The Economics of South Park

People love South Park.

In an age where shows attempt to avoid controversy at all costs, South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone practically go out of their way to find it.

When asked by the Huffington Post which group they have angered the most their answer was fast: mainstream progressives.

This should come as no surprise. It’s no secret that the two friends are strong supporters of free markets and free speech, neither of which are supported by the modern Left. And their episodes always hinted at their healthy distrust of the government. But more importantly it’s because the shows reveal a confidence in the capacity of human beings to adapt to difficult situations without the seeming aid of legislation and imposition by know-it-alls at the top.

Last year at an award ceremony they officially announced that they were Republicans, though they later clarified they were more libertarian.

So, in extremely belated honor of their announcement, here are five (hilarious) episodes that showcase their views and hopefully caused their viewers to trust the government just a little bit less.

1- Cartmanland (Season 8 Episode 6)

This episode teaches that capitalism works despite human selfishness.

When Cartman, an extremely selfish boy, inherits a million dollars from his grandmother, he immediately uses the money to buy an amusement park. His plan? To take the park for himself and not allow anyone else in.

But without security, he can’t keep people from coming. Eventually he has to let people into the amusement park in order to make enough money for security, keeping the rides in good condition, etc.

In the end, the free market produced the best result.

2-  Goobacks (Season 8 Episode 6)

Originally aired back in 2004, this episode is more relevant now than ever.

In Goobacks, a portal suddenly opens allowing millions of time travelers to come to South Park. These immigrants are poor, and are coming through the portal in order to better their lives. However, many of the locals start saying that the time immigrants took their jobs. In fact, the boys themselves lose their snow shoveling job because immigrants would do it for 25 cents.

In the end, the two groups learn to listen to each other and eventually make peace – something people today need to learn how to do.

3-  Stunning and Brave (Season 19, Episode 1)

No list about South Park would be complete without PC Principal, its most famous antagonist.

In this first appearance PC Principal, a frat boy with shades on, decides that the school is not politically correct enough. The episode focuses on society’s increasingly strict policing of language. When Kyle refuses to say that Caitlyn Jenner is ‘stunning and brave’, he gets suspended.

This episode is one of the funniest the show has to offer – and easily one of the most relevant.

4 – Margaritaville (Season 13, Episode 3)

Airing in 2009, this episode deals with the Great Recession and public ignorance of economics.

Stan gives money to a bank but it is immediately lost because the bank decides to put it in a “money-market mutual fund” which goes belly up. Led by Randy, the town decides that the best course of action is to spend money only on the bare essentials in order to appease the economy (viewed as a god).

After a series of shenanigans, including Kyle using a credit card to pay off everyone’s debts, the economy gets better and stores start opening once more.

5- Starvin Marvin (Season 1 Episode 8)

When a famine devastates Ethiopia, the boys decide to donate to a charity. After a series of misunderstandings, the government brings Cartman to Africa and Marvin to America instead of sending over the money.

Though it all works out in the end – with Cartman learning gratitude and Marvin bringing food back for his people – the episode is an amusing story of government incompetence

These episodes and many others can be watched in full on South Park’s website.

Emmanuel Sessegnon

Emmanuel Sessegnon is an intern at the American Institute for Economic Research, a writer for The Libertarian Republic, and Young Americans for Liberty’s DC State Chair. He is currently studying Political Science at George Washington University.

This article is republished with permission from the American Institute for Economic Research.

Related posts

27 comments

real money online casinos usa July 1, 2020 at 7:27 pm

real money online casinos usa

real casino online

cheap viagra July 3, 2020 at 10:28 am

sildenafil price

online viagra prescription

best real casino online July 5, 2020 at 9:08 pm

slots online

online casinos real money

legitimate online slots for money July 8, 2020 at 12:06 am

san manuel casino online

real money casino

tadalafil generic July 10, 2020 at 8:22 pm

tadalafil online

tadalafil 10 mg

cash advance online July 12, 2020 at 3:29 pm

payday loans online

quick cash loans

personal loan July 15, 2020 at 5:13 pm

online loans

personal loan

cash advance online July 18, 2020 at 7:15 pm

loans for bad credit

quick cash loans

viagra for sale July 21, 2020 at 9:04 pm

viagra cost

viagra 100mg

20 cialis July 24, 2020 at 12:02 pm

generic cialis

generic cialis

cialis 5 mg July 28, 2020 at 7:01 pm

generic cialis

cialis internet

5 mg cialis July 31, 2020 at 6:22 am

20 cialis

generic cialis

cialis 5 mg August 2, 2020 at 7:25 pm

new cialis

cialis 5 mg

cialis 5 mg August 5, 2020 at 9:44 pm

cialis 20

5 mg cialis

real online casino August 8, 2020 at 11:18 pm

online casino games for real money

casino game

casino games online August 12, 2020 at 9:15 am

gambling games

online slots

casino real money August 16, 2020 at 6:19 am

online casino gambling

slot machine games

casino games August 20, 2020 at 2:48 am

casino online games

online casino usa

buy cheap viagra August 23, 2020 at 12:47 am

viagra dosage

buy cheap viagra

sildenafil online August 25, 2020 at 11:16 am

viagra online prescription

viagra generic

canada viagra August 28, 2020 at 7:17 am

viagra price

generic viagra 100mg

discount cialis August 31, 2020 at 4:59 pm

canadian pharmacy cialis

cialis price

tadalafil cialis September 4, 2020 at 8:15 am

cialis cialis online

tadalafil cialis

cialis reviews September 12, 2020 at 7:56 am

generic cialis 20mg

buy cialis online

chumba casino September 14, 2020 at 9:12 am

casino

best online casino real money

real money casino games September 17, 2020 at 5:38 pm

golden nugget online casino

best real casino online

Buy viagra no prescription November 13, 2020 at 3:25 pm

Sample viagra

Price viagra

Leave a Comment