Tow #4 Mountain of Debt

The political cartoon, Mountain of Debt, describes the crisis that America has been facing over recent days of the debt that has been accumulating over all of its history. The most talked about news stories of the past few days, the government shutdown and America’s debt, is the most recent substantial trouble that momentarily does not even affect normal citizens. However, the decisions that the government officials are making may create monumental changes for the future. The cartoon Mountain of Debt employs juxtaposition and irony to assist Americans in understanding the enormous problems the government is encountering currently.

The immediate eye-catching image in the political cartoon is the mountain captioned, “debt.” Next a movie-like scene is depicted, the parents or grandparents giving the children a special present, and the reader expects a happy moment. These two dramatically different occasions make the message develop clearly. It adds depth to the problem and the sadness of what the future generations are inheriting. Just how the government shutdown has not made a daily impact on the majority of peoples’ lives someday it will have a lasting effect for the leaders to come.

Usually for a political cartoon to grasp the readers’ attention it needs to include humor, sarcasm, or irony, and this cartoon is no exception. This artist uses irony to hold the audience’s attention so they can interpret the impact of this mountain. When one looks at the picture they assume it’s a beautiful moment of a breathtaking mountain being given to the kids. In reality the “gift” is a future of struggle and work to lower America’s debt. The cartoon forces the reader to chuckle at America’s sad position. The Artist achieves in teaching American citizens about the government shutdown and the debt that has accumulated for hundreds of years.