Deep distress struck America at the turn of the millennium, Americans held no hope in natural methods of time and growth for mental restoration, and instead resorted to medicine to cure the pandemic of depression. Resisting the timely trends, Luke Termorshuizen publishes “The Key to Fueling Our Happiness,” ridiculing the popular usage of antidepressant medication in children and young adults. In order to inform conformed Americans, Termorshuizen utilizes satire to highlight the deficiencies with depression medicine, consequently urging the halt of antidepressants practiced in children.
Starting Termorshuizen’s argument, he rants about issues contributed by childhood depression. Termorshuizen emphasizes the uselessness of children in a society and their “hindrance to socioeconomic growth.” Ironically, Termorshuizen also argues that unless a fix occurs, children will “grow into depressed working class Americans,” ultimately resulting in a nation’s doom. Partially contradicting himself and exploiting the satirical methods of irony and ridiculousness, he uses the criticism of children to force a respect towards them and their importance to a society and its future.
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He pleads with his audience trying to turn America away from the “already critical stage of depression and self degradation.” His proposal entails the increased “usage of antidepressants” in order to “restore our well being.” Employing the black-and-white fallacy, Termorshuizen portrays his satire by revealing the only two options for America consist of mental enlightenment or total destruction, separated only by antidepressants. Applying this, he appeals to the logical minds of the reader who realize that antidepressants may not fix the issue, and also points out the ridiculousness of the advertised issue of annihilation due to