John Oliver

I had to clear it the traditional Aussie way. No, not that way. A walkabout.

I had to clear it the traditional Aussie way. No, not that way. A walkabout.

After three days in the bush with a guy in a kangaroo suit, it became clear what the real issue with gun control in America is. If guns aren't the problem, Philip, what is the problem? People. People are the problem? Yes. Do you know what? After spending this amount of time with you, Philip, I'm starting to believe that that's partially true. Good. Good.

After three days in the bush with a guy in a kangaroo suit, it became clear what the real issue with gun control in America is. If guns aren't the problem, Philip, what is the problem? People. People are the problem? Yes. Do you know what? After spending this amount of time with you, Philip, I'm starting to believe that that's partially true. Good. Good.

After investigating the issue on opposite sides of the earth, I discovered that if Americans really do want gun control, there is actually one thing they can do to get it. Move to Australia.

After investigating the issue on opposite sides of the earth, I discovered that if Americans really do want gun control, there is actually one thing they can do to get it. Move to Australia.

Well, it's true that these reductions in capital gains and dividend taxes tend to favor those people who already have money to invest. You can see here how the money will be apportioned. If this pie chart represents the $70 billion in tax cuts, then the majority of that will go to people making over $200,000 a year, or as the government refers to them, citizens.

Well, it's true that these reductions in capital gains and dividend taxes tend to favor those people who already have money to invest. You can see here how the money will be apportioned. If this pie chart represents the $70 billion in tax cuts, then the majority of that will go to people making over $200,000 a year, or as the government refers to them, citizens.

But most working Americans fall at the other end of the income spectrum. So your audience, for example, college students, bloggers, panhandlers, deadbeats, that sort of thing, will call them the Morlocks. They will receive less of the pie, which is fine, as the Morlocks are loathsome underground dwellers who eat human flesh and don't really like pie.

But most working Americans fall at the other end of the income spectrum. So your audience, for example, college students, bloggers, panhandlers, deadbeats, that sort of thing, will call them the Morlocks. They will receive less of the pie, which is fine, as the Morlocks are loathsome underground dwellers who eat human flesh and don't really like pie.

Well, fairness isn't the point. They don't call economics the dismal science because it's fair.

Well, fairness isn't the point. They don't call economics the dismal science because it's fair.

No, no, they call it that after Sir Eustace Dismal. The 18th century English economist who proposed making smokestacks out of children. I, uh...

No, no, they call it that after Sir Eustace Dismal. The 18th century English economist who proposed making smokestacks out of children. I, uh...

It was a very interesting proposal, but ultimately flawed. I mean, if you make the smokestacks out of children, who are you forced to clean them? It's referred to as Dismal's paradox.

It was a very interesting proposal, but ultimately flawed. I mean, if you make the smokestacks out of children, who are you forced to clean them? It's referred to as Dismal's paradox.

Well, the idea is that tax cuts stimulate the overall economy by encouraging investment at the top and creating thus jobs at every level of society, be they butlers, diamond-tipped cane polishers, or monocle smiths.

Well, the idea is that tax cuts stimulate the overall economy by encouraging investment at the top and creating thus jobs at every level of society, be they butlers, diamond-tipped cane polishers, or monocle smiths.

Yes, if you define rich and poor in traditional ways. This administration wants Americans to understand that wealth is not the only measure of riches. Look at Dick Cheney. Financially, he's obscenely wealthy, but he's clearly unhappy. I wouldn't be surprised if he's visited by no less than three ghosts a night.

Yes, if you define rich and poor in traditional ways. This administration wants Americans to understand that wealth is not the only measure of riches. Look at Dick Cheney. Financially, he's obscenely wealthy, but he's clearly unhappy. I wouldn't be surprised if he's visited by no less than three ghosts a night.