The Cartoon and Gas Prices

Editorial Cartoons have the ability to make a bold statement about a current problem or event with a picture and few words. What makes the editorial cartoon impactful is that they are often so true and will bring humor into the often serious problem. As you are all aware, gas prices have been rising and cartoonists have ‘risen’ to the occasion. There is a plethora of cartoons making statements about the rising gas prices, about what it is costing people, what people are doing to save on gas, and opinions on the ‘morality’ of gas prices.

 This cartoon is a bit morbid for my taste but it makes its point well. It is obvious that this is a drawing of a gas station. If the ‘Pay for GAS here” sign is not obvious enough, we have other give away signs indicating that this is a gas station. Out the window we see a car and gas pumps, in the station is the cashier and the LOTO sign that is always a part of any gas station in America. It is crucial that the viewer understands that that the man holding his arm is paying for gas. This cartoonist is relying on the fact that it’s viewers will be familiar with the phrase “It cost me an arm and a leg.” In this cartoon, it is literally costing the man his arm and leg to pay for a tank of gas. While this is obviously not the case in real life, the saying is to true for many people.

This next cartoon is cute. From the dialogue between this man and boy, we learn that the little boy is walking to school and was probably complaining about walking which leads to the dialogue which we as viewers are able to see. I am able to relate to this cartoon because I’ve been told the same thing. My mom and Grandma have told me of how they had to walk miles to school and for my Grandma, she too needed to walk through snow. Even if a person has not had this experience, they can still get the humor in this cartoon. The humor is in what the boy says, “so your parents couldn’t afford gas either…” The message in this cartoon is that people are having to get around the old fashioned way in order to save on gas, and this poor little boy is paying for it. The cartoon is demonstrating one way in which real people are trying to save on gas.                                                          
 
This final cartoon assumes that all its viewers are aware of police artist sketches. The suspect is the gas pump (the word GAS is even on the pump just incase someone doesn’t recognize the pump), and the crime is robbery. This is a rather bold statement, that the high gas prices are robbery, in other words it is unethical. This cartoon is challenging the government to “arrest” this suspect and bring it to justice.