Editing Last Exit to Springfield (section)

==Plot==
While awaiting the arrival of his employees' union president (who has not been seen since he promised to clean up corruption in the organization) to discuss the latest contract, [[Mr. Burns]] reminisces of simpler times back in 1909, when his grandfather would deal with workers' complaints by walling them away in abandoned [[Coke (fuel)|coke]] ovens. Burns decides to challenge the union's demands by revoking their [[dental plan]].

[[Lisa Simpson|Lisa]] has a dentist appointment. Her dentist, Dr. Wolfe, informs [[the Simpson family]] that Lisa needs braces. [[Marge Simpson|Marge]] is worried, but [[Homer Simpson|Homer]] tells her that the [[Springfield Nuclear Power Plant]]'s dental plan, which the workers won during a [[Strike action|strike]] in 1988, will cover the cost. At a meeting of the International Brotherhood of Jazz Dancers, Pastry Chefs, and Nuclear Technicians union, [[Carl Carlson|Carl]] announces that the newest contract requires the workers to give up their dental plan in exchange for a free keg of beer at union meetings. Homer gradually realizes that giving up the dental plan would require him to pay for Lisa's braces and jumps into action, reminding everyone how the dental plan has helped them. After encouragement from Carl, Homer is promptly elected the new union president.

Burns invites Homer to his office with the intent of bribing him, but Homer assumes Burns's sly innuendos are sexual advances. Homer declares that he is not interested in "[[Anal sex#Male to male|backdoor shenanigans]]" and promptly leaves, leading Burns to erroneously infer that Homer is honest and incorruptible. Meanwhile, after learning the Simpsons have no dental insurance, Dr. Wolfe fits Lisa with the cheapest (and ugliest) braces available, causing her [[self-esteem]] to plummet.

Homer is kidnapped from his house by "hired goons" and taken to Burns's mansion. Burns gives Homer a tour of the mansion to get him in a good mood, but when the tour ends and the two men sit down to negotiate the contract, Homer suddenly needs to use the bathroom. Homer's delayed attempts to find the restroom leads Burns to inaccurately assume that Homer is a tough negotiator. At the next union meeting, Homer declares he is tired of meeting with Burns and attempts to resign. The union misinterprets his frustration, and the members decide to strike. Burns attempts to [[Strike action#Anti-strike action|break up the strike]] through several methods, but all of them fail.

After weeks of failed attempts to break up the strike, Burns deliberately causes a [[power outage]] throughout Springfield to break the union's spirit. However, the strikers do not lose hope and begin to sing a [[protest song]] written by Lisa. Burns meets with Homer and agrees to meet the union's demands if Homer resigns as union president. Homer loudly celebrates both of Burns's propositions. Burns remarks, "Smithers, I'm beginning to think that Homer Simpson is not the brilliant tactician I thought he was." With the Simpson family insured again, Lisa gets invisible, painless new braces.