The Sorensen Monologues
Archive for March, 2017
“Government” or “Democracy”?
This cartoon came about from the recent realization that an obnoxiously libertarian internet entrepreneur/huckster used to live in my neighborhood. You know, one of those “government needs to get out of the way of innovation” bros who don’t perhaps fully appreciate the origins of the internet as a government program, or all the other scientific research that has been government-funded. I’m so sick of these people.
UPDATE: For more, see this blog post responding to reader comments.
Trump’s new programs
A couple relevant articles from Charleston, West Virginia (you know, where Trump cares so much about working people):
AmeriCorps, still doing work in flood zone, facing Trump budget cut
Trump budget axes program that funds WV infrastructure projects
Then there’s this gem from Houston, where they have, oh, just a few chemical plants and refineries:
‘Death and destruction’ expected as Trump moves to gut Chemical Safety Board
While little known to the masses, the CSB is to chemical disasters what the much better-funded National Transportation Safety Board is to airline crashes, train derailments and bridge collapses. Without the recommendations that come from these boards, preventable accidents repeat themselves.
Gutting the CSB is “standing up for death and destruction,” said chemical safety consultant Paul Orum. “It’s disrespectful to those killed in such incidents.”
You’ve probably heard of the cuts to PBS. After I wrote the cartoon, I found out the 2014 movie Muppets Most Wanted was set in a gulag. I know somebody is going to mention this, so let me just say I am aware of the Muppet-labor camp connection.
