Comic #3732: profits-and-process

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Description

Here's the transcription of the comic:

Panel 1:

• Text: "As elections became more money-driven, a problem arose."
• Speech bubble: "According to our study, you can make millions of dollars by running as a third-tier presidential candidate."

Panel 2:

• Text: "The benefits proved irresistible."
• Speech bubble (left): "Currently, 73% of candidates are running explicitly to get book deals. Next time, it'll be 48%. Within 20 years, the only people actually running for president will be hipsters doing it ironically."

Panel 3:

• Text: "A strange incentive structure was created."
• Speech bubble (left): "Wait… what?"
• Speech bubble (right): "Oh god. What?! I am not taking a pay cut."

Panel 4:

• Text: "A new form of competition was born."
• Speech bubble (left): "Sir, the lead candidate just said all immigrants are pedophiles."
• Speech bubble (right): "How horrible. How do I top that?"

Panel 5:

• Text: "A completely novel style of rhetoric came into fashion."
• Speech bubble: "You know what's wrong with this country? Registered voters!"

Panel 6:

• Text: "As candidates became more relentlessly self-destructive, it became harder and harder to pick the least bad ones."
• Speech bubble (left): "This one said all minorities should be killed. And this other one said all minorities should be turned into food… so… I guess the second one is being environmentally friendly?"

Panel 7:

• Text: "Disenchantment swept the nation."
• Speech bubble (left): "This year, only 67 of eligible voters went to the polls."
• Speech bubble (right): "You mean 67 percent, right?"

Panel 8:

• Text: "Soon, exactly one voter remained."
• Speech bubble: "Humiliate me! Do it!"

Panel 9:

• Text: "This is what democracy looks like."
• Speech bubbles:
  • "Lick the boot, loser!"
  • "Taste the lash, piggy!"
  • "More! More!"

Feel free to ask for any further details!