defense of innocent tools

Rhetoric has a bad name
propaganda and demagoguery
as well. Might as well
demonize public service
announcements! I say

all these things have good use
in good cause, and whatever

truth claims

they make - these can be examined
for correspondence with reality.
Sometimes it turns out
they're pen pals! The problem

isn't rhetoric,
isn't propaganda
isn't demagoguery,
or any other announcement pitched
as a service to the public, but

an insufficient emphasis
on teaching critical thinking.
Pound the tools into us
as kids, and we'd be more apt
to lance and dismantle the bullshit!

- yet this can never be. For
the facile egomaniacs, sitting high
in the power drive

would much rather have
everyone complaisant
and none-too-incredulous.

Let the best-designed
ad campaign win. Disgusting
motherfuckers