A Simpson episode- Mr. Lisa Goes to Washingtion
1)Lisa Simpson wins a trip to D.C to read her essay.
"The Roots of Democracy"
When America was born on that hot July day in 1776, the trees in
Springfield Forest were tiny saplings, trembling towards the sun, and as
they were nourished by Mother Earth, so too did our fledgeling nation find
strength in the simple ideals of equality and justice. Who would have
thought such mighty oaks or such a powerful nation could grow out of
something so fragile, so pure. Thank you.
2) Before reading she espies Congressman Arnold taking the bribe from Jerry
and tears up her essay, ``The roots of democracy''.
Lisa announces that she has a new essay,
and recites a bitter essay on corruption in politics.
"Cesspool on the Potomac"
The city of Washington was built on a stagnant swamp some 200 years ago,
and very little has changed. It stank then, and it stinks now.
Only today, it is the fetid stench of
corruption that hangs in the air.
And who did I see taking a bribe but the ``Honorable'' Bob Arnold! Don't
worry,
Congressman, I'm sure you can buy all the votes you need with your dirty
money! And this will be one nation, under the dollar, with liberty and
justice for none...
3)While the essays are being read the corruption is being dealt with in
"cartoon time".
(Things move fast).
1:12pm, the office of Bob Arnold: a sting operation catches the
congressman accepting a bribe to allow oil drilling on Mount Rushmore.
2:05pm, FBI Headquarters, the agent is congratulated.
2:44pm, House of Representatives...
Speaker: We now vote on House bill 1022, the expulsion of Bob Arnold.
Representative: Mr. Speaker, I'm all for the bill, but shouldn't we
tack on a pay raise for ourselves?
All: No!
3:18pm, the White House: The President signs the bill.
3:39pm, The final essayist Trong concludes his essay...
When my family arrived in this country four months ago, we spoke no
English and had no money in our pockets. Today, we own a nationwide
chain of wheel-balancing centers. Where else but in America, or
possibly Canada, could our family find such opportunity? That's why,
whenever I see the Stars and Stripes, I will always be reminded
of that wonderful word: flag!
Trong wins with `USA A-OK' and is presented with a $10,000 check.
Trong points out Lisa, ``whose imflammatory rhetoric reminded us that
the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.''
Marge and Homer ask Lisa what's gotten into her, and she explains that
``I couldn't think of a nice way to say `America stinks'.''
They look at newspaper with headline "Imprisoned Congressman Becomes
Born-Again Christian"Lisa is amazed that ``the system works''.
Fun is No. 1, entertainment is definitely the first goal of the show.
And there's a little commentary about politics in there, but there's
also a commentary about the way television shows resolve a problem in
a half-hour. [Lisa] uncovers corruption and the joke is, every branch
of government swings into action and nails this guy in two hours and
expels him from Congress. That to me was big satire.
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