Question

use the following cartoon strip to answer question 55 to 57
slowpoke
cults of america
this week: the market liberation army
the mla is led by the charismatic charles mansion, who claims to channel the late economist milton friedman.
free your trade and your soul will follow!
they develop paranoia about those on the outside.
the evil minions of the anti - hand are everywhere. we must fight their public schools and post offices!
these raiments made from wall street journal editorial pages will protect us from their socialism rays!
members live in a compound called dow - jonestown, where they are in - doctrinated with market fundamentalism
how do we know what to do, o chosen one?
talk to the hand... the invisible hand!
let it lift your spirit and guide you in the way of the holy profits.
any skepticism is quickly quashed
ive been thinking bad thoughts, o chosen one... like maybe we should do something about global warm -
hush! the market works in mysterious ways but it will always love you.

1. which of the following is not an ironic interpretation of the cartoon:

a. the cult is a collective that favors liberal capitalism
b. the cult is a collective that favors welfare capitalism
c. the cult being a collective has isolated itself from society being the larger collective
d. the cult is a collective that promotes individualism

1. the character portrayed as the leader in the cartoon would best represent which of the following liberal thinkers?

a. karl marx
b. adam smith
c. thomas hobbes
d. j.j. rousseau

1. a critic of the cartoon would use which of the following as evidence to best defend their position?

a. increased income disparity over time
b. results of implementing progressive taxation
c. relative stagnant rise in the cost of consumer goods
d. increase in quality and variety of consumer goods

Explanation:

• Question 55: The cartoon satirizes a cult - like group with extreme free - market ideology. A collective promoting individualism is not ironic as cults often have elements of individualism within the group's framework. Cults favoring liberal capitalism is in - line with the cartoon's theme, isolation is a common cult trait, and a cult favoring welfare capitalism is ironic as it goes against the free - market ideology shown.
• Question 56: The reference to the "invisible hand" in the cartoon is associated with Adam Smith, a well - known liberal thinker who popularized the concept in economic theory.
• Question 57: Increased income disparity over time can be used as evidence by a critic of the cartoon's pro - free - market stance, as free - market capitalism is sometimes criticized for exacerbating income inequality.

Answer:

1. d. The cult is a collective that promotes individualism
2. b. Adam Smith
3. a. Increased Income Disparity over time