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-   -   We are being hornswoggled (http://www.flashflashrevolution.com/vbz/showthread.php?t=51569)

coberst 10-12-2006 05:53 AM

We are being hornswoggled
 
We are being hornswoggled

I think that one of the most egregious informal fallacies we Americans are bombarded with is prescriptions camouflaged as descriptions. Prescriptions are things established or decreed by fate or nature; a prescription is just what is and cannot be anything else.

The value of education lay in its monetary value, GDP is an accurate measure of a nation’s accomplishment, the environment is not an issue in the Corporate bottom line, well-being is the Corporate bottom line, the Corporation is responsible only to their share holders, health care in America is the best, CEO pay is meritocracy in action, etc. These are all understood as descriptions of reality rather than being the prescriptions of those who profit by such things.

I am claiming that we are led to accept as truism that it is natural for education to be valued in dollars, a GDP growth of 4% is a measure of the nation’s well-being, Corporations are not responsible for the environment, CEOs get the big bucks because they are what make the institution successful, etc.

That which is ‘natural’ is accepted without question. In such a milieu we easily accept the hurricane as a description of why the poor have lost everything in New Orleans. An examination will, I think, disclose that the poor were doomed to such a happening by the ordination of the powerful over past decades.

Describing the status quo as natural and universal is an effective means for maintaining the status quo. I am claiming that the status quo is described as natural and universal, when in fact the status quo is ordained by the “Wizard”. “Follow the money” is a useful tactic for discovering those who are the elements of the “Wizard”.

Can you think of other such ordinations disguised as descriptions? Can you guess the nature of the ‘Wizard’?

spyke252 10-12-2006 03:30 PM

Re: We are being hornswoggled
 
Before I make any statements containing my opinion on the subject, I need to ask two questions.

First, you stated, "Prescriptions are things established or decreed by fate or nature; a prescription is just what is and cannot be anything else." This statement does not make sense to me, and though I could assume you meant "a description is just what it is and cannot be anything else", I would rather make sure.

Next, who is the "Wizard"? Pardon me if I have missed an important fact in the news or in your post, but it seems like this "Wizard" is a nonsensical character; who happened to drop into your idea.

Laharl 10-12-2006 03:50 PM

Re: We are being hornswoggled
 
Spyke, just so you know, the rest of us have long given up on coberst making a lick of sense. He's got a bad habit of posting stuff without explaining anything of worth to allow the rest of us to make useful comments, and only participating in his own threads.

Now, as for what I am able to gleam out of this random blurb, I agree that the status quo maintains itself. Humanity in general seeks to be accepted by some group. The majority of people want to belong to the majority of people (the same phrase used in different context in the same sentence! =D) and therefore will gravitate towards filling the "status quo," thereby increasing the amount of people who fit the description, strengthening it's position as the status quo.

ebs2002 10-17-2006 08:01 AM

Re: We are being hornswoggled
 
LOL. All that work to say "the government and corporations have brainwashed the general public into thinking that there's no other way but their way."

As an aside, I'd guess that he's taking some liberal arts class and is regurgitating a homework assignment or lecture :P


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