"This basic misconception is at the root of so many problems with our political discourse. I cant tell you how many times Ive heard from people who think Im an "America hater" because I criticize the Bush administration. These same people, Im sure, hardly perceived criticism of Bill Clintons presidency as an attack on the country itself. I guess mocking the guvment is acceptable only when Democrats are in the White House."
Jen Sorensen is an American cartoonist and illustrator who creates a weekly comic strip that often focuses on current events from a liberal perspective. Her work has appeared on the websites Daily Kos, Splinter, The Nib, Politico, AlterNet, and Truthout; and has appeared in Ms. Magazine, The Progressive, and The Nation. It also appears in over 20 alternative newsweeklies throughout America. In 201
"Every so often, something happens that reminds you viscerally of the supremely unfair, amoral nature of the universe. For me, the death of Molly Ivins was one of those things. A genuinely funny woman with whom I agreed more consistently than perhaps any other pundit, Molly was often a source of inspiration to me. Her columns planted the seed for more than one Slowpoke cartoon."
"Anyone who thinks theres no difference between Democrats and Republicans is a dingdong, Lots of people generalize that theyre the same because they both pander to corporate interests. Its true: we live in a plutocracy condoned by a totally ignorant public...Im not saying Democrats are perfect, but I think there are a lot of good, well-meaning people trapped in the system"
"I know there have been some encouraging signs. I think people have come a long way even since I started cartooning-I mean, gay marriage wasnt legal when I started. I think our collective vocabulary for social justice issues has improved over time. So on a cultural level, weve made some progress. That keeps me going. Ive had people tell me that Ive radicalized their teenage daughters. But a lot of what Im doing shouldnt even be considered radical."
"Trump (and Bannon and other right-wing authoritarian leaders around the world) is often referred to as a "populist" because he displays faux concern for the working class and a resentment of science and education, but his policies are in fact grotesquely elitist. If by "populist" we mean whipping up resentment against immigrants and people of color, then we should say that. Otherwise, "populism" is just a lazy euphemism for racism."
"Im also tired of being called a "radical," a word that even many otherwise-astute progressives apply to themselves. Since when is it radical to not want mercury in my tuna salad? Or to have an aversion to killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians unnecessarily? Im the normal person here. The people running the country are the off-the-meter nutballs."
"Cartoons are a great medium for demonstrating just how absurd something is, without ever having to say it directly."