Nick Hanauer's Snake Oil Or Prophesy?

Dickinson first introduces the idea of logos when specifying an example of when high taxes on the upper class bolstered the economy. He does so by providing the statement, “Clinton set out to balance the budget and begin paying down the national debt. To do so, he hiked the top tax bracket to nearly 40 percent and boosted the corporate tax rate to 35 percent. ‘It cost him both houses of Congress in the 1994 midterm elections,’ says Chafee, the former GOP senator. "But taming the deficit led to the best economy America's ever had.’ Following the tax hikes of 1993, the economy grew at a brisk clip of 3.2 percent, creating more than 11 million jobs. Average wages ticked up, and stocks soared by 78 percent” (par. 19). Dickson uses these details and statistics in order to provide the audience with the impression of how the taxation system should be employed and applies facts that do so in a concise and logical manner. The audience can then conclude that boosting taxes on the upper class corporations will lead to economic growth despite what republicans may be saying, seeing as Dickinson provided the facts to support this conclusion. He soon shifts to the argument that Republicans are taking advantage of the money they are given and are using it for their own greed. He does so when remarking, “In fact, many companies that received the biggest tax break actually slashed jobs. Hewlett-Packard laid off 14,500 workers – one pink slip for every $1 million in profits is shipped back home from overseas. All told, according to an analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research, up to 92 percent of the "jobs creation" money was handed out to top executives and shareholders in a frenzy of dividend payments and stock buybacks” (par. 52). He appeals to logos with the use of coherent thinking, such as using the fact that the companies given the biggest tax

Barbara Ehrenreich uses very specific techniques (“moves”) to convey her message to her readers: for instance, the approach she uses in the first part of her essay is an ‘objective approach’ which relied upon citations from published works. She drew upon statistical data and information and used extensive quotations extracted from experts who have written on the subject. The other important device used in her essay (the other side of the same coin, so to speak) is the ‘subjective approach’ that she undertook to convey her message of “white-collar downward mobility.” Examples of the objective approach is found in this passage taken from the published work of the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “In Late 2003, when I started this project, unemployment

In the article “Trump and the Plutocrat’s Hubris,” from the Wall Street Journal, Joseph Epstein writes an objective piece entailing misconceptions regarding the Trump administration. He argues against the preconceived notion that having a lot of money, leads to an effective government. He uses instances from his own life that help prove his point and convinces the audience that what he is saying is the truth. In order to effectively propose his beliefs, Epstein utilizes rhetorical questions, critical, and informative tones.

Dan Ariely, A psychology and behavioral economics professor at Duke University, explains the inequality gap behind social classes in America through his ted talk “How equal do we want the world to be.” Ariely argues that it is important for society to step away from their expectations of reality to have a more educated understanding of the truth behind certain topics such as the inequality of wealth. Ariely persuades his listeners through his use of rhetorical devices such as visual aids, appeals, and his interaction with the audience. In this paper, I plan to focus each paragraph on how each element is a useful contribution to his argument.

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “ Those who say it can not be done, should not interrupt those doing it.” Steve Olson wrote an essay that talks about that very principle. He titled his essay “Year of the Blue-Collar Guy.” It is about the hard working blue collar guys (BCGs) living in America. Steve Olson is a writer that does not have the usual degrees, awards or publications. Though he has written several books, he says that he is a construction worker. He writes for the average American, so what is Olsen’s purpose in writing about BCGs? To accomplish his purpose I looked at what kind of modes of persuasion he uses, how he responds to the arguing side of his point, and what logical fallacies he uses.

"How many men ever went to a barbecue and would let one man take off the table what's intended for nine-tenths of the people to eat? The only way you'll ever be able to feed the balance of the people is to make that man come back and bring back some of that grub that he ain't got no business with!" Louisiana Senator Huey P. Long argues a strong point aiming towards income equality. Do not get the Senator’s ideology mixed with a Robin Hood complex. In no way will stealing from the rich and giving to the poor help anything in the long-term. It is not how we ensure equal rights to all American citizens. The American dream was based on what seemed to be myths and legends of untold treasures and opportunities. Today, however,

With the implications of Obama Care, he opposed it to the point of an all out government shutdown. Ted has said, “I think the presidents agenda the past three and a half years has been the most radical of any president we’ve ever had” (Reed, 2013).

Throughout the article, Krugman attempts to grab the attention of his audience and help them become mindful of how the limited movement between social classes will have an effect on their life. In order to do so, he implements rhetorical questions that appeal to pathos and ethos, while displaying a negative tone and fearful mood. Rhetorical questions are used throughout the article to introduce an important idea and make the readers evaluate their current social status. For example, the author creates a hypothetical situation about the rich wanting to seek more advancements, he then questions, “What would you do?” (11) and follows this question with steps one could take to control the government and receive more leverage over the poor community. This question and response strengthened his argument because it appealed to the readers emotions about the ability the rich have to further harm the poor. Krugman also proposes questions that appeal to his ethos. After stating the steps one could take to “close off as many routes to upward mobility as possible,” (14) he asks, “It all sounds sort of familiar, doesn’t it?”(15). This question is meant to be unanswered but make the audience reflect. If the audience did feel that the

America is the land of opportunity and equality. Many people grow up believing this to be absolutely true, but Stephen Marche feels otherwise. He wrote “We Are Not All Created Equal,” arguing his point that opportunities in this country are strictly determined by the fate of ones class in society. Marche starts off making a strong case by mentioning the United States’ third place ranking for the least amount of social mobility. In further attempts to prove his point he outlines how class determines the fate of Americans place in society by comparing it’s rigid divisions to those of the aristocracy in Britain. There is a repeating idea throughout the paper that many people in the upper classes love to assume that the poor should fault themselves for their predicament due to their lack of hard work. Marche knocks that assumption out the park with statistical evidence to back up his claims. Although he made a very convincing argument with facts, he had a host of overgeneralized statements throughout the paper, which ultimately weakened his argument of class being the only determining factor of success in America.

In reading “Inventing a Christian America”, it really opens up to a whole new way of looking at the early 18th and 19th century America. Green makes many key points about religion in America during that time and the Founding Fathers. He simply wants us to understand the myth of this country. Throughout the book it becomes one question of; did the Founding Fathers establish the United States as a Christian Nation? It was truly meant to be a Christian America but the way of Enlightenment was slowly approaching.

This election, many people see a solution to this problem through Donald Trump’s political campaign on a platform of “Make America Great Again”. Trump is running, creating new jobs and improving the economy, which appeals to many people who are in the lower and middle classes who have been left behind by economic inequality. Trump’s largest base of support comes from white Americans who do not have a high school degree. This group usually has a very small income, if any at all, because they are less educated. In contrast, those with a college degree have a much easier experience finding work out of college. This means that those without a high school diploma are looking for economic change in order to gain an advantage and proceed with their economic pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Other groups with large support for Trump are people with mobile homes and “old economy jobs” which are, similarly, groups with lower incomes. Trump appeals to these groups such as the “old economy jobs” because they are losing their jobs as new technology emerges. As “old economy jobs” decline, the demand for new jobs increase; the creation of which Donald Trump endorses. Donald Trump is definitely not a traditional conservative, but he has the ability to attract these groups with his platform through his populist appeal. Thus, a person who is lower in the economic gap would lean towards a candidate such as

One of the issues currently crippling the United States is the outstanding income inequality. As the American middle and lower class expand daily in population percentage, the percentage of income headed towards these people is shrinking. In direct contrast, the top 1% is gaining wealth by the minute. According to Wealth Inequality in America, the 160,000 most affluent families possess as much as the 145 million families who lie at the bottom of the economical food chain. With the ever increasing gap between poverty and comfort within the nation, the ability to climb this food chain is more difficult than it has been in decades. Sanders recognizes this pressing predicament and ___________. Sannders has presented a multiple step process that will create jobs and increase wages across the nation, starting with the fundamentals.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both commence with the Birth of Jesus, and obtain infancy narratives. However, despite both following the life of Jesus, there are blatant differences evident between their accounts. Contextual, Geographical and historical discrepancies enable Matthew and Luke’s respective audiences to distinguish their writing styles, and choice of subject matter unique to their Gospel accounts. Contextually, the first notable difference presents itself in the angel’s foretelling of Jesus’ incarnation. According to Matthew’s Gospel Jesus’ birth was foretold by an unnamed angel to Joseph in a dream.

In Robert Reich documentary “Inequality for All” he makes a compelling discussion about the serious crises that the United States faces due the widening economic gap. He looks to raise awareness of the U.S. economic gap between the rich and poor. According to Reich the widening divide in America is real and growing. Income levels at the middle and labor class is stagnant and are at it’s lowest levels compared to upper class incomes since the beginning of WWII and is growing wider each year. Reich suggests that the economy runs more smoothly when the middle class has jobs with fair wages, when unions are strong, and when middle class workers have some extra money to spend if possible when the government uses the tax policy properly and when it raises the minimum wage regularly to control the income gap between labor and management. In other words Reich argues that economically healthy middle and labor class equality is the foundation of a thriving economy and is necessary to maintaining a sound national infrastructure and educational system within

The era of volatility has created a shift from America being the middle-class society to simply rich or poor (Sachs, 2011). A gap this large has not been experienced since the 1920’s (Sachs). “The top 1% of households takes almost a quarter of all household income” but an economy this top heavy will not be able to succeed (Sachs, 2011, p. 30). The working classes are struggling with housing, wage, and employment issues. Rich individuals are ignoring these troubles, shipping their business operations out of the country, thus furthering the downward spiral of the economy (Sachs). To make matters worse, this has become in a large part a political issue, because the rich can influence candidates with funding, where the poor and working