Planet 9

***Stephen_the_Red*** · #1 03-24-2009, 05:05 AM

Check out your local newspapers for Monday 23 March 2009. The Houston Chronicle had an editorial cartoon (hard to read the artist, but looked like "Scheneman"?), where an AIG fat cat says "I used to have a conscience, but I sold it and bought a Porsche".

I've already e-mailed the Chronicle editorial staff, to let them know that rather than bash Porsche owners (I bought mine with hard-earned salary, no bonuses) they should look at people riding around in chauffered limousines - cars made by other manufacturers.

Sorry I can't provide a link; couldn't find their editorial page on-line.

**K-Man S** · #2 03-24-2009, 06:21 AM

Yes that is unfortunate, surely their phone number must be online somewhere?

saucerman · #3 03-24-2009, 12:43 PM

and I'm sure Porsche was a one syllable word in the hand of the cartoonist

**ApexL8** · #4 03-24-2009, 03:12 PM

With a little quick searching I came up with:
1) The guy's name is Drew Sheneman
2) Here is a link for the cartoon:

Drew Sheneman, The Newark Star Ledger

Drop down to choose 03/19/09, and click "Get Image" button.

(Incredibly conicidental, but I used to be a paperboy, and delivered the Star-Ledger many, many moons ago.)

Cheers,
Chuck

**stig** · #5 03-24-2009, 04:24 PM

Probably unfair to bash balding guys with big ears, too!

It's satire... we Porsche owners shouldn't be so thin skinned.

**AZCS** · #6 03-24-2009, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by stig

It's satire... we Porsche owners shouldn't be so thin skinned.

I agree...

Jim Michaels · #7 03-24-2009, 06:11 PM

I'm pretty sure it was a GT3, which he promptly totaled trying to impress his girl friend.

***DaveN007*** · #8 03-24-2009, 06:50 PM

So a guy gets straight A's in high school and damned near perfect SAT scores. Valedictorian. Scholarship to Ivy League school where he graduates at the top of his class. Not only is he technically brilliant, but he can communicate with others extraordinarily well. Lands a job working 100 hours a week minimum on Wall Street. He fails to perform, he is fired. Does well, he is rewarded. That is reality.

I look at this cartoon and my reaction is horror. No different than if the "AIG" were replaced with "JEW". That is how evil the envy and spite is that is running rampant in our country right now.

It isn't acceptable in the United States.

Busloads of losers demanding that the people who produce in this society "share the wealth" is simply a degree away from kristallnacht. My family faced Nazism in Greece. This is how it starts. Isolate. Demonize. Dehumanize.

Boy am I in trouble. Sorry, mods.

**ApexL8** · #9 03-24-2009, 07:00 PM

Ah, I couldn't get too worked up about this cartoon either, my supply of righteous indignation was running a little low today.

Cheers,
Chuck

iagt · #10 03-24-2009, 09:28 PM

I agree...we should not be thin-skinned. Besides the cartoonist is just jealous anyways

!

DaveN007...I could not agree with you more. Be fearful of a government that quickly passes a targeted tax at a small group of individuals.

This country needs a revolution of the real "working class"!

**Krokodil** · #11 03-24-2009, 09:33 PM

and then Atlas Shrugged...

DaveCS2009 · #12 03-24-2009, 10:04 PM

How did criticism of the cartoon turn into a diatribe on society, kristallnacht and Nazism? Bit of a leap. Mods, you around?? Time to shut this thread down...

gtscayman · #13 03-24-2009, 10:39 PM

Where can you trade your conscience for a Porsche? Inquiring minds want to know.

Dave - 30 lashes and kitchen duty for you.

I don't think the 'average' person would be against the majority of business types, but like anything, when certain members of society are given enough rope, they go and hang themselves. Lots of egotistical maniacs out there disguised as nice guys making a buck. Used to work with some of them and didn't like the company I was keeping. Big business is cut throat and there are some really not nice people out there you have to admit. Again, to bad it spreads across to all the good intentioned to.

As for the cartoon - one guys opinion and sorta funny.

beez · #14 03-24-2009, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by DaveCS2009

How did criticism of the cartoon turn into a diatribe on society, kristallnacht and Nazism? Bit of a leap. Mods, you around?? Time to shut this thread down...

We're watching...

Originally Posted by Krokodil

and then Atlas Shrugged...

Indeed, I think this has gotten a little carried away... it's an editorial cartoon, for cry'n out loud.

So, everyone yells about free speech, I'm not going to shut this down... yet. That depends on how this goes. Please everyone, if you disagree or agree with the cartoon, for whatever reason, feel free to use the info provided here to contact the artist and either congratulate or scorn his a$$, about how he denigrates Porsche owners - which happens to be the original poster's topic. But, I don't see where this is the place to begin a huge political/societal discussion that will certainly devolve and dive headlong into the abyss of absolute craziness.

Please, you can make it not happen... be big - police yourselves, you can do it!

We'll check in later to see how it's going.

brad

**Bodhii** · #15 03-25-2009, 12:38 AM

I look at this cartoon and my reaction is horror. No different than if the "AIG" were replaced with "JEW". That is how evil the envy and spite is that is running rampant in our country right now.

It isn't acceptable in the United States.

Busloads of losers demanding that the people who produce in this society "share the wealth" is simply a degree away from kristallnacht...

I can't believe this kind of mindless, hateful rhetoric is acceptable anywhere amongst educated modern adults. After seeing these words I can easily understand what motivates the author of that offensive cartoon. Shame on you. You think this economic crisis is a product of "losers" envying you?. This is how you explain yourself to your World? You are the victim of all those who actually do suffer misfortune? Shame on you.

defconjos · #16 03-25-2009, 01:22 AM

We have a saying in my home language that translates to "The higher you climb up the tree, the more people are going to see your butt". Owning a Porsche or being CEO of a massive corporation probably means that some people get left behind and they are never gonna like you. The cartoon isn't gonna make a difference because those people never liked you anyway.

***Stephen_the_Red*** · #17 03-25-2009, 04:45 AM

As the original OP, maybe I should explain why/what offended me:

While I am disgusted with the greedy behaviour of the TYPE of individual portrayed (John Thain of former Merrill Lynch comes to mind), and absolutely cannot fathom the mindset of the corporate plunderers, it was the linking of that type of behaviour and failure of ethical/moral standards with the Porsche name that was off-target.

SO many other car names come to MY mind first, when I think about someone who would sell their soul. For me, "conspicuous consumption" and moral bankrupty are not characteristics I normally associate with Porsches.

I definitely don't advocate for thought police, as I'm pretty sure there's a file on me in D.C. or Langley (CIA) because of where I've been and what groups I've joined. I am already a "target", and I just wish the author had not used our car maker as his easy target.

**K-Man S** · #18 03-25-2009, 05:45 AM

With that, let's go ahead and close this topic as I do not want to see any out of bounds political discussion, etc. The OP has stated his position clearly and there is enough information in the topic for anyone to take any action they feel compelled to take. Thanks for your understanding.