In “Idiot Nation,” Michael Moore discusses the condition of the education system in the United States, and what according to him is the reason behind its deterioration. According to Moore, Education in the United States is failing because there are not enough qualified teachers, and because of elected leaders. He believes that political leaders throughout the United States are not focused enough on improving the educational system. Moore finds it ironic that politicians complain about the America’s set-back in the educational aspect, when it is they who are refusing to finance education. According to Moore, there is a shortage of qualified teachers in the United States because low salaries, as a result of which uncertified teachers from overseas are teaching in the United States. Lastly, Moore addresses American corporations and their purpose for being involved with schools across the United States and their true intentions. By using insults, the literary device of sarcasm and by providing no citations in this excerpt, Michael Moore proves to be ineffective in making his argument.
Moore constantly uses a very accusing and insulting tone throughout “Idiot Nation.” It seems that using harsh words is his style, and it will really insult some readers, which is probably his intention. For instance, Moore highlights at the beginning of the excerpt how more than 44 million Americans do not know how to read. According to him, “A nation that not only churns out illiterate students BUT GOES OUT OF ITS WAY TO REMAIN IGNORANT AND STUPID is a nation that should not be running the world” (Moore 86). Moore even insults President Bush, calling him “An idiot leader of an idiot nation” (Moore 86). It is apparent that Moore is disgusted with the American educational system, but by using insults, Moore fails at conveying his true message to his readers effectively.
Another example in which Moore makes his argument by using an insult is when he writes about the speech that President Bush’s Commencement Address at Yale University in 2001. Moore refers to Bush as “Our Idiot-in-Chief” and writes that he “does nothing to hide his ignorance-he even brags about it” (Moore). Due to his continuous insults, Moore puts his own emotions ahead of the authors, and this again affects the effectiveness of his argument.
Moore also uses sarcasm to argue his case in “Idiot Nation.” For instance, when Moore discusses the requirements at American colleges and universities, he quite sarcastically states that “Who cares if 70 percent of those who graduate from America’s colleges are not required to learn a foreign language?” (Moore). Another example of Moore’s sarcastic approach to make his argument is when he introduces the difference that groups have made in American schools instead of complaining about the condition of the American educational system. It takes time understand Moore’s sarcasm, for instance, it seems as if he is praising American corporations, when his actually ridiculing them. The sarcastic and serious instances in the excerpt are not clearly distinguished, which can prevent readers from accurately interpreting his message.
Perhaps the most surprising thing about Moore’s excerpt is that Moore does not use any sources to support his main point, his accusations and statistics in this excerpt. According to Moore, his credibility is more than enough to strengthen his argument. For instance, in the quote mentioned above where Moore cites the number of people in the United States who are illiterate, he simply writes, “How did I learn this statistic? Well, I read it” (Moore), instead of citing the source of this statistic. Thus, Moore’s excerpt lacks credibility at several instances, especially for incredulous readers.
Moore tries to make his point in “Idiot Nation” by using insults, the literary device of sarcasm, and not providing references/sources, but the strategies that he has used to argue his point prove to be ineffective. Had Moore used a less insulting tone throughout the excerpt, had made his sarcasm more distinguishable from the serious aspects, and had cited the sources of the information the excerpt contains, it would probably have been more effective in making it point.
Works Cited
Moore, Michael. Stupid White Men: And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2004. Print.
