This ‘toon about parasites just reminded me of this recent article I read about ancient Roman soldiers who were stationed near the Hadrian Wall who were infested with parasites. It seems they literally had parasites “up the ass” as researchers determined that the solders suffered from a variety of parasites, including intestinal worms and parasites.
So, it should be a universal truth that man will always suffer from parasites, whether it was some 2000 years ago, or even right now in contemporary 21st century life.
I think it is a safe bet that humanity will still be afflicted by parasites 2000 years from now, far off into the future … what with too many who will always have a penchant for preying and mooching off of their fellow citizens.
1.A perfect democracy, a ‘warm body’ democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally, has no internal feedback for self-correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens… which is opposed by the folly and lack of self-restraint of other citizens. What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes his own self-interest as he sees it… which for the majority translates as ‘Bread and Circuses.’
‘Bread and Circuses’ is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure. Democracy often works beautifully at first. But once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader—the barbarians enter Rome.”
2.“Sick cultures show a complex of symptoms such as you have named…but a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.”
3.“Government! Three fourths parasitic and the other fourth stupid fumbling.”
4.“It is a bad sign when the people of a country stop identifying themselves with the country and start identifying with a group. A racial group. Or a religion. Or a language. Anything, as long as it isn’t the whole population.”
5.“before a revolution can take place, the population must lose faith in both the police and the courts.”
6.“no one knows much about California politics, including California politicians.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
>>I’m sorry. I went looking for one quote, and I just couldn’t stop. I know I need help, but the compulsion is SO irresistible. I promise I’ll talk to someone… after I check on what RAH has to say about psychiatrists and psychotherapy. I’m sure there are several web pages of quotes…<<
Heinlein is infinitely quotable, and about 80% correct. What he hasn’t proven correct on is still in the works.
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 pm
badger52
@ Advo. +1 How about bicameral legislature where idea must be good enough that it must garner 2/3 concurrence in proposing lower chamber. Upper chamber’s raison d’etre is to kill anything stupid. If even 1/3 of that chamber thinks something is a bad idea it’s killed. True, not much gets passed; but what does is meaningful. Thanks to “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.”
January 13, 2026 at 3:30 am
Henry
Hey, the man predicted “The Crazy Years.”
He gets a LOT of slack from me.
January 12, 2026 at 7:28 pm
Kafiroon
It looks like the parasites are reproducing/growing faster than us hosts.
11 Comments
Who designed Kiko’s shop sign?
Sherwood Schwartz?
Sid & Marty Krofft?
Just add “And Daycare” in tiny print!
Zar Belk!
Applause!!!
Yup : ) Sid and Marty Kroft. ? Stop. I m laughing too hard.
Why am I suddenly craving a Banana Split?
This ‘toon about parasites just reminded me of this recent article I read about ancient Roman soldiers who were stationed near the Hadrian Wall who were infested with parasites. It seems they literally had parasites “up the ass” as researchers determined that the solders suffered from a variety of parasites, including intestinal worms and parasites.
So, it should be a universal truth that man will always suffer from parasites, whether it was some 2000 years ago, or even right now in contemporary 21st century life.
I think it is a safe bet that humanity will still be afflicted by parasites 2000 years from now, far off into the future … what with too many who will always have a penchant for preying and mooching off of their fellow citizens.
See: https://archaeologymag.com/2025/12/roman-soldiers-at-vindolanda-suffered-parasite-infections/
1.A perfect democracy, a ‘warm body’ democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally, has no internal feedback for self-correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens… which is opposed by the folly and lack of self-restraint of other citizens. What is supposed to happen in a democracy is that each sovereign citizen will always vote in the public interest for the safety and welfare of all. But what does happen is that he votes his own self-interest as he sees it… which for the majority translates as ‘Bread and Circuses.’
‘Bread and Circuses’ is the cancer of democracy, the fatal disease for which there is no cure. Democracy often works beautifully at first. But once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader—the barbarians enter Rome.”
2.“Sick cultures show a complex of symptoms such as you have named…but a dying culture invariably exhibits personal rudeness. Bad manners. Lack of consideration for others in minor matters. A loss of politeness, of gentle manners, is more significant than is a riot.”
3.“Government! Three fourths parasitic and the other fourth stupid fumbling.”
4.“It is a bad sign when the people of a country stop identifying themselves with the country and start identifying with a group. A racial group. Or a religion. Or a language. Anything, as long as it isn’t the whole population.”
5.“before a revolution can take place, the population must lose faith in both the police and the courts.”
6.“no one knows much about California politics, including California politicians.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
>>I’m sorry. I went looking for one quote, and I just couldn’t stop. I know I need help, but the compulsion is SO irresistible. I promise I’ll talk to someone… after I check on what RAH has to say about psychiatrists and psychotherapy. I’m sure there are several web pages of quotes…<<
Zar Belk!
Heinlein is infinitely quotable, and about 80% correct. What he hasn’t proven correct on is still in the works.
@ Advo. +1 How about bicameral legislature where idea must be good enough that it must garner 2/3 concurrence in proposing lower chamber. Upper chamber’s raison d’etre is to kill anything stupid. If even 1/3 of that chamber thinks something is a bad idea it’s killed. True, not much gets passed; but what does is meaningful. Thanks to “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.”
Hey, the man predicted “The Crazy Years.”
He gets a LOT of slack from me.
It looks like the parasites are reproducing/growing faster than us hosts.