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"SpongeBob SquarePants" may look innocent enough, but the animated Nickelodeon character is causing controversy after losing his job in an upcoming Nov.11 episode.
Many are saying the storyline is symbolic of a harsh economic climate, sparking a heated debate over unemployment. Here's the plot line: SpongeBob is fired from his job of 15 years at the Krusty Krab after his boss figures out he can save "a whole nickel" from his payroll. One day later, SpongeBob is already a disheveled beggar — but his friend Patrick assures him that "glorious unemployment" can be fun and filled with free stuff and more time to relax.
While eating a free meal, a downtrodden SpongeBob realizes "Unemployment may be fun for you, but I need to get a job," he tells Patrick, at which point the sad sea sponge turns into a sparkly clean, energetic sponge again. Here's why people are mad: "The episode subtly introduces a couple of hot-button issues, including the worth of social services, labor laws that caused SpongeBob's boss, Mr. Krabs, to fire his best employee, and more," notes The Hollywood Reporter. Here's what the critics are saying: After the New York Post and Fox News remarked on the episode, the progressive group Media Matters for America took action.
In response to the Fox News segment (see below for video), Media Matters quickly posted an item titled "Right-Wing Media Use SpongeBob SquarePants' Firing To Attack Social Safety Net," arguing that the talking heads "are using the firing of fictional cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants to attack the social safety net and those who rely on it."
According to the Media Matters article, "Right-wing media have a long history of attacking the social safety net. Recently, Fox attacked low-wage workers in the fast food industry who have to rely on necessary federal benefit programs because they earn below subsistence wages."
All these people upset over Sponge Bob? Sheesh! That show was on at our house ONLY when grandkids were staying with us for a while. Best part of the show is the closing credits.
Status:
"We need America back!"
(set 21 hours ago)
Location: Suburban Dallas
52,687 posts, read 47,946,017 times
Reputation: 33840
If nothing else, this serves as a great way to teach kids that there are real problems going on in America today, and this must be addressed. Heck, even the gang in Bikini Bottom are probably getting health insurance cancellation notices.
All these people upset over Sponge Bob? Sheesh! That show was on at our house ONLY when grandkids were staying with us for a while. Best part of the show is the closing credits.
They were also upset over purple Tele-Tubbies, this doesn't surprise me one bit!
Consumerism, Bread & circuses at its finest! There's nothin' like 'Merika Baby! I mean look, they've even an iconoclast the likes of myself talking about it, and I don't even watch TV! w00t! They win!
Cheers,
bolillo
Last edited by bolillo_loco; 11-06-2013 at 05:25 PM..
Reason: No Rhodes scholar here
They outsourced Sponge Bobs job to a foreign sea where they work for pennies on the dollar. They'll foreclose on his home, but he'll rebound and get a good job at Seawart.
Wow! Being fired when you're already under water? That's pretty bad!
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