The cartoon plays on the common idea that bureaucracy is overly complicated, and that it requires a lot of paperwork to perform even the most simple of tasks. People also assume that this ludicrous amount of paperwork makes bureaucracy slow and inefficient.
While bureaucracy can be slow and inefficient at times, people often forget that the paperwork is there for specific reasons. Leaving a written record of every action taken ensures that accidents happen less often, and that accountability is maintained. Also, bureaucratic procedures can be slow because of the amount of people that require them or due to the complexity of some issues. So the stereotype of bureaucracy is for the most part undeserved.
In a way that was never seen before, the Vietnam War tore the United States apart as people either supported the Government or lost all faith in the US Government.
