California Federation of Teachers! New CFT animated FallaciesI I604-5-8

"California Federation of Teachers! New CFT animated video explains economic inequality, need for wealthy to pay fair share of taxes. Tax the Rich: An animated fairy tale" http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S6ZsXrzF8Cc  I posted the following on my Facebook wall: “I'm currently taking an online course in Analytical Thinking. As a result, a really poorly thought out propaganda item such as the animated clip showing a rich man urinating on the non-rich really resonates with me, NOT. I thought I'd post it on Facebook along with a list of the fallacies that are presented in this animated feature. However, the list of fallacies grew and grew. I now have an excellent essay to submit for my class in Analytical Thinking.” Update: I watched the clip again and this version removed the yellow stream. Perhaps due to all the publicity FOXNEWS gave it. Fallacies of Relevance - Errors that Don't Address the Issues Appeal to Force/ Fear – “Arguing for a position on the basis that negative consequences will follow if a person does not accept the position. Accept this argument or I'll beat you up!” Union thug policies you think? Argumentum ad Hominem – “An argument that says "reject whatever he says because he is a bad person:" In this case that “bad rich person.” The recent election and the methodology of discrediting Governor Romney because of his wealth is a great example of the use Argumentum ad Hominem against the rich. Consensus Gentium - Accept this because the majority of people believe this is true. This is similar to Appeal to Popularity. It is based on the notion that if the majority believe something is right, it must be right.” Start the brainwashing with young childred! Inappropriate Authorities Straw Man - When a person misrepresents his opponent's position and then proceeds to refute that misrepresentation: The fallacy is that it doesn't refute what the opponent actually believes. In my opinion rich people are in favor of education. Add to that, education assures a qualified workforce. Red Herring - Accept this argument because the other subject is interesting, funny, witty, etc.: The fallacy is that this simply evades the question by changing the subject and then proceeds as if the point had been made. Our current administration has demonized success! Nothing Buttery - "Argues that something is "nothing but" some aspect of it: This fallacy is that it reduces a many faceted question down to a single point." The Marta here is that the “Rich don’t pay their fair share.” More Evolution Fallacies Bifurcation I False Dilemma - Bifurcation means to divide something into two parts: The fallacy of bifurcation occurs when someone asserts that there are only two options open to someone when in reality there are more than two. Implied that either the rich pay their fair share and the schools, etc. get funded or the Rich don’t pay their fair share and these services don’t get funded. Appeal to Emotion - "Attempting to persuade using emotion: The fallacy is obviously that you can't base truth on emotion." Added Later: Lee Doren of "How the World Works" posted an informative critique of the "California Federation of Teachers! New CFT animated video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f6FZGjF8OA Fallacies continued.... Other Informal Fallacies Apriorism – “A priori is starting with a conclusion: To start out with conclusions first (a priori) and then use them to decide whether to accept certain facts is the wrong way around." So here the starting conclusion is that “The rich don’t pay enough.” Dismissal – “Adopting an attitude of superiority and dismissing an argument by stating something like "I won't dignify that with an answer." The fallacy is that while sometimes effective politically, it does nothing to change or challenge the facts." Progressives often seem to be looking down their noses at the crass capitalists. Humor or Ridicule – “Using humor to ridicule or distract the audience's attention or to ridicule the person or the argument of another: The fallacy of course is that while humor and ridicule may draw a positive response from one's audience, it is not a substitute for reasoned analysis and argument.” A cartoon with a rich man urinating on the non-rich is an extreme example. Meaningless Claim – “When a person makes claims that by their nature, are impossible to verify or refute: Meaningless claims occur because someone uses vague or ambiguous language.” I heard conservative commentators ask a lib what percent of my income you consider fair to tax. Rarely is a direct answer offered. Oversimplification – “Treating a situation as if it contained only a few relevant factors, when in reality, it contains many. Part of the problem of oversimplification of a situation is that we deprive ourselves of important information necessary to fully understand it.” Could a relevant factor be the questionable quality of teacher due to the protection of the union? Poisoning the Well – “Laying down an insult and saying that it applies to anyone who would be so foolish as to disagree: The fallacy is that they arbitrarily label all evidence from a different position as unsound, but with no logical basis for doing so.” Why is it whenever someone wants to either raise more taxes or impose a union demand that children are always the alleged recipient of the benefit? If for one minute you disagree, then obviously you hate all children. Special Pleading - When a person expects his opponent to abide by a particular standard when he himself does not, i.e., a double standard: The fallacy is that both should be held to the same standards.