Suggested Discussion Outline

[HLS Classmate]

.

It is respectfully suggested that we discuss each chapter of “The Dying Citizen” but limit the discussion of each to 15 minutes –

Part 1: Precitizens

Chapter One - Citizens
Chapter Two - Residents
Chapter Three - Tribes

Part 2: Postcitizens

Chapter Four - Unelected
Chapter Five - Evolutionaries
Chapter Six - Globalists

Assuming only 5 minutes are needed at the outset to vote for our May 18 focus book, this will leave at least 25 minutes to discuss why IMHO Victor Davis Hanson “went off the rails.”

First Premise

That the over-arching thesis of “The Dying Citizen” is stated on p. 218 – “The overarching theory of social scientists and historians is the shift from an ‘equality-of-opportunity’ to an ‘equality-of-outcome’ society.”

Second Premise

That although America’s fundamental principles embodied in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, etc., may be based on the idea of “equality-of-opportunity,” America has NEVER practiced “equality of opportunity.” Indeed, the First and Second Short Quizzes have described how “equality-of-opportunity” is NOT TRUE for at least two large segments of American society –

(1) Modern-day slaves who have been the subject of the United Nations’ now-22-year-old War on Modern Slavery which is more profitable for organized crime than illegal drugs or illegal arms resulting in at least TWICE AS MANY modern-day slaves as were traded throughout the 350 years of the transatlantic slave industry AND AN AVERAGE $5,250 RETAIL PRICE OF A SLAVE DELIVERED IN THE UNITED STATES!

(2) America’s PERMANENT 30% UNDER-CASTE that the U.S. Government has continually described for the last half century as illiterate as defined by the ability to read the warning label on a can of rat poison!

DURING OUR DISCUSSION OF THIS SECOND PREMISE, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO SUGGEST OTHER SEGMENTS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR WHICH “EQUALITY-OF-OPPORTUNITY” IS NOT TRUE.

Conclusion

Logic 101 teaches that Victor Davis Hanson’s over-arching thesis may be “LOGICAL” which Logic 101 defines as the argument’s conclusion being true if its premises are true (modus ponens, modus tollens, etc.).

Logic 101 teaches that an argument is “SOUND” only if it is “logical” AND ITS PREMISES ARE TRUE.

Logic 101 teaches that an argument is “COGENT” only if it is “sound” and it is recognized as being “sound.”

It is respectfully posited that Victor Davis Hanson’s over-arching thesis, though perhaps “logical,” is not “sound” and should not be mis-perceived as “cogent.”