NationStates Jolt Archive

Frank Luntz is a professional liar. His job is to change the words that politicians and lobby groups use in order to make their message more appealing. The message doesn't change, just the language. He's behind the shift from estate tax to death tax. People support the estate tax, but they're against the death tax. He argues that death tax is actually more accurate because you're taxed when you die. In fact estate tax or inheritance tax is more accurate. If you don't leave behind an estate or inheritance worth more than a certain ammount of money you pay no tax, therefor using the word death tax is a lie. Not everyone who dies pays it.

Does this asshole believe his own bullshit? Does he ever have a moment of clarity while sitting atop the pile of crap he's been shoveling his whole life and realize that he's spent his life lying to everyone to further the interests of a few? In those moments how does he resist sucking a slug out of a shotgun?

Listen to him being interviewed here. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6761960

"Michael Jordan played basketball. Charles Manson killed people. I talk."

I love the power of words.

So... Basically he's a modern Sophist, then?

What are the Vegas odds that this guy is the reincarnation of that Machvelli (sp?) fuck?

I love the power of words.

So do I. It's why I teach Composition, Rhetoric and Literature. I like to think that I'm doing a small part to help young people defend themselves against the likes of Luntz.

Meh, he has the skillz, and he is using them to pay the billz. There's no point bemoaning at someone just doing their job.

What are the Vegas odds that this guy is the reincarnation of that Machvelli (sp?) fuck?
Machiavelli was a historian, philosopher, and political advisor, not a "fuck."

That said, I fail to see why someone should feel angry with this guy. If the people are so goddamned stupid that 20% of the population can be swayed by the use of a synonym, then they deserve to be led around by those smart enough to do so.

"Michael Jordan played basketball. Charles Manson killed people. I talk."
... and my personal favorite, "Yuppie Mephistopheles".

Well, he's an advertiser. Basically.

It's his job. And besides, he probably doesn't believe most of this stuff. It's like hot dogs: You don't wanna know where they come from.

Meh, he has the skillz, and he is using them to pay the billz. There's no point bemoaning at someone just doing their job.

That's the Yuppie Nuremburg Defense - he has to pay the mortgage

Everybody has a job.

If this guy wants to call dogshit a rosebud, he can do that all he wants for all I care, but it doesn't change the smell.

If this guy wants to call dogshit a rosebud, he can do that all he wants for all I care, but it doesn't change the smell.

It does if we hyperpower the placebo effect.

Everybody has a job.

If this guy wants to call dogshit a rosebud, he can do that all he wants for all I care, but it doesn't change the smell.

It seems people actually listen to him though so it is a little scary actually.

But I do actually think he believes his own blabber. It is what happens when you say something often enough, you begin to believe its the truth yourself.

If I can't attain immortality, I'm going to have all of my assets launched in to space with me. Let the government get them there...not to mention I'll need them after my soul is judged by Ma'at and I go on to the underworld.

If I can't attain immortality, I'm going to have all of my assets launched in to space with me. Let the government get them there...not to mention I'll need them after my soul is judged by Ma'at and I go on to the underworld.

You a...Whatever the word for a follower of the ancient egyptian religions is. I wanna say something like Egypto-Pagan, because it sounds cool.

You a...Whatever the word for a follower of the ancient egyptian religions is. I wanna say something like Egypto-Pagan, because it sounds cool.

I think it's called Kemetic Reconstructionism.

However, I'm really not a follower of the Egyptian gods. I'm more of a person who believes that they all exist and that they've been fighting petty struggles for control of our beliefs since time immemorial.

It seems people actually listen to him though so it is a little scary actually.

But I do actually think he believes his own blabber. It is what happens when you say something often enough, you begin to believe its the truth yourself.

As I see it, its more conclusive proof that the American population doesn't really give a rat's ass about democracy. The Bushist regime woke us up, briefly, but I bet we'll slide into a junta of some sort in the next century or two.

It's like hot dogs: You don't wanna know where they come from.
...but i DO wanna tell everyone else where they come from as they're trying to eat them.

Everybody has a job.

If this guy wants to call dogshit a rosebud, he can do that all he wants for all I care, but it doesn't change the smell.

It won't change the smell, but it can change the way a person thinks about the smell, and that's nearly as effective in a lot of cases.

I think it's called Kemetic Reconstructionism.

However, I'm really not a follower of the Egyptian gods. I'm more of a person who believes that they all exist and that they've been fighting petty struggles for control of our beliefs since time immemorial.

So... You think this is Toril? :p

Well, jokes aside, it makes some sense that gods would be powered by belief, yes, but where does it stop? All gods didn't begin being believed in at the same time. So, how would it account for that? And I mean it, I'm just curious, not refuting anything here.

As I see it, its more conclusive proof that the American population doesn't really give a rat's ass about democracy. The Bushist regime woke us up, briefly, but I bet we'll slide into a junta of some sort in the next century or two.

Nah, as long as we can pretend that we are living in a true democracy then Americans will be cool. I think we are experiencing the slow boil so no one notices the slow trimming of rights. In years ahead the government will start disappearing dissenters and we will all be like "what the fuck happened!?!" Then it will be too late of course.