Why Cognitive Accuracy?

In my view, the better question might be "Why NOT?" Why would I not work to adapt my actions and choices to reflect as accurately as possible the way the world seems to work?

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

How Words Don't Make Meaning

Here's an example of political speech that I would like to see analyzed. Unfortunately, it's not from a major candidate, but rather from a comment to an article in the Boston paper, concerning the off-shore drilling bill passed last night by the House. Here's the comment:
Utilizing our natural resources is imperative to all Americans in these troubled times. All of America is being scrutinized and manipulated both home and abroad by a failed domestic energy policy that has been being developed and legislated long before Bush ever came to office. America as a whole has to wake up and decide if we are to going to keep putting our culture, families, and country at risk by being politically correct, or are we going roll up our sleeves and take control of our countries destiny by building a bridge to the future. The bridge we need is paved with security and its piers are a developed platform of usable energy that can sustain OUR economy... end of story. To allow our leaders to continue to make this a "political issue" is leaving all of we Americans in the lurch and putting our countries long term survivability at grave risk.

I feel pretty sure this guy thinks he said something meaningful and comprehensible. But from what I know about the basic positions of the "two" sides (drill/don't drill), I cannot tell if this person favors drilling or rejects it in favor of "renewables". Can you? Lots of great words and phrases, no clarity, little meaning.

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