When I was in college and in my Twenties I would always hear, "You need to settle down and get a PROPER job!" This was during the Reagan Eighties when companies stopped hiring full-time support staff employees in favor of hiring temps (which I was at the time, as was my then-wife).
She took a full-time job with Chase Manhattan Bank to have some stability while she wrote, and to get medical insurance for both of us—only to be terminated less than two years later along with her boss! I've taken full-time "permanent" jobs three times—none of them lasted longer than a year, or enough time for me to even be offered health insurance or vacation days.
Far as I can tell, "PROPER jobs" are an illusion corporations keep dangling in front of "consultants" so they can limit their wages and work them long hours with no benefits. THIS is why the U.S. desperately needs a National Healthcare system, and robust Unemployment benefits, like the rest of the Developed world has....
I saw the story about Saltwire this morning and my first thought was whether/how this impacted you. I hope everyone who reads this subscribes to your Substack.
When my ship comes in, I'll upgrade to Founding. In the meantime, I am here to appreciate your work and yell out to you enthusiastically from the sidelines: "Fighting! Keep fighting, Michael!"
I am a Washington Post subscriber and always looked forward to your cartoons. Then, all of a sudden they seemed to become more and more infrequent. I couldn't understand it, since they were always brilliant. What happened?
I'm really sorry about this. It's more and more common and I think is not only about money (which is too), but also about fear of the shareholders and investors when you do a poignant joke about something and also the progressive lack of interest in arts in all western societies. A true shame.
I lost my 11 years job at a newspaper and now they just call me once a year to do some special... And I have another media outlet but they just ask for a cartoon a month or similar. They simply don't care.
I immediately got four paid subscribers after posting. Thank you. My fans are so kind.
It's their loss more than mine. Even with all that is going on.
Your becoming another casualty of the far right. I'm an artist too and I'm feeling it also. The fascists are capturing the media.
I will not be a victim of the far right. I will draw these for free before letting them win.
I feel the same way. Art is my passion and in my DNA.
some of us will keep paying for a subscription. might not be much, but it's something. your work is worth it!
It's quite terrifying.
As an observer from a far away industry I offer my sympathies and my gratitude for the small amount of your art I've been fortunate to see.
Good luck and better times for us all.
When I was in college and in my Twenties I would always hear, "You need to settle down and get a PROPER job!" This was during the Reagan Eighties when companies stopped hiring full-time support staff employees in favor of hiring temps (which I was at the time, as was my then-wife).
She took a full-time job with Chase Manhattan Bank to have some stability while she wrote, and to get medical insurance for both of us—only to be terminated less than two years later along with her boss! I've taken full-time "permanent" jobs three times—none of them lasted longer than a year, or enough time for me to even be offered health insurance or vacation days.
Far as I can tell, "PROPER jobs" are an illusion corporations keep dangling in front of "consultants" so they can limit their wages and work them long hours with no benefits. THIS is why the U.S. desperately needs a National Healthcare system, and robust Unemployment benefits, like the rest of the Developed world has....
I saw the story about Saltwire this morning and my first thought was whether/how this impacted you. I hope everyone who reads this subscribes to your Substack.
When my ship comes in, I'll upgrade to Founding. In the meantime, I am here to appreciate your work and yell out to you enthusiastically from the sidelines: "Fighting! Keep fighting, Michael!"
I am a Washington Post subscriber and always looked forward to your cartoons. Then, all of a sudden they seemed to become more and more infrequent. I couldn't understand it, since they were always brilliant. What happened?
They were pushing me out slowly so as to not get noticed.
Their loss. Big time. I wrote to them about this but heard nothing back.
It’s very sad to hear about all the media layoffs lately and worrisome to consider the huge impacts.
Your cartoons say it all.
I'm really sorry about this. It's more and more common and I think is not only about money (which is too), but also about fear of the shareholders and investors when you do a poignant joke about something and also the progressive lack of interest in arts in all western societies. A true shame.
I lost my 11 years job at a newspaper and now they just call me once a year to do some special... And I have another media outlet but they just ask for a cartoon a month or similar. They simply don't care.
I wish you the best, my friend.