Figures of Speech Served Fresh

Quote:  "According to a new study, one-third of America’s youth cannot find Louisiana on a map.  Well, hell, the federal government can’t find Louisiana on a map." David Letterman.

Figure of Speech: argumentum a fortiori (ah-for-tee-OR-ee), argument from strength.

Letterman makes one of Aristotle’s favorite appeals:  if a powerful entity failed, a weaker one is more likely to fail.  If the government misplaces a state, why should America’s youth find it?

But have you noticed how nearly every shocking survey of America’s youth shows that a third of them are idiots? Look at Bush’s latest poll numbers.  They prove that a third of Americans are idiots.

Snappy Answer:  Can you?

Here’s another example of an a fortiori argument.