Writer uses ‘diversionary tactic’ in comparing Georgia’s voting laws to Jim Crow
Editor:
This is in response to Matthew Ballard’s recent letter attempting to equate the new Georgia election law with Jim Crow laws.
Ballard’s letter is the textbook definition of the Red Herring logic fallacy. As owl.purdue.edu puts it, this fallacy is a diversionary tactic that avoids the key issues, often by avoiding the opposing arguments rather than addressing them.
Diversionary tactic? Narrating the horrid history of racism in the U.S. without once building a case against Georgia’s election law.
Avoiding the opposing arguments? Never once mentioning any regulations of the Georgia law that he opposes, or that are in any stretch of his imagination on par with Jim Crow laws.
Verdict? Well, I will leave that to the gentle readers.
Jim Simon
Yates
