Ridiculing capitalism

The Fish John West Reject
Cartoons by Heinrich Hinze$15 (which includes postage and handling) from Scratch! Media, PO Box 597, Dickson ACT 2602
Reviewed by Alex Bainbridge Heinrich Hinze is undoubtedly one of the best progressive cartoonists in Australia today. This long-awaited first collection of his cartoons is drawn from over 10 years of cartoon commentary in publications such as Green Left Weekly, Labour Studies Briefing, Common Cause, The Metal Worker, Socialist Worker, Frontline and Chain Reaction. People who have hitherto suffered withdrawal symptoms from only getting small doses of Hinze at a time, now, in one collection, have the opportunity to roll around in the aisles laughing their heads off at the injustices of capitalism. However, Hinze not only explores the funny side of injustice, he uses his wit to expose it. Nothing is exempt from Hinze's critical pen: the bosses' greed, their government's dirty tricks, and the "progressives" who sell us out. Some of my favourites are Trevor and the kids' trip to "Fantasyland" where the company executives are sitting around agreeing that, "Dividends must be frozen until wages have fully recovered!". Another is the ACTU's approach to class struggle in the '90s: the bosses propose to wipe unions from the face of the earth and the ACTU leaders agree, but "Only if [the bosses] agree to a tripartite implementation process!" Ask your friends to get you The Fish John West Reject for Christmas.