This month's collab with Becky Hawkins has more of Becky in it than usual, I think.

This cartoon originated in a remark Becky made, that most safety net debates seem to boil down to doing too little versus helping too many. What Becky said stuck in my head, and I came back to her with this cartoon script.

Of course, in the real world, the same person is seldom taking both parts of the argument. But I think of the blonde woman in this strip as representing the split and contrary nature of the American political system as a whole. 

This is an issue area I've done cartoons about before, and I'm sure I'll come back to it again. Americans have a fear of giving money to the wrong people (and it's not very well hidden that "wrong" often means "brown") that continually hinders us from becoming a compassionate society. 

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This note will be brief, because I'm still working on the "Wings of Fire" graphic novel script. The good news is, the dragons script is nearly done, and you'll definitely be seeing more strips drawn by me in July. (I also have a couple of new guest artists whose work I can't wait to show you! Have I mentioned I love working with guest artists?)

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By the way, it's 113 degrees here in Portland today, and I can't possibly describe how glad I am to have air conditioning and a job that doesn't require me to leave home. (Even though an upstairs air conditioner leaked and we now have a huge industrial fan drying out our ceiling.) 

And for the "work from home" part of that, I have to thank all of you! I'm so grateful to you for making these cartoons, and my life, possible. 

You're seeing this cartoon a month or two before I post it in public. But if you're supporting at the $5 level or above, feel free to show it to people without waiting.

I'll be back soon with more cartoons. Stay safe and cool, folks.

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TRANSCRIPT OF CARTOON

This cartoon has four panels. All four panels show the same two people. A redhead wearing thick glasses and a green jacket over a checkboard sweater - let's face it, they look like a nerd - is sitting at a desk, with a stack of papers on the desk. (I'm a nerd, so I'm allowed to say that.) Standing next to the desk is a blonde woman with a blue dress and a matching blue necklace.

PANEL 1

Redhead gestures towards the stack of papers, smiling. Necklace leans over to look at the papers, raising an eyebrow.

REDHEAD: Check this out! I've created a proposal for better welfare benefits.

NECKLACE: Hmmm...

PANEL 2

Necklace points to something on the papers, looking a little annoyed.  Redhead is concerned by what she's saying.

NECKLACE: But this plan leaves so many people out.

PANEL 3

Redhead leans back over the papers, writing rapidly with a pen. Necklace leans over, hand on chin, as she looks at what Redhead's writing.

REDHEAD: Good point... Here, let me just fix some things...

PANEL 4

Redhead, looking proud, holds up a paper to display to Necklace. Necklace angrily yells, throwing papers into the air.

REDHEAD: Okay, how's this?

NECKLACE: NOW YOUR PLAN HELPS PEOPLE WHO DON'T DESERVE IT!