Political Stupidity
Amanda Ortiz, Swetaben Ahir, Nga Le, and Shantel Palmer
Professor McDade
English 1302
October 15, 2012
Political Stupidity, U.S. Style In E .J. Dionne’s essay, “Political Stupidity, U.S. Style” he wants to address the political stupidity that the government is making. To start his argument, he raises an emotional question, “Can a nation remain a superpower if its internal politics are incorrigibly stupid?” The author is saying are we letting politics, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and an antiquated political structure undermine our power. He divides political stupidity into three parts: stupid tax policies, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and antiquated political structure. In his essay, “Political Stupidity, U.S Style,” Dionne employs ethos, connotation and an emotional appeal. In paragraph sixteen, Dionne uses ethos. He writes, “I’m a chronic optimist about America.” E. J. Dionne is confident about the future to get better but we need well intentioned republicans who care about the nation interest to realize something has gone fundamentally wrong with their party and work to help bring it back. To get rid of political stupidity, he wants to form a senate, a new conservatism that is worthy of our name, liberals willing to speak out on the threat our daft politics poses to our influence in the world, and moderates. However the readers might have complete trust of the government of the United States and so they might not like someone questioning their credibility. In paragraph number seventeen, Dionne uses connotation saying “We need moderates who do more than stick their fingers in the wind to calculate the halfway point between two political poles.” Dionne is hoping to make people aware of the political stupidity and the need to bring change in the system of politics. Sticking their fingers in the wind, means a person putting his finger in the wind is unlikely to come up with original solutions, and decisions are made without backing evidence.
Professor McDade
English 1302
October 15, 2012
Political Stupidity, U.S. Style In E .J. Dionne’s essay, “Political Stupidity, U.S. Style” he wants to address the political stupidity that the government is making. To start his argument, he raises an emotional question, “Can a nation remain a superpower if its internal politics are incorrigibly stupid?” The author is saying are we letting politics, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and an antiquated political structure undermine our power. He divides political stupidity into three parts: stupid tax policies, irrational ideas on fiscal policy and antiquated political structure. In his essay, “Political Stupidity, U.S Style,” Dionne employs ethos, connotation and an emotional appeal. In paragraph sixteen, Dionne uses ethos. He writes, “I’m a chronic optimist about America.” E. J. Dionne is confident about the future to get better but we need well intentioned republicans who care about the nation interest to realize something has gone fundamentally wrong with their party and work to help bring it back. To get rid of political stupidity, he wants to form a senate, a new conservatism that is worthy of our name, liberals willing to speak out on the threat our daft politics poses to our influence in the world, and moderates. However the readers might have complete trust of the government of the United States and so they might not like someone questioning their credibility. In paragraph number seventeen, Dionne uses connotation saying “We need moderates who do more than stick their fingers in the wind to calculate the halfway point between two political poles.” Dionne is hoping to make people aware of the political stupidity and the need to bring change in the system of politics. Sticking their fingers in the wind, means a person putting his finger in the wind is unlikely to come up with original solutions, and decisions are made without backing evidence.