Thomas Wilson Rhetorical Devices

Wilson’s use of satire and other rhetorical devices effectively exposes the immature nature of the arguments between these two groups as well as demonstrate how counterproductive they can be.
Wilson’s format is the first striking thing the reader notices. Both passages have the same general structure: They both begin by discrediting the other group, they both claim their group is entirely irreproachable, and they conclude by briefly establishing their own goals and ideas. This not only proves how similar the strategies are, but also establishes the immature and ineffective nature of these arguments. In addition, Wilson skillfully manufactures each group’s statements regarding their plans to seem ill-considered. By doing this, he shows how

Both passages begin by building elaborate caricatures of the opposition, and almost immediately after beginning to examine each side’s arguments, the reader is able to discern the feelings of contempt between the two. This further emphasizes the immaturity that is present through the majority of the passages. This hateful tone is evident in lines 3 and 39 when he begins to list derogatory terms for each group, making them appear as children having an argument. The critics refer to the environmentalists as “greens,” “enviros,” or “environmental wackos” and the environmentalists call the critics “brown lashers” and “wise-users.” These juvenile tactics exemplify what Wilson is trying to prove to the

For example, the critics of the environmental movement claim the environmentalists are a threat to personal freedom and if they are put in a position of power, “property rights go down the tube.” Similarly, the environmentalists obliquely associate the critics with the Nazi regime by saying “unrestrained capitalism with land development uber alles.” These attacks are incredibly vicious, but they lack credibility. Neither group makes an argument that is supported by statistics and logical reasoning. Rather, Wilson uses effective propaganda techniques and crafts brash and accusatory statements to show how each group attempts to vilify the other and how it is ultimately