by Jan Baughman

A Cartoon

(Swans - December 28, 2009) 

This cartoon, originally entitled "The Ideological Struggle Of The 21st Century," was first published on October 8, 2007, seven years into the George W. Bush administration and 8 months after Barack Obama announced his candidacy for president, igniting the hopes and dreams of many with the promise of "Change We Can Believe In." That the slogan was ultimately downgraded to "The Change We Need" received little attention, but it set the stage for the position that we are in two years later: Still facing the same ideological struggle between humanity and war.

President Obama has kept true to his campaign pledge to refocus our war efforts on Afghanistan; however, his vow to decrease the influence of lobbyists and promote universal health care has fallen by the wayside under the influence of those very lobbyists. Though the president now claims that "I didn't campaign on the public option," his campaign Web site still exists, proving to the contrary that "The Obama plan... Offers a public health insurance option to provide the uninsured and those who can't find affordable coverage with a real choice."

Whether the final health care bill will represent meaningful reform or a windfall for the insurance companies won't be known for years. In the meantime, with the public option and expanded Medicare off the table, our elected representatives rejoin that the opportunity for health care reform comes along rarely, so we have to take what we can get. As the health care industry lobbyists know all too well, you get what you pay for. So too do we the People get what we vote for, hence the ideological struggle continues.

Wishing you good health and peace in the New Year.

If you enjoy Jan Baughman's cartoons please consider helping us
financially. Thank you.

Other Cartoons by Jan Baughman

Internal Resources

Patterns which Connect

America the 'beautiful'

About the Author

Jan Baughman on Swans (with bio).

Legalese

Please, feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © Jan Baughman 2007-2009. All rights reserved.

Have your say

Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number (the city, state/country where you reside is paramount information). When/if we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country.

This Edition's Internal Links

2010 Infamous Predictions™ - SWANS

Blips #93 - From the Martian Desk - Gilles d'Aymery

The Religious Right And World Vision's "Charitable" Evangelism - Michael Barker

The Descent Of The Vultures - Femi Akomolafe

Climate Change - Martin Murie

A Private Feminine Eye - Book Review by Peter Byrne

King Of What World? - Art Shay

Asta Nielsen & Hamlet's Gender-Benders - Charles Marowitz

Josef Gingold Turns 100 - Isidor Saslav

Überhaupt schlüßig Polyhedron - Multilingual Poetry by Silvia dello Russo & Guido Monte

Early The Evening Before - Poem by Jeffery Klaehn

Letters to the Editor