Political Cartoon Analysis #4

Artist: Tom Toles
Source: The Washington Post
Date Published: December 19, 2008

This political cartoon depicts a large man (meant to represent "big tobacco") telling a grave digger that Governor Tim Kaine's new cigarette tax will kill his job. It takes the assumption that if cigarettes are more expensive fewer people will be able to afford their bad habit which will in turn reduce the number of lives lost to lung cancer and other conditions caused by smoking.

I believe that the cartoon takes a witty approach at making fun of tobacco companies and smokers. In the lower right hand corner, a man makes the commentary of "a breathtaking argument" which clarifies the message that smoking kills.