---
title: If the Absentee Bugs bite you... Tell us
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/if-the-absentee-bugs-bite-you-placard-27-1943/
description: 'Bulletin board placard: a cartoon worker with a wrench in his pocket slaps his neck while bees labelled Poor Transportation, Bad Housing, Child Care.'
section: Collection
---

1. [Home](https://propagandaarchive.org/)
2. [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)
3. If the Absentee Bugs bite you... Tell us

[![If the Absentee Bugs bite you... Tell us, 1943 US poster: Bulletin board placard](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/if-the-absentee-bugs-bite-you-placard-27-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/if-the-absentee-bugs-bite-you-placard-27-1943.jpg)

# If the Absentee Bugs bite you... Tell us

Bulletin board placard: a cartoon worker with a wrench in his pocket slaps his neck while bees labelled Poor Transportation, Bad Housing, Child Care, Accident, Shopping and Illness buzz around him. The technique is faint: friendly cartoon and a first-person invitation ('Tell us') present absence causes as shared everyday troubles.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Plain folks](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/plain-folks/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
IF THE
Absentee Bugs
BITE YOU ...
POOR TRANSPORTATION
BAD HOUSING
CHILD CARE
ACCIDENT
SHOPPING
ILLNESS
Tell us
YOUR LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
[signature:] SEAMAN
[imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943-O-525298
WAR PRODUCTION DRIVE HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN BOARD PLACARD NO. 27
```

[← "If only there had been more of the stuff you guys make...this wouldn't have happened...Produce..." This is YOUR war!](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/if-only-there-had-been-more-this-is-your-war-1943/) [If you ask me, it's HOME they're fighting for! →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/if-you-ask-me-its-home-crosley-1943/)

## More propaganda examples that use the same techniques

- [Trois Tetes sous l'meme bonnet (three heads under the same cap)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/trois-tetes-sous-le-meme-bonnet-1789/) (France · 1789 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['This log cabin was the first building erected on the North Bend', Whig print by T. Sinclair, 1840](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/harrison-north-bend-log-cabin-sinclair-1840/) (United States · 1840 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [Treeing Coons (pro-Polk cartoon), 1844](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/treeing-coons-polk-1844/) (United States · 1844 · Name-calling, Plain folks)
- [Zachary Taylor, People's Candidate for President (Currier banner), 1848](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/taylor-fillmore-peoples-candidate-1848/) (United States · 1848 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)
- ['Little Mac.' (from the Democratic presidential campaign songster)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/little-mac-song-sheet-feeks-1864/) (United States · 1864 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The peoples' choice, H. Greeley G. Brown](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/peoples-choice-greeley-brown-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Bandwagon, Plain folks)
- [The working-man's banner. For President, Ulysses S. Grant, 'The Galena Tanner.' For Vice-President, Henry Wilson, 'The Natick Shoemaker.'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/working-mans-banner-grant-1872/) (United States · 1872 · Plain folks, Transfer)
- [The Chappaqua farmer](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/chappaqua-farmer-1872/) (United States · Jul 1872 · Plain folks, Glittering generalities)