Fine language now has no place in political argument, rhetorical devices despised, with playground insults now the name of the game, and both Trump and his opponents using gutter language, with references to both male and female sexual organs. Confrontation is preferred to ideas, it seems.
This debases language but does it debase politics?
Dear Stanley,
This argument reminds me of the 1980s when I was studying the metaphors used in politics both by politicians and political scientists. There is a tremendous difference between politics in the past and today's political rhetoric, which has actually marred politics as a practice, thus debasing politics and politicians.
As an anecdote, and as part of my professional "deformation" at the time with my students, I used to play with the following relative clauses:
Politicians, who are liars, should be ignored.
Politicians who are liars should be ignored.
In my own culture, we talk about politics as dog-business.
i'm not sure but shouldn't there be a comma after liars, indicating a noun/subject phrase?
The reason it seems for such present language is popularism, as rhetoric is deemed suggestive of superiority and elitism-yet Luthor King did it in his 'I had a dream' speech, replicating black church rhythms and phrasing. Can you see any rhetoric here, just disguised?
But his opponents, especially celebrities, respond in kind. Wise? No, because sinking to his level and making targets of themselves.
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