The OPEC oil embargo was an event where the 12 countries that made up OPEC stopped selling oil to the United States. The embargo sent gas prices through the roof. Between 1973-1974, prices more than quadrupled. In response to the oil crisis, the United States took steps to become increasingly energy independent.
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.
