Art of Deception--Refutation of Ad Populum

Art of Deception--Refutation of Ad Populum

a continuation of previous readings
p 125

This is an overt appeal to the majority within the audience, done to squelch the voice of any minority or dissenting opinion.
By maintain the majority view, ideas like factionalism are minimized, thus bringing stability to the nation (attributed to James Madison in the Federalist Papers).
Another twist:  expose something in the majority opinion that is just wrong.
This method is important when dealing with intellectuals and experts in the field because they are more likely to dissent.

I find this discussion fairly fascinating.  I think that a group like the Republican minority leadership (very likely could come from either party, so I am not attacking only one side) have employed this strategy.  They make a comment about President Obama being a socialist or communist.  Parsing this we have ad hominem of name calling which is based on the ad populum bias toward capitalism.  The allegation would require that the speakers would illustrate the capitalist value and ideal to counter-argue against the equality values of the dissenting view.  To soften the blow they can concede to certain amount of social legislation as not to appear too Randian.

I can see how this strategy can appear both ethical and how it can fall into a fallacy.  The approach, in order to work must promote a majority appeal.  I see how both parties have employed the approach and how each has been targeted by it.

What I find even more interesting is the usage of visual arguments.  The Republicans show the president playing golf while the country burns.  The Democrats show the Republican courting the most selfish of capitalists.  Devious and effective.