Be Aware: The Art of the False Dichotomy

[Sparkly]

The RNC are masters of the false dichotomy: an "either/or" equation that excludes any other alternatives. Usually, it also involves setting up a 'strawman' on one side of the equation, fabricated with Kerry's face on it, to be knocked down.

Example:
"Given a choice between trusting a madman or defending America, I'll defend America everytime."

That wasn't the choice, of course -- there were many other options, including allowing inspections to continue, gathering more intelligence, working with allies either on alternatives or swift, limited force with a plan for the aftermath -- but the response is relief that Chimp didn't opt to "trust the madman."

Another example, using a strawman:
"Strength wins peace, weakness does not."

This presupposes a definition of "strength" as "Bush's policies," excluding all other policies which, it's easily argued, would be far stronger. It sets up Kerry as an alternative who advocates weakness. It's absurd, but voters are persuaded to believe that's their choice.

Others:

- Does the government know best how to spend your money, or do you know how best to spend your money?

- Are we better off with Saddam in power, or without Saddam in power?

- Should leaders defend the American people, or wait for a permission slip from the UN?

- America needs to be in charge of its own foreign policy, not defer to France.

- Should we have freedom of religion as the founders intended, or should we ban God and the Bible?

- We need a man of steady conviction and fortitude, not a flip-flopper who doesn't know where he stands.

- Does Kerry stand by his IWR vote or does he oppose the war in Iraq -- he can't have it both ways.

BushCo has mastered this technique, and they've been doing it for months. If you argue with rightwingers, you'll hear them parroted. Explain to them what a false dichotomy is and help them see they've been duped into repeating a propaganda technique.

Be on the alert for false dichotomies! Post the ones you hear, here -- whether in speeches or emails or TV shows! I think it cuts through the static and helps see the spin clearly.

[cheshire]

1. This is the same thing they do on polls, not all the options. Great post.

[kentuck]

2. Excellent post...

Right on!

[knowbody0]

3. i've had really

good dialog with the other side lately. calmly bring up the draft, and the right's pnac. it opens the door to their hypnotized right brain. watch--their eyes look up and to the left. just plant that seed for thought. it's amazing when you do not act angry toward them. show the unevolved compassion.they get really confused

[rumguy]

4. Excellent post - I've often noticed this when debating wingers

I always call them on it as well.

It's more proof of how out of touch with reality these idiots are...they are scary out of touch.

[Sparkly]

8. Yes -- and it's so easy to fall into "It's more complicated than that."

To which they respond, "There's nothing complicated about (insert unarguable principal here)."

THEY have complicated it by carefully loading these false dichotomies -- underneath, the technique is very simple.

Keep calling them on it! :)

[spooky3]

12. What if Kerry simply asked them about ONE of the alternatives,

to the false dichotomy, rather than saying it's more complicated?

You raise an EXCELLENT point.

[Cronus Protagonist]

5. WERD

True dat.

"So I don't worry about, and people shouldn't
worry about a draft. . . I think we're in good
shape, I really do. And, if not, we'll -- I'll address
the nation. But I don't see any need to right now."
- G. W. Bush (Source: The Whitehouse)

[ContinentalOp]

6. Shouldn't we create our own?

Since nuance doesn't work with these people maybe we should try turning these false dichotomies around on them. For example:

Do you want to bring the troops home ASAP or do you want Iraq to turn into another Vietnam?

Should the Iraqi people be allowd to democratically govern themselves or should their country be divided up and controlled by Haliburton and the oil companies?

Should we try to restore our country's standing in the international community or allow the US to stand alone and weakend without our allies?

Do you support tax cuts for the wealthy few or a prosperous economy that benefits all Americans?

[VOX]

9. "If we're safer from terrorists by fighting in Iraq, why are we told..."

"to fear terrorist attacks?"

[ContinentalOp]

11. Great one!

So has the president made us safer or not? He can't have it both ways.

[Sparkly]

10. "Do you want to work with our allies, or do you want a military draft?"

"Should we get Al Qaeda, or should we keep spending lives and spilling blood helping Halliburton?"

[VOX]

7. Another terrific post, Sparkly.

Very thought-provoking and a useful tool.

Thanks -- :toast:

[BillZBubb]

13. "By fighting them there, we don't have to fight them here"

As if the Iraqi hordes were massing along the Canadian border. Or as if other groups like Al Qaeda couldn't attack us now because we are bogged down in Iraq.

Sheesh! Good list BTW. Too bad most Americans (and the corporate media) are so easily swayed by these simplistic false dichotomies.

[quaker bill]

14. "It is better to fight the terrorists over there than to do it here"

Before the war, there were no terrorists in Iraq except Ansar-al-Islam which was located in the Kurdish controlled area in the northern "no-fly zone". We had armed aircraft over this camp all the time during patrols of the zone and could have bombed them at anytime. We were dropping bombs on Iraq every week anyway.

There is no evidence that anything we have done in the "war on terrah" will stop them from coming here. The only thing that might inhibit them is that we have provided our sons and daughters as more convenient targets.

Think of Israel. They have been brutally fighting terrorists for 50 years. They have shot them, blown them up will missles at the mosque, bulldozed their homes with their relatives still inside. Terrorism has done nothing but increase over the last 50 years both within Israel and around the world. No good will come of this.