Comic Book and Economics mash-up blog Ecocomics recently decided to turn their attention towards Sonic the Hedgehog, only to deduce that our favorite blue hero is in fact a socialist. By analyzing the plot of the games and characters’ motives, they come to an obvious conclusion:
Sonic the Hedgehog is a socialist hero. Indeed, this might come as a tremendous shock to you. It might be difficult to reconcile what you thought Sonic represented with what he actually stands for. Yet, regardless of your political beliefs, your economic preferences, or your views on class warfare, there is another lesson, perhaps even more important, that we can glean from our years of following Sonic’s adventures. He taught us to stand up for what we believe in, regardless of societal pressures.
And to avoid spikes.
The jury is still out on Sonic’s presumed cannibalism after Sonic Unleashed’s chili-dog eating.
Vendettagainst says:
August 30th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Hmm. I dunno how they came to the idea of him being a socialist, but hell, that’s fine. Teach us to fight for the government we want. And to avoid spikes
Oh, and how is he a cannibal if he eats chili dogs? I didn’t know hot dogs were made from hedgehogs,
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Trainguyxx Reply:
August 30th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
the government you want? you mean where the government controls everything, and you dont have the freedom to do things? =/
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Vendettagainst Reply:
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I wasn’t saying “the government I want” as in fighting for socialism. I meant as in fighting for what you believe for.
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Trainguyxx says:
August 30th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
OK, does anyone find that kinda sickening? I’d hate to think that or favorite blue blur is a socialist…why do i feel somene’s goign o advertise this alot? Then agan why would someone even associate sonic with any type of government?
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Mikeikon says:
August 30th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Bull. Environmentalism is NOT Socialism. A better case can be made that Sonic is a libertarian icon.
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Trainguyxx Reply:
August 30th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Oh, it’s environmentalism? phew that makes me feel a little better =(
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Mikeikon Reply:
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
What’s wrong with protecting the environment? Correctly understood, pollution is a cost imposed against others without their consent. It is the same thing as theft or vandalism. The protection of the individual right to clean air, water, etc shouldn’t be frowned upon.
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Trainguyxx says:
August 30th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
ok also, i looked at the article a seocnd time, and i relaized they added things in to like “the robts were built for cheaplabor” and gold rings are the currency” and tha robotnik wanted to just buy more refineries…uh, i think the article is trying to make it seem like an economic thng, where it’s really just that he wants to take over the world and transform it into his robotik kingdom
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AesPir says:
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 am
Oddly enough, I heard this rant before from one of my friends who is decidedly a socialist. Except he was talking more about SatAM.
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Sik says:
September 5th, 2009 at 12:53 am
I though Mario was the socialist one, not Sonic. You know, the red color, the mustache that resembles Mussolini, the fact that he’s dethroning an actual king (King Koopa, dammit!), that he’s stealing all the gold (coins), etc.
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jrOc Reply:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
no no; that’s communism.
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Edgar says:
September 6th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
ahora entiendo porque me gusta taaanto sonic. era socialista, busca el bienestar de todos y todas sin excluir a nadie. es el mejor!
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RS says:
September 7th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
If anything, Sonic is an anti-industrialist. Which I can see how people could confused with socialism until they realize that Sonic could be driven by the loss of his land (property rights), friends (involuntary labor), and even private property such as the Master Emerald.
As for rings being currency, everyone fucking knows that it isn’t. It’s a source of energy. Now it could be used as a means of exchange in Sonic’s world but keep in mind that it’s sole purpose is energy, not currency–it’s not fiat as it serves it’s own purpose to begin with.
And they have yet to reveal how Sonic plans on distributing rings. Because he doesn’t. He just sort of takes them.
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Caladius Reply:
September 11th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I agree fully but something troubles me. Yes the rings provide a source of energy. But, unfortunately, Sonic Adventure with the introduction of the “Black Market” controlled the Super Sonic ring collecting to be more for spending currency to buy food and items for your chao. Its very contradictory. but back to my point. I agree with the anti-industrialist comment. It makes alot of sense
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edgar. says:
September 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
mussolini era nacionalista y fascista. sonic es un socialista libertario!!!
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Freedom_Fighter says:
September 10th, 2009 at 10:59 am
@Mikeikon: Sonic as a libertarian hero! Awesome!
Robotnik represents fascism and slavery, not capitalism. He has forcibly taken over Sonic’s world, polluted his home, and enslaved his friends. Plus, the name “Robotnik” comes from the Polish word for worker. He’s the socialist one!
Sonic just wants to be free to do what he wants to do…which is relax and eat chili dogs.
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Mikeikon Reply:
September 19th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Indeed…
http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/cultn/cultn033.pdf
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EM says:
October 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I agree fully but something troubles me. Yes the rings provide a source of energy. But, unfortunately, Sonic Adventure with the introduction of the “Black Market” controlled the Super Sonic ring collecting to be more for spending currency to buy food and items for your chao. Its very contradictory. but back to my point. I agree with the anti-industrialist comment. It makes alot of sense
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Rob says:
October 5th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Actually here in Austria there existed a collaboration between an environmentalist company and sega. They were distributeing a comic starring sonic in which he showed a family how to save energy and stuff. (The kid actually called Sonic and he jumped out of a GameGear’s screen and would materialize in the “real world”…) I guess that was around ‘93 or something, It should be around here somewhere…!
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N64FAN says:
October 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I think the chili dog $#!^ is noncanon, but I agree. he is an environmentalist, not a socialist. What @$$hole would think that??!?!
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jrOc says:
October 30th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I think it’s all one big coincidence. If it wasn’t, it would be shoving the topic down our throats without any subtlety. Trust me; it’s happened many times elsewhere, and video games certainly are not an exception.
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