By now, most everyone has heard the ongoing debates about the Federal Government’s budget issues. Through all the conversations and interviews with Congressmen, Senators, and the President, we have seen many examples of ethos, pathos, and logos. The goal of an argument is always to persuade your audience that your ideas are valid, or more valid than someone else’s. Ethos, pathos, and logos are means of persuasion and appeals to accomplish this persuasion.
Unfortunately, it seems to me that there is way too much emphasis put on pathos in the political arena. Throughout the debates about the Federal budget, time and time again pathos was used instead of logos or ethos. Quotes like “Republicans are trying to kill women” and “Democrats want the country to fail” were the primary headlines of the debates. This causes me to question whether our political leaders think of us Americans as just dumb individuals or their arguments are so convoluted that they cannot produce a valid logical argument.
No reasonable person would ever believe that Republicans want women to die or that Democrats are trying to destroy the country. Have we become a society so inept of thinking logically that these pathos arguments actually work? I would hope not, but why then do these politicians always seem to go directly to making emotional appeals, instead of logical arguments. For me personally, as soon as I hear these ridiculous emotional arguments the politician that is making it completely loses their entire ethos. Our political leaders should be held to a higher level than a partisan news channel. There is room for a pathos argument in politics, but it is my belief it should be balanced with logos and ethos.
Yeah, you are correct, this is out of control... I mean really, is it that serious for people to start talking that dumb? When it comes down to threats and other negative remarks on each other, you know it has gone to far. It is one thing to shut down the "government", but to continue to blame each other on the reason why it will shut down is just plain stupid.
ReplyDeleteI am in the Army and I tell you, I was very, very close to not being paid. Well as a matter of fact, I will probably still only get half of my pay this coming week, but will get it back at the end of the month. What is sad is that I understand why we are heading in this direction and that I am willing, again, to sacrifice my self and family to the good of the nation. I know why we are in a bad economy and understand that it is everyone's responsibility to ensure we get through this. If we don't do something about our budget, we will be in a bad situation. "Companies don't like uncertainty, and if they start seeing that suddenly we may have a shutdown of our government, that could halt momentum right when we need to build it up - all because of politics," President Obama said. It is once again sad that we all just can't come to a conclusion. Right or wrong, lets all make a choice. Stick to that decision and go forward from here...Good luck America.....
In this video, this people just don't get it....freaking close these place down, fire some people that don't do a good job, cut my military pay. Whatever it takes to get us a better future, lets make it happen.... Tourism? Museums? Come on people...........
http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_296w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/04/06/National-Politics/Videos/04052011-51v/04052011-51v.jpg