The Chicago Way
The White House is asking all right-thinking and loyal Americans to help compile a list of persons known or suspected to oppose the government take-over of our health care industry. Here is the exact wording:
There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.
My comment:
COMMENT ADDED LATER:
I deleted a comment from a reader on the grounds of ad hominem, but I deleted it reluctantly, because the main point of the comment was valid. In the interest of fairness, however, allow me to mention this main point: namely, that the White House is engaged, not in compiling a list of dissenters, but a list of rumors, since without such a list they cannot answer effectively. In this Internet age when rumors spread so quickly, there is no other effective means to address false rumors. Tony Blair in Britain used a similar means to answer rapidly-running falsehoods during one of his campaigns, and it would be imprudent for the Obama Administration not to do likewise. To attribute some sinister or diabolic motive to the Administration if all they are doing is rumor control is foolish.
I deleted a comment from a reader on the grounds of ad hominem, but I deleted it reluctantly, because the main point of the comment was valid. In the interest of fairness, however, allow me to mention this main point: namely, that the White House is engaged, not in compiling a list of dissenters, but a list of rumors, since without such a list they cannot answer effectively. In this Internet age when rumors spread so quickly, there is no other effective means to address false rumors. Tony Blair in Britain used a similar means to answer rapidly-running falsehoods during one of his campaigns, and it would be imprudent for the Obama Administration not to do likewise. To attribute some sinister or diabolic motive to the Administration if all they are doing is rumor control is foolish.
Such, at least, is my recollection of the point of the comment, stripped of its ad hominem. I invited the original poster to resubmit it, but he declined my offer.
About John C Wright
John C. Wright is a practicing philosopher, a retired attorney, newspaperman, and newspaper editor, and a published author of science fiction. Once a Houyhnhnm, he was expelled from the august ranks of purely rational beings when he fell in love; but retains an honorary title.
August 11, 2009 @ 9:33 am
