May 03, 2007 10:50
We should have a new public official called the Fallacy Monitor. This person would be a highly trained debater with a degree in logic. His job would be to stand behind any politician making a speech. Since there's more speeches than one person can handle he could appoint deputies, all equally skilled as he is, as appropriate. When the politician states a logical fallacy he would hold up a sign that says the name of the fallacy.
So if the President says "My tax policies have brought new vigor to the economy" he would hold up a sign that says "Cum hoc ergo propter hoc Correlation is not causation." If he says "Terrorists are coming here to kill us, so we have to go there to kill them or they will come here to kill us" the Monitor would hold up a sign that says "Circulus in demonstrando Circular argument."
The Monitor would not be able to make political statements of his own throughout his term of office. All he can do is hold up signs.