From Ask Figaro:
Hi,
There is a bumper sticker that reads, “Annoy a Liberal, Succeed, Be Happy.” What kind of argument is that? A fallacy? Thanks,
Diahn
Dear Diahn,
When I say tomato, do you say tomahto? I ask not just because of the way you spell your name. Like your annoying quotation, my question is an isocolon (Greek for “equal member”), a figure that repeats phrases or clauses of similar length.
We won’t call a foul on the bumper sticker, because it’s within bounds to imply that liberals, egalitarian souls that they are, would resent a self-made fat cat. But surely the right can do better than that. How about “Annoy a Liberal, Inherit Money, Say You Earned It?” No, that wouldn’t quite work either. “Annoy a Liberal, Shoot a Burglar” might be closer to the mark. Figaro prefers, “Annoy a Liberal, Make a Bumper Sticker That Begins with ‘Annoy a Liberal.’”
Any other suggestions for annoying liberals and conservatives?
Fig.