Life — July 22, 1926 — page 17: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a figure labeled "Prohibition" as a man in a top hat suspended by a parachute, dropping money below. The bag he carries is labeled "THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY," and coins and bills scatter downward. The cartoon critiques the economic burden of enforcing Prohibition (the alcohol ban in effect 1920-1933). The caption—"It Isn't the Initial Cost—It's the Upkeep"—suggests that while Prohibition seemed like a good idea initially, its *ongoing enforcement costs* drain public finances unsustainably. The figure descending toward a landscape below appears to represent the government or law enforcement struggling with implementation. This reflects contemporary criticism that Prohibition was expensive to enforce, fueling organized crime rather than eliminating alcohol consumption.