The history of post-war America’s economy is set to music in the season finale of The Simpsons. Airing on Fox on May 22, the episode titled “Poorhouse Rock” uses a musical production to explain the rise and fall of the middle class in America, courtesy of a cameo appearance by leftist Robert B. Reich.
Reich, who served in the Ford, Carter, and Clinton administrations, also served on former President Barack Obama’s economic transition advisory board. He’s a go-to guy for explaining liberal economic policies. He does just that in his cameo in this episode.
After meeting Homer Simpson on the job, Bart Simpson decided he wanted to become a member of the middle-class like him. After seeing how easy Homer’s job is and the paycheck Homer receives, Bart goes all in. Lisa tries to warn him that middle-class jobs are vanishing. Like Reich, she is a liberal who blames greedy corporate CEOs and the shrinking influence of unions, for the demise of the middle class.
Now, let’s hear the music. You will notice that Hugh Jackman is the voice of custodian.
Homer: ♪♪ I need cash for food and gas ♪♪
♪♪Black light posters, beer, and grass♪♪
♪♪It’s time to get into the middle class♪♪♪♪It’s time to get into the middle class♪♪
Chorus, custodian: ♪♪ Oh, boy, that middle class ♪♪
♪♪Get involved in the middle class♪♪Homer: ♪♪ Well, I’m not smart, I’m not a go-getter ♪♪
♪♪My problem with alcohol isn’t getting any better♪♪
♪♪Which job would I be able to do? ♪♪Mr. BurnsHere’s a link to the Nuclear Safety Inspector
Homer: -Whoo-hoo!
Chorus, custodian: ♪♪ Your dad and his buddies had it swell ♪♪
♪♪All of it went to hell gradually.♪♪
♪♪If factories close, the unemployment rate will spike♪♪
♪♪Robert B. Reich is the one to explain this.♪♪Reich: The decline of unions, rampant corporate greed, Wall Street malfeasance, and the rise of shortsighted politics all contributed to increased economic inequality, widespread real unemployment, wage stagnation, and a lower standard of living for millions of Americans.
Custodian: ♪♪ They chopped salaries to raise stock prices ♪♪
Reich: ♪♪ Cut up the pie and kept all the slices ♪♪
Custodian: ♪♪ Tax breaks went to CEOs ♪♪
Reich: ♪♪ Never trickling down to average Joes ♪♪
Custodian and Reich: ♪♪ And so it came to pass ♪♪
Reich: ♪♪ Greedy rich men kicked our ass ♪♪
Custodian, Reich, Chorus: ♪♪ Fiddling while they burned our middle class ♪♪
♪♪A poor, small middle class♪♪
Bart’s looking for an easy way to make money and says he’ll be an influencer and use his video skills. The nuclear plant’s custodian advises Bart to burn everything down and rebuild it to his satisfaction after Bart realizes he’ll never have a career as an influencer. Bart instead sets fire to his treehouse and is rescued by firefighters.
Bart feels grateful to the firefighters and decided that he would like to become a firefighter after chatting with one about benefits and pay. You will be amazed at how much work it takes to be a firefighter.
Naturally, in the end, when Bart sees himself as a firefighter, he’s encouraged to pursue the career by other firefighters because “the planet is on fire.” There’s always room for a climate change reference, right?
The musical production is an interesting way to present the liberal propaganda coming from Reich and his custodian friend. The history of America’s post-war economy isn’t seen in the same way as that of Reich by conservatives, but this is The SimpsonsLisa, the precocious, liberal daughter has run the show lately.
Conservatives Strike Back! Old Navy sponsored this episode, as was Disney. Let them know that re-writing history to score political points isn’t acceptable.
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