Life — October 25, 1917 — page 19: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This cartoon depicts a conversation between two men in suits—one labeled as a Senator (on the left). The senator has apparently promised the other man a job, but when asked to deliver, claims "there are no jobs." The satire mocks political ineffectiveness and empty promises. The punchline shows the Senator's solution: he'll form a commission to *investigate* why there are no jobs, and from that investigation, the man can supposedly get a job. The joke satirizes bureaucratic circular logic—creating committees and investigations as a substitute for actual problem-solving. Rather than addressing unemployment directly, the politician proposes another layer of bureaucracy. This reflects cynicism about politicians' tendency to appear busy and responsive while accomplishing nothing concrete.