“Breaking Bad.” You say those two words to almost any group
of friends, and a conversation is bound to ensue about the dramatic,
controversial television program. The fiscal cliff that America faces is also a
topic of hot discussion. David Fitzimmons addresses the economic problem in his
unique cartoon that spins the “Breaking Bad” theme into a shot at Congress.
Using a play on words, this cartoon is entitled “Governing Bad.” It depicts a
man, holding a bag of drugs, that says “I can’t stop cooking.” The man represents
congress, and the illegal substances are meant to depict the national debt.
The television metaphor is used very effectively to
communicate Fitzsimmons’s message by making it more relatable to its viewers.
The drug dealer is shown as having an addiction to cooking the drugs. In this
cartoon, congress becomes the drug dealer and the drugs are the debt.
Fitzsimmons uses this analogy to show that, no matter what they try, congress
simply cannot avoid raising the fiscal debt. Drug dealers have an infamous
reputation in society, and this is used to instill a relatable message about
Fitzsimmons’s feelings towards congress. He also uses the extremely negative
connotations that are associated with cooking the drugs drugs to analogize the
impact that congress has specifically had on the debt. Not everyone is engaged
in politics. This cartoon relates a political theme to one that is common in pop
culture discussions, ultimately making its message accessible to a wider range
of audience and increasing its effectiveness.
To view the cartoon: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/5011763f-84e0-4b97-9bb0-7125e45f39aa.html
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