UPSIDE-DOWN CARTOONS…. Cartoons that change perspective when turned upside-down, seem to be a good way to look at our Government in Washington these days.
I drew this upside-down cartoon in response to the Wall Street bailout. Not much has happened since then to change my view of what went down… MAIN STREET WENT DOWN!
Having worked all my life for an insurance company, I found it ironic that the Government went against the basic insurance principles I was taught as a State Farm Agent to justify the Bailout. We had a saying in the insurance business when describing policy language: “The BIG PRINT giveth… the little print taketh away.” We had another more specific word for the little print: “EXCLUSIONS”.
I was taught the reason exclusions were necessary in a policy was to not have to pay for things that a reasonable person should be expected to take care of themselves, like routine maintenance on their house or vehicle, for instance. “SUDDEN & ACCIDENTAL” were the cornerstones of the Exclusion concept for claim payment management. If it was in any way considered intentional or a logical outcome of an insured’s activities, chances are it was excluded from coverage.
Think about it… First, the government decided to Bail-out AIG, an insurance company “too big to allow to fail” and then, adding insult to injury, they bailed-out the Wall Street criminals that used the same business practices. Where were the EXCLUSIONS for paying out tax dollars for intentional acts when we needed them? In most of the commentary surrounding the process, I heard experts on both side of the issue say, “It’s all about MONEY.” Those of us on MAIN STREET agree… It IS about MONEY!…ours! If you’re going to use our money…Bail US out!
My cartoon is about the money… both Wall Street and Main Street ARE thinking about Money! Unfortunately, for Main Street, it’s more of a dream (nightmare?) than reality.
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