Stupid Politician Tricks: Hyperbole

Today’s Stupid Politician Trick is hyperbole.  This one is a particular favorite of environuts and those politicians that pander to them.  First, the dictionary definition:

Hyperbole:  A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect.

In political circles, hyperbole isn’t used for effect at times it’s obvious.  Politicians tend to use it in place of things like facts.  Sometimes, they really get on a roll and make whole hyperbole speeches.  It’s a good one to be able to spot, because it pays to be able to see through it.

I make fun of the environuts’ use of it in Beware of Spontaneous Human Combustion and Galaxy-Ending Supernova Imminent.  I recommend some cynicism on your part too.  When someone, especially an environut, cites a statistic or fact that sounds huge and scary, double-check first before you believe.  It could be just another dreaded case of hyperbole.

This wraps up my series on Stupid Politician Tricks, at least until someone comes along an invents a new one.  Wrap-up coming soon!

Filed under: Maverick Commentary on September 4th, 2009