Life — November 30, 1911 — page 25: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon depicts a giant thumb crushing a group of small figures labeled "THE REST OF US." The thumb wears a cap or band marked with text (partially legible as possibly "COME OF US" or similar). The satire criticizes governance "by rule of thumb"—meaning arbitrary, crude decision-making rather than careful deliberation. The enormous thumb represents a powerful authority figure or system making sweeping judgments that harm ordinary people depicted below. Without clearer dating or additional context, the specific political target remains unclear, but the cartoon criticizes authoritarian or tyrannical governance that dismisses the welfare of the general population through casual, heavy-handed rule.