(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Cartoon: The Immigration Deal [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-12-21 I don’t have a cartoon syndicate and I’m not in newspapers. But I get to do this for a living because lots of readers support my Patreon with mostly small pledges! I also have prints and books for sale. -------------------------------- Political discourse in the U.S. has become difficult, if not impossible, because right-wing views are so completely untethered from reality. I'm not saying left-wingers are immune to this - we're not - but on the left it's not as extreme or as common amongst the highest Democrats. And one of the biggest examples of this is the widespread belief that immigration is harmful, despite near-universal agreement among economists that immigration is not just helpful but crucial for the U.S. economy. Diana Roy writes: Trump has made illegal immigration the focus of his campaign, promising to launch an aggressive crackdown that includes carrying out the “largest domestic deportation operation” of undocumented immigrants in U.S. history. Some experts, however, say that such an operation would inflict heavy economic costs. The Peterson Institute for International Economics estimates [PDF] that the deportation of between 1.3 and 8.3 million undocumented immigrants would reduce U.S. real gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 7 percent by 2028, as well as significantly decrease U.S. employment, increase inflation, and drive down demand. On deportation, like in so many areas, we just have to hope that Trump's general incompetence will come to our rescue by preventing him from achieving his policy goals. TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON This cartoon has four panels. They depict three people - a mother, father and their small daughter - carrying luggage and standing on a dirt road. Their path is being blocked by a large man wearing a floral shirt and an Uncle Sam hat. PANEL 1 The woman, smiling, has stepped forward to talk to Uncle Sam. WOMAN: Hi, America. We're immigrants. The situation in our home country is so awful we're forced to come live and work in the U.S.... Nearly all economists agree this benefits you a lot. UNCLE SAM: Okay, lemme tell you the deal... PANEL 2 Panel shows Uncle Sam grinning a bit manically. UNCLE SAM: You're gonna be hated so much! Major politicians will lie and say you increase crime, spread disease, even eat housepets! PANEL 3 Uncle Sam, still grinning, waves his hands in the air. UNCLE SAM: Despite all the ways you benefit me, you'll be blamed for all my problems. Great deal for you, right? Now go find low-wage jobs. PANEL 4 The father and mother look a bit peeved, and their daughter hides behind her dad, as Uncle Sam, not even looking at them, folds his arms and looks smug. WOMAN (thought): I can't believe this maniac is our best option. UNCLE SAM: I'm waiting for my "thank you..." CHICKEN FAT WATCH "Chicken fat" is an obsolete cartoonists' term for unimportant details stuck into cartoons. PANEL 1 - On the ground, a worm is pointing a tiny gun at a bird; the bird looks frightened. Also, on the ground is a newspaper entitled "Daily Leopard." The top headline reads "Yum! Five new face recipes!" The lower headline reads "Op-ed: Our spots are perfect and require no change." PANEL 2 - Krazy and Ignatz, from the classic comic strip Krazy Kat, are standing on a wall in the background. Graffiti on the same wall says "take the moment present as a present for the moment," a quote from the musical Into The Woods. Uncle Sam has a tattoo with a caricature of Adam Smith in a heart. PANEL 4 - An evil bunny, glaring and smoking a cigarette, is on the ground. A smiling man is peeking out through a hole in the wall behind Uncle Sam. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/21/2293151/-Cartoon-The-Immigration-Deal?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=trending&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/