Dictating Clauses

In neofeudal—er, neoliberal America, the laws are drafted by the corporate aristocrats—uh, the corporate persons, and the natural persons who represent them. They’ve got the resources to buy the guns which bring home the resources. As long as the serfs—no, as long as the citizens are kept distracted, it’s just a matter of getting the pesky committee-havers and bill-passers to go along. Just sign on the line, Senator, and we’ll let you get back to your vassal duties, or call time.

When I drew this in early 2015 the dissenting lawmaker was just a generic white guy. Since then the number of voices in the legislature speaking out against imperialism, corruption and capital has grown more prominent. Appropriately they come from far more diverse backgrounds than in my original drawing. So I updated it to an Ilhan Omar-esque figure.


insurgent, A. adj. 1. Rising in active revolt.

The insurgent barons dictated whatever clauses they deemed desirable.
— John Campbell, 'The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of England, from the earliest times till the reign of King George IV' (1845)