oligarch – mackaycartoons

Saturday January 18, 2025

January 18, 2025 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday January 18, 2025

The Looming Shadow of Trump’s so called Golden Age

November 7, 2024

As the United States prepares to usher in Donald Trump’s second term, there are bold promises of a new golden age—one that promises unprecedented happiness and prosperity for the privileged few while casting deep shadows of misery over the masses. For Canada and the broader world, the implications of this era are both profound and unsettling.

One of the most immediate and troubling aspects of Trump’s agenda is the promise of mass deportations of undocumented migrants within the United States. This policy not only threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions but also stands as a stark reminder of the administration’s willingness to prioritize exclusion over empathy. For Canadians, known for our commitment to inclusivity and humanitarian values, these actions represent a departure from the principles that bind our two nations in friendship and cooperation.

Analysis: What is an oligarchy, and is the United States poised to become one?

June 1, 2018

Trump’s promise to impose a 25% tariff on imports, including those from key trade partners like Canada, poses a significant threat to our economic stability. The interconnectedness of our economies means that such tariffs could lead to job losses and economic disruptions on both sides of the border. For Canadians, who have long enjoyed a robust trading relationship with the United States, this policy threatens not only economic prosperity but also the spirit of collaboration that has defined our bilateral relations.

The potential for Trump to push Ukraine into concessions with Russia raises alarms about global stability and justice. As Canadians, we have long stood for peace and the defence of sovereign nations against aggression. Any move that undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty could set a dangerous precedent, emboldening authoritarian regimes while compromising the democratic ideals we hold dear.

October 26, 2024

Perhaps most concerning is the broader societal impact of Trump’s policies, which seem to deepen the divide between a burgeoning oligarchy and the rest of society. At the centre of this oligarchic circle is Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who has found a prominent role in Trump’s orbit. Musk’s influence, alongside other billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Murdoch family, epitomizes the concentration of wealth and power that threatens democratic ideals. These individuals, with their vast resources, have the potential to shape policy and public opinion in ways that prioritize their interests over those of the general populace.

News: Biden warned of oligarchs. Some officials worry he may have helped create one

January 20, 2017

As Trump takes the oath of office, some of these modern-day barons will likely be sitting on the very dais, a stark symbol of the cozy relationship between political power and wealth. One can only imagine Teddy Roosevelt, the trust-busting president who fought against the robber barons of his time, spinning in his grave at the sight of such blatant coddling of today’s tycoons.

In an era where the ultra-rich continue to accumulate unprecedented wealth, policies that inflict suffering on the vulnerable only exacerbate existing inequalities. The concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few echoes the concerns of an oligarchic system, one where the interests of the many are overshadowed by the few. For Canadians, who value fairness and equality, the spectre of a society where happiness is derived from the misery of others is deeply troubling.

January 4, 2025

As we brace for the changes that Trump 2.0 will bring, it is essential for Canadians to reflect on our values and the kind of world we wish to promote. While the challenges are significant, they also present an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, cooperation, and justice. By standing firm in our principles, Canada can serve as a beacon of hope and a model for equitable governance in an increasingly divided world.

While the coming Trump administration may bring uncertainty and challenges, it also underscores the importance of solidarity and resilience. As Canadians, we must tread the choppy waters of this new era with determination and commitment to our core values, ensuring that we remain a force for good in a world that desperately needs it. The threat of oligarchy, underscored by the influence of figures like Musk and other billionaire elites, only strengthens our resolve to champion democracy and equality for all.

As Donald Trump gets set for his inauguration (announced just today that it’s to move indoors due to… get this… a blast of cold Arctic air coming in from Canada on January 20, ironically,) there’s a growing sense of unease, particularly from a Canadian perspective. The promises of a “new golden age” seem to shine brightest for the privileged elite, leaving many of us across the border concerned about the widening gap between the ultra-rich and the rest of society.

Trump’s tax cuts appear poised to further enrich billionaires, exacerbating income inequality and leaving social justice, human rights, and environmental advocates bracing for challenging times ahead. His aggressive stance on immigration, with plans for mass deportations, threatens to bring misery to undocumented migrants in the United States, while his approach to foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine, could destabilize global peace efforts.

For us Canadians, the looming 25% tariffs on imports are especially troubling. These tariffs not only risk economic strain and job losses in Canada but also hint at a broader trend of isolationism and protectionism that could strain our historically close relationship with the United States.

Under Trump’s leadership, there is an unsettling convergence of political power and wealth, drawing parallels with oligarchies where influential oligarchs wield significant control over governance. This shift raises alarms about the future of democratic values, as the comforted will likely find more comfort, while the afflicted may face increased hardships. It’s a reality that many Americans seem content with, but for those of us looking in from the outside, there’s little to celebrate.

As Canadians, we value inclusivity, cooperation, and justice. The coming years may require us to reflect deeply on these principles and act to uphold them, not just within our own borders but in our interactions with the world. It’s going to be a challenging ride, but in adversity, there’s an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to these values and work towards a more equitable future for all.

Please enjoy the January 18, 2025 making-of animated editorial cartoon below. Please subscribe to my Substack newsletter, if you haven’t already. Posts come out every Friday or Saturday as I summarize the week that was in my editorial cartoons. What you’re reading now is regarded as a “note”, which is used to help compose my weekly posts and showcase the animated versions of my daily editorial cartoons.

Making of clip

– The Graeme Gallery

Read on Substack

Thursday June 16, 2022

June 16, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday June 16, 2022

Putin has weaponized food. The global death toll could be staggering

Ukraine has long forged a reputation as the planet’s bread basket.

May 14, 2022

Before being invaded by Russia in February, it exported 4.5 million tonnes of agricultural produce through its ports each month, including 12 per cent of the world’s wheat, 15 per cent of its corn and 50 per cent of its sunflower oil. It’s capable of feeding 400 million people every year, not including its own population.

Not long ago, Ukraine exported up to six million tonnes of grain per month. Today, that figure is only 1.5 million.

The reason: Russia’s naval blockade of Black Sea ports makes it impossible for Ukraine to sell its agricultural products abroad. Meantime, vast swaths of farmland have either been taken over by Russian occupiers or been littered with mines, rendering the land useless. Ukrainian officials now estimate there are 25 million tonnes of grain stuck in storehouses. By September, it’s estimated that tens of millions of tonnes of grain will be entombed inside Ukraine and will likely rot.

“For people around the world, the war, together with the other crises, is threatening to unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution, leaving social and economic chaos in its wake,” says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

April 12, 2022

The UN estimates that the war could move nearly 50 million people in several countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East into famine or famine-like conditions because of its horrific impact on supply and prices.

And this is all a very calculated act by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Putin has weaponized food and is now blackmailing the world with it. He has said he would end the Black Sea blockade if the West drops its sanctions. Of course, even as he says this he knows it’s a non-starter. Dropping those sanctions would only help fill Russia’s financial coffers and allow it to move even more aggressively into Ukraine.

Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale University, believes Mr. Putin is banking on food shortages to ignite riots in many countries. It could lead to an exodus of starving refugees in the direction of Europe, creating instability and chaos.

This will put even more pressure on the West to drop the sanctions and broker a ceasefire agreement in the name of world peace. At this point, Mr. Putin would likely take whatever territorial gains he’s made in Ukraine and call it a day.

It’s pure evil, but hardly original.

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin manufactured a famine in Ukraine in 1932, in an attempt, some believe, to stamp out a nascent independence movement. Upwards of five million Ukrainians starved to death in an event remembered today as Holodomor, or the Terror Famine. In Ukraine, it is considered a genocide. Adolf Hitler, meantime, had plans to redirect Ukrainian grain for the Soviet Union to Germany in the hopes of starving millions of Soviet citizens. (Continued: The Globe & Mail)