Yes it's a joke, but it's only funny under the understanding that you must be a citizen to receive welfare. The existence of Prop 187 is evidence that wasn't a common understanding on the right (and even on the left; 40% of democrats voted for it) in 1994.
Quite apart from whether or not illegals were receiving benefits in Calipornia in 1993 (which I don't know), the simple existence of a proposition banning it is not ipso facto evidence of there being such benefits. One may advance a proposition because one wants a ban at a statewide level, which takes the decision out of the hands of local officials, or one may want it to prevent legislators in the future from deciding otherwise - as they can repeal their own laws, but not a proposition of the people.
Furthermore, even in that case, it is only applicable in California.
But let's assume that illegals everywhere were receiving benefits. The joke works because in the Simpsons universe, they don't. We know they don't, as it is assumed by all the parties. Or actually, it need only be assumed by Apu. He may even have the incorrect impression, and the joke would still work as long as he thinks that is the case, or pretends for the sake of the joke that it is.
Yes it's a joke, but it's only funny under the understanding that you must be a citizen to receive welfare. The existence of Prop 187 is evidence that wasn't a common understanding on the right (and even on the left; 40% of democrats voted for it) in 1994.
Quite apart from whether or not illegals were receiving benefits in Calipornia in 1993 (which I don't know), the simple existence of a proposition banning it is not ipso facto evidence of there being such benefits. One may advance a proposition because one wants a ban at a statewide level, which takes the decision out of the hands of local officials, or one may want it to prevent legislators in the future from deciding otherwise - as they can repeal their own laws, but not a proposition of the people.
Furthermore, even in that case, it is only applicable in California.
But let's assume that illegals everywhere were receiving benefits. The joke works because in the Simpsons universe, they don't. We know they don't, as it is assumed by all the parties. Or actually, it need only be assumed by Apu. He may even have the incorrect impression, and the joke would still work as long as he thinks that is the case, or pretends for the sake of the joke that it is.
Not trying to be pedantic (I don't have to try).