False Analogy

By: Marie Montoya and Reily Cannon

False Analogy
-Wrongful comparisons of dissimilar situations

Obamas Use of False Analogy

That's why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance just as most states require you to carry auto insurance. Likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers. (Barack Obama)

Why is it Effective?
People yearn for similarities. When they see, hear, or experience something they recognize, they are hooked. When marketers, politicians, or writers use false analogy, although they are comparing mostly dissimilar items, the majority of citizens find the few similarities, associate, and do not take the time to stop and wonder if what they just read is actually true. This is the art of false analogy. For example, the previous slide that says more debt, more taxes, more welfare, etc is an example of false analogy; none of these items are identical and therefore are not valid items to compare. However, most people detect the few similarities, and assume the statement to be true without thinking twice about why it might be wrong. Presidents and politicians are some of the worst offenders, using false analogy to constantly persuade the public. For instance, Obama used this fallacy in a speech five years ago concerning health care. He states, That's why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance just as most states require you to carry auto insurance. His comparison between health and auto care is not accurate because health care and auto care may both be services citizens need; however, they also have many differences that need to be taken into account upon comparison. Even though the fallacy is inaccurate, citizens are deluded into believing it is true because they understand the policy of auto care and are not curious enough to question its faint similarities with health care. Furthermore, false analogy is capable of persuading anyone to believe something, relying on humans natural instinct to associate and find similarities between two subjects.

Works Cited
Ashley, David. Change We Can Believe In. Xdr.com. 22 Nov. 2009. Web. 29 Feb. 2014. Obamas Healthcare Speech to Congress. International New York Times. New York Times Company, 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 19 Feb 2014. The Busy Train. Apples and Oranges. Flickr the Developer Guide. DigitalGlobe All Rights Reserved, 14 May 2008. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.