Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, January 10, 2005.

Every once in a while (and with very little initial enthusiasm) I go through one of my piles of "things I should go through at some point" papers.

It is true, I know, that my life would be better served and much less cluttered if I never saved this sort of stuff in the first place. But then, it is on the rare occasion when I rediscover something useful that I'm duped into thinking the whole behavior is worthwhile.

And it was on one of these occasions recently when I unearthed a newspaper snippet with the Upton Sinclair quote I used in this week's comic. I love that quote because it something an editorial cartoon should be: A simple, yet elegant jab at indefensible human behavior. Re-reading it brought to mind several ideas I had been mulling over and, as in turns out, let me use most of them.

It may interest you to note that I thought of the fourth panel (me) first and worked my way back from there. So you home builders and teachers, know that apparently I have a higher opinion of your profession than mine. (No apologies necessary for politicians; that just goes without saying.)