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It is absolutely an “entitlement”

Have you seen this meme? It gets me so frustrated.

Your social security is absolutely an entitlement. We’re entitled to it. That’s why it’s called that!

Republicans keep trying to redefine the word “entitlement” to mean the exact opposite of what it means so they can cut it. They want people to think “entitlement” is a bad word.

Memes like this only help them do that.

Can Congress decide not to make it an entitlement? Of course, but that doesn’t change the meaning of the word.

Right now, Republicans are moving in that direction, having just voted to gut Medicare so they can give huge tax breaks to the billionaires who bribe them with campaign contributions. But we need to embrace the word “entitlement” and rub it in their faces for the very reason stated in this meme, and not run away from the word.

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The traditional American response to kings

Chris Britt
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If you were a Russian operative…

Let’s suppose you were a Russian operative who got himself elected to President with the instruction to destroy the country from within.

You’d fire a huge percentage of federal employees for no reason, fill the government with incompetent people whose only qualification is loyalty to you, ignore the rule of law and act as a dictator, raise tariffs and taxes to destroy the economy, do your best to pit Americans against other Americans, threaten to withdraw from NATO, and otherwise alienate the country from all its allies.

Yeah, like that would ever happenLet’s suppose you were a Russian operative who got himself elected to President with the instruction to destroy the country from within.

You’d fire a huge percentage of federal employees for no reason, fill the government with incompetent people whose only qualification is loyalty to you, ignore the rule of law and act as a dictator, raise tariffs and taxes to destroy the economy, do your best to pit Americans against other Americans, threaten to withdraw from NATO, and otherwise alienate the country from all its allies.

Yeah, like that would ever happen.

cartoon by Jeff Darcy
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The goal

Clay Bennett
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So much for that Oath

People who understand the Constitution: “Hey, only Congress can control the budget. The President can’t order things Congress budgeted to not be paid. The President doesn’t get to decide spending issues. It’s in the Constitution!”

Republicans in Congress: “Oh, THIS Constitution that we are currently ripping up in your face?”

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Isn’t this what you voted for?

Jen Sorensen
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No Honeymoon for Trump

When a President takes office, there is a “honeymoon period” where the polls are favorable and everyone is looking forward to the new person in the White House.

Donald Trump is only the second President to enter office with negative poll numbers. The first was (checks notes) Donald Trump.

Trump is the only President (since they started doing these polls) who never reached a 50% approval rating the entire time he was in office. His highest rating was still lower than Obama’s lowest rating.

He lost the popular vote the first time, lost it by even more the second time, and although he won this time, it was with less than 50% of the vote (thanks to third party candidates).

So when Trump people say he has the people’s support, that’s not true. He has never had a majority of Americans supporting him. Never.

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Lying in state

Rob Rogers
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Never given freely

It’s important to remember, as our old pal Gil O’Teen tells us, that rights have never been given freely in the history of this planet. Those in power will do whatever it takes to keep that power.

Mind you, I personally am not in favor of violence to get change unless it is absolutely necessary (like you live in a literal dictatorship and there is no other option). But in a democracy, you should be able to get change with disruptive protests, civil disobedience, lawsuits, and non-violent illegal means (such as whistleblower activities).

It’s also important to remember that our human rights to be treated fairly and justly have always existed. Whenever I hear someone say something like, “Well, men gave women the right to vote,” I reply “If I steal your car and then give it back to you, does that mean I should be congratulated and rewarded for giving it to you?”

So yeah, fight for your rights. It’s the only way you can get them.

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Criminal returns to scene of the crime

Clay Bennett