Uncle Sam, one of the key political drawings of the past century, is referenced with the play on words in order to express the unacceptable "stop-loss" policy. While the original depiction of Uncle Sam is a serious painting, Parker changes the facial tone to a guilty expression. In addition, the original phrase, "I want you..." is modified to "I owe you" in order to intensify the stigma. Parker depicts Uncle Sam in this manner to ultimately condemn the actions of the government for not paying over 50,000 "stop-loss" soldiers and vets. The stance of the soldier also strengthens his argument as the he disapprovingly looks upon Uncle Sam's guilty expression. The tense relationship between the two men accurate represents the uneasy nature of the growing problem with American veterans. Overall, Parker condemns the governmental actions as their decision are affecting not only thousands of veterans, but also their family as well.
Hence, through the depiction of a uneasy relationship between Uncle Sam and the American soldier, Parker effectively disapproves the actions of the federal government. With the allusion to a historically famous figure, millions of Americans can relate to the unacceptable choice of keeping American soldiers in foreign countries for longer periods of time, without paying them.
