Life — November 13, 1919 — page 12: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This page from *Life* magazine satirizes the necessity of politicians in democratic governance. The headline "There Must Be Politicians" references an article by Dr. Jacks arguing that manipulating national self-interest—rather than striking compromises—will achieve mutual loyalty among nations. The top cartoon depicts commuters on a train platform, with the caption noting that none complain about train service delays, implying apathy toward governance. The bottom-left cartoon shows children entering a door marked "DANGER KEEP OUT," captioned "LET'S GO IN AN' FIND OUT WHAT 'DANGER' IS"—satirizing how people disregard warnings and rules. The bottom-right cartoon, from "TOM," depicts someone in what appears to be a bar or tavern, promoting an idealized place with "no prohibition, no strikes, no high prices." Together, these images critique public indifference toward political participation and governance.