Top 10 Times South Park Made Fun Of America
#10: American Economics
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In the middle of the recession of the early 2000s, “South Park”opted to poke a bit of fun at how bad things had become for the economy. When Stan tries to invest money he’s received from his grandmother, the bank tells him [“It’s gone”]. His failed investment is just the first shot fired at the failing US economy. But the real gem here is how the show depicts governmental decisions around how to address failing businesses. Comparing the seemingly arbitrary decisions the government makes to a game show provides a perfect illustration of how random things had become.
#9: Consumerism
In this two-part episode, “South Park” takes on Amazon and their then-CEO Jeff Bezos. During the course of the story, a new fulfillment center opens up in town. But after a near-fatal accident, the employees go on strike. This triggers a wave of issues with deliveries affecting everyone in town, including the four boys who need bike accessories to win a contest. The episode highlights, albeit to the extreme, how reliant we’ve become on Amazon, and its effects on local businesses. Throw in Bezos’ portrayal as an all-controlling alien, and it’s pretty hard to miss the point they are trying to make.
#8: The Transport Security Administration
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After September 11th, 2001, US airport security went through a major overhaul and a new agency called the TSA was formed to enforce stricter policies. Since their introduction, there have been several controversies around their methods and efficacies. After a serious accident in a “South Park” home, the new Toilet Safety Administration begins to enforce strict rules around toilet use. Seatbelts, metal detectors, and personal screenings all become the new normal. “South Park’s” episode takes aim at how security can over-correct in its earnest attempts to keep people safe. The overall plot is also a reminder to the guys to try and be more courteous by putting the toilet seat down.
#7: Local Shops Overrun by Corporations
Would you rather buy at a local little business or a big box store? “South Park” tackles this very issue when the first Wall-Mart opens in town. Citizens love the bargains, but hate the company and ultimately find a way to rid the town of the store. From there, they turn to a local business, which sees a massive rise in popularity. The town spurs so much growth and expansion until eventually Jim’s Drugs too looks like a Walmart. We all want our local businesses to thrive. But we don’t want that success to become that which we were trying to avoid in the first place. It’s honestly tough for shoppers to choose whether to run with big box stores or rally behind independent stores.
#6: Immigration Issues
Throughout season 19, Garrison grew to become an analog for Donald Trump. Eventually, the “South Park” character was elected president and often blamed everyone else for his incompetence. But before that, Garrison becomes irritated by the amount of Canadian people emigrating into “South Park”. The episode’s entire portrayal of the immigration issue is one many in the US will recognize. And issues around the topic have come up before on the show. But never has it been so cleverly positioned and presented as it was in “Where My Country Gone?”. The twist about the “wall” between Canada and the US is simply brilliant!
#5: The NCAA
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College sports are extremely popular throughout the United States. They are so beloved that fans in certain regions of America love it more than the NFL or NBA. Despite how much money is earned by these collegiate teams, the student athletes themselves don’t make a regular salary. “South Park” took on this issue by showcasing how Cartman took advantage of infants in order to make a buck. He uses every trick in the book to avoid having to pay the kids for their participation. There are clear parallels between Cartman’s antics and the NCAA’s treatment of their athletes.
#4: The Iraq War
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In the early 2000s, a United States led coalition helped unseat Saddam Hussein as the leader of Iraq. This choice and other efforts they made in that area sparked mass protests around the country, including the fictional town of “South Park”. The boys find themselves torn between people who support America going to war overseas and those who want to protest. Ultimately, one of the founding fathers says that the country can allow both to happen simultaneously. The episode surprisingly expresses that everyone has a right to their own opinion and that the conflict is more complicated than citizens may think.
#3: Unfounded Confinement
In 2018, stories around the separation of children and parents at the US-Mexico border become much more frequent. The ethically questionable decisions around the parting of families was an issue that “South Park” decided to tackle directly without an intricate metaphor. Kyle is separated from his own parents and thrown in a center with many other children. Through his eyes, he makes it perfectly clear to the ICE agents, and the audience, about the long term effects of isolation. It’s a welcome departure to see the show address such a sobering issue directly.
#2: The US Voting System
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Have you ever noticed that in most elections, you end up having to choose between two parties? Sure, there are others, but more often than not, due to the way the voting system works, elections often get whittled down to two candidates. Then what do you do if you’re not a fan of either? Stan faces this very issue and is ultimately banished from the town when he refuses to cast a vote for either candidate. The right to vote is an important one, but this episode showcases how a flawed electoral system can undermine the democratic process. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. New Jersey The Show Takes a Shot at Plenty of Stereotypes About the State Supreme Court Nominations Mr. Hankey is Used to Take a Shot at Controversial Supreme Court Picks Blackwater Spoof A Member of the Security Team Really Did Use Cartman’s Name in Real Life to Buy Guns
#1: Third World Poverty
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The boys accidentally adopt an Ethiopian boy after donating money to a commercial and name him Marvin. Through their interactions with him, we see a sharp divide between the boys’ lives. While the United States is presented as indulgent and overflowing with goods, Marvin’s hometown has more trouble accessing resources. Cartman and his friends are seen gorging themselves with no regard for the food and privilege they have while Marvin sits there malnourished. The episode definitely takes a shot at the idea that donating a few bucks through a commercial is enough to close the divide. It takes consistent effort (and maybe a few turkeys) to make a real difference to those in need.
