2013-04-28
Explanation
This comic satirizes government surveillance and secrecy. A politician with an American flag pin makes a series of statements: first, "We need to know what you're doing in order to protect you." Then, "We need you to not know what we're doing in order to protect you." He then escalates to, "You will not be safe until there is a complete information asymmetry between government and governed." When a citizen asks, "Why won't I be safe? Who's coming to get me?" the politician replies, "I'd reveal that, but then you wouldn't be safe."
The comic highlights the circular logic often used to justify government surveillance programs: the government claims it needs to monitor citizens for their safety while simultaneously keeping its own actions secret, also for their safety. The punchline exposes the absurdity by showing that the supposed threat itself is classified, making the entire justification unfalsifiable. The politician's argument is a perfect closed loop where secrecy justifies surveillance and surveillance justifies secrecy.
The votey panel shows the comic's author at his computer, with someone off-panel asking, "Are you drawing preachy comics in there?!" and him replying, "No ma'am!" -- a self-aware acknowledgment that this comic is more politically pointed than usual.