In Popeye why does the character of Whimpy ask "I will gladly pay you tuesday for a burger today"?

He doesn’t have any money. (He won’t have any on Tuesday either.)

@snowberry Funny. Thanks.

It’s the day after tomorrow when he does his offer.

You must remember that the heyday for Popeye and Wimpy was in the midst of the Great Depression—“brother can you spare a dime?” when a dime would buy you a GOOD hamburger.

^And when a penny bought your thoughts.

Of course he has no intention of paying you on Tuesday. That’s why it’s funny.

Do you wonder if he would pay on Tuesday if he could? Might he simply be a foolish optimist? Are optimists doomed to lives of beggars? Is hope a waste of time?

I went into a bar and had a beer. There was a sign that said “FREE BEER TOMORROW!” So I went to the same bar the next day, ordered a beer. The bartender said, “Want to pay now, or run a tab?”
I said, “I saw the sign that said ‘FREE BEER TOMORROW!’”
He replied, “The sign is still there. And it still says, ‘FREE BEER TOMORROW!’”

That reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, where the White Queen offers jam every other day – jam yesterday and tomorrow but none for today.