Tom the Dancing Bug - Saturday January 10, 2009 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling 1776, Philadelphia Ben Franklin: And so, I propose a new nation, founded on the principles of democracy! Man: Yeah, right. What's the angle, Benny? Ben Franklin: Okay, here's the scam...it'll make us all rich for centuries. Man #2: Now yer talkin', scumbag. Ben Franklin: We muscle out the British and get our own country, see? And we keep increasing our standard of living! Return on investment through the friggin' roof! Man #2: But HOW? Ben Franklin: Expansion! We got a whole CONTINENT to move in on! And the NEW investors pay off the OLD ones! Man#1: Investors? Ben Franklin: Investors, citizens...call 'em what ya want, Johnny A. Man #2: Okay, but we can only expand for so long. Ben Franklin: But the population will continue to grow, T.J. Plus, we'll look so rich -- on PAPER -- lenders will be lining up! Man #1: So we borrow from foreign states? Ben Franklin: Japan, China...we keep finding NEW SAPS to pay off the OLD ONES! Man #2: Beautiful! But eventually we won't be able to borrow or tax any more! Ben Franklin: Then the whole thing collapses like a house of cars. Ben Franklin: But that won't happen for 240 YEARS! What a party we'll have in the meantime. Man #1: Look -- the investment scheme looks like a pyramid. Early Investors Ben Franklin: Yeah...hey, let's put a pyramid on our one-dollar bill! Man #2: Haw! We're gonna have some angry suckers in the 21st century!

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