After a kind friend emailed us about a Davis supporter's use of a debunked urban legend making the rounds, we posted Republican commenter pushing urban legend at Post Bulletin.
In The GOP’s Bigotsphere: Come For The Lies, Stay For The Slanders, posted at Mercury Rising, Phoenix Woman looked at the same email used in a True North post.
Minnesota's right blogosphere doesn't seem to be able to resist this one (probably because the GOP strategy of blaming high prices on the Democrats is such a perfect match for the false urban legend). Last night, it showed up at Residual Forces. He writes that got it from his mother, a Republican activist who must find such truthiness persuasive.
Once more, the straight skinny on why this one's a stinker. From Factcheck.org:
Did electing a Democratic Congress in 2006 really lead to increased unemployment, higher gas prices and more home foreclosures?
I received this by e-mail and I’ve also seen it posted as a comment on a lot of blogs and news sites. Is there any truth to it?
No, and most of the figures in a widely-circulated e-mail are made up. In fact, the entire premise of the e-mail is a logical fallacy.
Like most of the chain e-mails making the rounds, this one is inaccurate. Some claims are outright false while others are grossly out of context. Overall, the e-mail commits the logical fallacy known as post hoc ergo propter hoc (or after the fact, therefore because of the fact).. .
And from Snopes: Urban Legends Reference site:
Status: False.
This piece is one of the more ludicrous examples of the post hoc ergo propter hoc ("after this, therefore because of this") fallacy we've received in a long time. . . .
We eagerly await news of alligators thriving in Rochester's sewer systems, large rats mistaken for small dogs, and dating advice that recommends handing out green M & M s.
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