The Economist is working my last nerve. After debating if women have it "immeasurably better" than they used to and the rise of "female power," they've turned their attention to the political persuasions of the Muppets.
Yes, I know, much of it is a joke.
For example, Muppet universe is not circumscribed by class. One principal, Oscar the Grouch, lives in a trash can. Although the show does not explicitly consider the issue of gay marriage, some muppets, notably Bert and Ernie, have formed domestic partnerships. The show casts in with empiricism over faith: Beaker and Dr Bunsen are warmly if satirically represented, and there is no preacher muppet who corresponds to these two muppets of science. [...]
However, the Muppets are temperamentally conservative. While they value education, for example, their interest in the subject is implicitly linked to their desire for children to adopt the norms of bourgeois society, and thereby to take their place as productive citizens.
Whatever. The Muppets don't have time for politics. They're busy:
1. Playing Jazz
2. Rocking with Rita Moreno (and pissing her off)
3. Having Drum Battles with Harry Belafonte
4. Lamenting About Women
Rowlf: I finish work, go home, read a book, have a couple of beers, take myself for a walk and go to bed. [...]Stay away from women, that's my motto.
Kermit: But I can't.
Rowlf: Neither can I. That's my trouble.
(Man, when I got older, this song took on a whole other meaning - thanks a lot Jim Henson!)
5. Channeling Gloria Gaynor...
6... And Peaches...
7. ...When They Aren't Caught Up in "Bohemian Rhapsody"
8. But most of the time, they're just doing what we all do best.
Are the Muppets conservatives? [Economist]
Related: Even Muppets Hate Fox News [Disinfo]
Spill O'Reilly! Sesame Street Talking Head Meets Fox News Host (VIDEO) [Huffington Post]
Earlier: How Do We Determine "Female Power?" The Economist Explores Women And The Workplace
"Women In The Developed World Have Never Had It So Good"
DISCUSSION
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, there, Economist. There are two distinct clans of Muppets: Sesame Street Muppets, and Muppets that have adventures away from Sesame Street. Occasionally, Muppets flit from one Muppet universe to the other, but there are some who absolutely do not. For example, can you imagine Elmo, Sesame Street Muppet, and Animal, Wild Blue Yonder Muppet, hanging out? No! Elmo would be reduced to tears. He is not tough enough to deal with the wild blue yonder Muppets. Can you imagine that band of Muppet hippies hanging out on Sesame Street? That's preposterous! There are no drugs on Sesame Street, and it's pretty strongly implied that the Muppet band is always trippin' balls.
Fail, Economist.