is being denied what was once the American dream . This is not going to bode well for the future of this country.

[Jerry442]

53. I was in college in the early 70's.

I was grateful at the time for the combination of low state-school tuition and financial aid that made it all possible, but looking at the financial meatgrinder kids have to throw themselves into to get a degree these days, my time at the U is looking like a stay in the Garden of Eden.

[AuntPatsy]

45. N/T

[Bernardo de La Paz]

47. Nails it. Kicked and Recommended. nt

[Fantastic Anarchist]

48. Fantastic!!!!

K&R!

[Dalai_1]

49. K&R n/ t

[Baitball Blogger]

57. This just scratches the surface,

but you've got to start somewhere.

It's a home run.

[calimary]

58. OUTSTANDING!

[SCantiGOP]

60. kicking this one hard

There is a millionaire in Columbia who now mainly makes money with real estate acquisitions. I have heard him describe how he built his original business without any help from the government. I really think the asshole has managed to erase from his memory that his Father turned that thriving business over to him; all he did was manage it for a few years and then sell it for millions of dollars. A real self-made man.
I have had delusions of some science fiction scenario where he awakens one day as a poor, uneducated homeless person (let's throw in that he has serious medical issues and an addiction) and can't convince anyone that he is really a successful businessman.

[stage left]

61. K&R nt

[BrotherIvan]

68. Neoliberal policy not only supports but exacerbates the problem

But a few people here seem very cool with it.

[TM99]

101. Yes!

Every frame of this comic deals with economic realities from health care to job security to education for all to working multiple jobs.

You can talk about privilege and social justice but if you elect New Dems you are just getting a campaign slogan without that which is necessary to truly address both.

[Divernan]

103. Warmongers know you don't need educated cannon fodder.

It is absolutely necessary to the One Percent & their political puppets that our endless wars have a sufficient supply of undereducated young people with poor job prospects.

[treestar]

75. It's good. nt

[kenfrequed]

80. YES!

This encapsulates so much so effectively!

[Warpy]

81. Excellent!

Even in the 60s, when wages were high enough to live on, male students could work part time to get through school. Women's wages meant women had to work full time to do it.

Think about it.

[Romeo.lima333]

86. wasnt potus' life like paula's?

[Taitertots]

91. N = 1. Let's focus on what happens to 99.999% of the people

Instead of worrying if one or two people were able to overcome adversity.

[Sherman A1]

87. K&R!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

88. The rich kid is just as likely to become the poor kid's landlord.....

Thus, part of his wealth is from her labor.

[Angry Dragon]

90. K&R

[JDPriestly]

93. K&R.

[Oakenshield]

96. Great comic.

It works very well in demonstrating we have a problem in this country. Now if I could just find one that states the obvious, Capitalism needs to be shitcanned for something better. Egalitarianism must be core idea. "Business" can be thrown off a cliff for all I care.

[SoapBox]

97. Poignant.

I see both...

A relative and their sons...and some neighbors that live near me.

Both of those extremes are almost identical to the comic.

[Paka]

98. K&R

[Flatpicker]

99. Doesn't

Change how I look at it.

Always had known that it's more important to fall out of the right birth canal than anything else.

Just too bad that I figured it out after I was born.