This is a quote sent to my wife on Facebook by one of her old work friends. It comes from the Ostroy Report, a self-described 'fresh, aggressive voice for Democrats and a watch dog for the Republican Party'. I have highlighted language I want to discuss-
"Look, we already have Medicare, Medicaid and government-funded health
insurance for veterans. We also have government-mandated auto insurance. So
there's nothing terribly ground-breaking or radical here. Which is why all
the drivel about socialism and radicalism is equal parts despicable and
laughable.
The message from Sunday night's vote is quite simple, and it should be
aggressively and relentlessly pounded into Americans' heads at every
possible turn by Obama and the party as it moves closer to November's
election: "The Democratic Party once again is the party that cares about
you, your children, your elderly parents, your health, your education and
your overall welfare. Which is why it took 219 of us, without one single
vote from Republicans, to ensure that you will never ever again have to
worry about not having health insurance or being denied coverage. Americans
owe Democrats a big Thank You." That's right, a big thank you. Obama and the
Democrats must proudly take 100% credit for this historic piece of
legislation and run with it all the way to the midterms. Let the GOP run on
repealing it, as Boehner threatens. Let's see where that gets 'em.
Representing his sore-losing, crybaby party, Boehner Sunday night lamented,
"The American people are angry. This body moves forward against their will.
Shame on us." He's right. He and his party should be utterly ashamed of
themselves for being a bunch of lying, deceiving, self-serving elitists who
don't give a shit about anything but their pocketbooks. That's right John,
shame on you."
The language I have highlighted is the type of descriptors and invective that does nothing to improve the tone of political debate and also achieves nothing in that debate. My own post yesterday was despairing and angry. I think the worst phrase in it (which I would have edited had I let the post rest for a moment before publishing it) is calling the congressional democrats 'tyrannical, self-absorbed know-it-alls'.
Calling an opponent a sore loser and a crybaby advances no argument at all. For that matter calling them know-it-alls advances nothing as well. Describing discourse as drivel and laughable in no way makes your own any better. In fact, the use of such words has always suggested to me in part that the speaker is emotionally activated, but more that he/she has no intellectual argument to make, or believes the argument to be so weak that invective must be used. The quote is a mixture of chest-thumpong (not surprising), derogatory descriptions of the opponents, and emotionally charged language.
This is only one quote. It is the volume, the numbers of such quotes from all sides of the political argument that cheapen and degrade discussion. It is not possible to really hear your opponent while calling him or her names. Listening only happens with the mouth closed....
Ted
"Look, we already have Medicare, Medicaid and government-funded health
insurance for veterans. We also have government-mandated auto insurance. So
there's nothing terribly ground-breaking or radical here. Which is why all
the drivel about socialism and radicalism is equal parts despicable and
laughable.
The message from Sunday night's vote is quite simple, and it should be
aggressively and relentlessly pounded into Americans' heads at every
possible turn by Obama and the party as it moves closer to November's
election: "The Democratic Party once again is the party that cares about
you, your children, your elderly parents, your health, your education and
your overall welfare. Which is why it took 219 of us, without one single
vote from Republicans, to ensure that you will never ever again have to
worry about not having health insurance or being denied coverage. Americans
owe Democrats a big Thank You." That's right, a big thank you. Obama and the
Democrats must proudly take 100% credit for this historic piece of
legislation and run with it all the way to the midterms. Let the GOP run on
repealing it, as Boehner threatens. Let's see where that gets 'em.
Representing his sore-losing, crybaby party, Boehner Sunday night lamented,
"The American people are angry. This body moves forward against their will.
Shame on us." He's right. He and his party should be utterly ashamed of
themselves for being a bunch of lying, deceiving, self-serving elitists who
don't give a shit about anything but their pocketbooks. That's right John,
shame on you."
The language I have highlighted is the type of descriptors and invective that does nothing to improve the tone of political debate and also achieves nothing in that debate. My own post yesterday was despairing and angry. I think the worst phrase in it (which I would have edited had I let the post rest for a moment before publishing it) is calling the congressional democrats 'tyrannical, self-absorbed know-it-alls'.
Calling an opponent a sore loser and a crybaby advances no argument at all. For that matter calling them know-it-alls advances nothing as well. Describing discourse as drivel and laughable in no way makes your own any better. In fact, the use of such words has always suggested to me in part that the speaker is emotionally activated, but more that he/she has no intellectual argument to make, or believes the argument to be so weak that invective must be used. The quote is a mixture of chest-thumpong (not surprising), derogatory descriptions of the opponents, and emotionally charged language.
This is only one quote. It is the volume, the numbers of such quotes from all sides of the political argument that cheapen and degrade discussion. It is not possible to really hear your opponent while calling him or her names. Listening only happens with the mouth closed....
Ted
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