Unemployment

    This political cartoon is very realistic, unfortunately.  It relates to all kids in college who are working towards a career, kids in high school wanting to start working after graduating, and the people who just graduated from college.  Tennessee's unemployment rate was 10.1% as of June 2010, and the nation's unemployment rate altogether was recorded as 9.6% in June 2010.  Both the nation and Tennessee were around 6% from 2002 until 2009, when it suddenly skyrocketed to as high as 11.3%.  This is very high, and it seems like many people are constantly losing their jobs and searching for new ones, just so they can feed and provide for their family.  This is a very sad situation.
    This cartoon really does illustrate the economic situation perfectly, as sad as it is.  It is much easier to find a war to join and have something to fight for, rather than being able to find a job.  The soldier, all dressed and ready for war even with his gun over his shoulder and pack on his back, is speaking to the student that just graduated.  Neither of the men are smiling.  Both look irritated and kind of surprised at the bad economic situation.  They are facing different directions, going on their ways in opposite directions, suggesting the separation in the paths.  This cartoon does not offer another option or a middle ground or a combination of the two.  Both men are holding their papers tightly rolled up in their left hands, maybe suggesting that they are both in a similar situation.  This cartoon appeals to the emotions of struggling to find a job and the patriotic pride that comes with a U.S. soldier.