This week…the polarizing technique of accusing the other side of hypocrisy and lying, rather than arguing against the substance of what they want to accomplish seemed to dominate. And why not? It’s a great technique for rousing emotions rather than illuminating the mind because it effectively stops the conversation before it begins: We can’t even discuss it because they’re so dishonest and disingenuous. Plus it’s so easy…and fun! You don’t have to address the other side’s points. You just have to frame them in your picture of contempt. No wonder politics seem so ugly and empty these days.
When reading these examples, check the above list and ask yourself: regardless of whether you agree or disagree, is this really advancing an intelligent resolution through the persuasive, rational arguments of advocacy…or simply fueling the fire of conflict through the divisive, emotional manipulations of polarization?
Here are just a few of the blue and red polarizing headlines from the past week.
Blue Headlines
Republicans don’t want to curb anti-Semitism; they want to weaponize it
Republicans propose new parents rob their own Social Security savings to fund ‘paid’ family leave
Republicans no longer need Russia to create fake pop-up news sites—they’re doing it for themselves
Republicans are lying about what’s in the Green New Deal—and what it will cost
Republican tax overhaul still a flop with taxpayers, poll finds
Republicans Are Realizing That Trump Is Too Crazy To Be President
Republicans are furious about ‘ballot harvesting’—and are privately ramping up efforts to do it
2 thoughts on “Hyperbole and Straw Men”
Re: this week’s polarizing headlines, the only ones I’m not sure I agree on are “Republican tax overhaul still a flop…” and “Republicans are lying about what’s in Green New Deal.” The first one seems accurate — is it the word flop that sounds a little too gotcha? The second one — yes, the word “lying” can be inflammatory but, at the same time, when I read the article it does sound like Republicans are saying things that are not true about the GND in order to make it look absurd. I also think the “What liberals forgot” headline is okay even though I disagree with the content of the article.
Like Erica, I think the tax overhaul headline leans toward fact. However, without reading the content, all of the rest (red and blue) are semantic mud pies. When I review the somewhat fringe sites where these headlines come from, I am not surprised (although CNN and Fox News both have some doozies on any given day, as well.)