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Question
Discuss whether the vagueness of the following passage is appropriate to the context that is stated or implied. Pay particular attention to the underlined expressions.
"I believe the worth of any economic policy must be measured by the over the last thirty years."
Radio address given by Ronald Reagan in December 1985
The first portion of this passage strikes us as containing much that is vague, although the passage improves somewhat toward the end. "Strength of its commitment" must mean simply the fairness of the amount families are taxed, although it sounds like it might mean more; "the bedrock of our society" is a powerfully emotive phrase, but its meaning is especially vague. Perhaps the following sentence is designed to spell out that meaning, but it is not at all clear what it means either. Families may save (e.g., for the childrens education), but it is not clear how families contribute to hard work or job creation. These phrases and claims, like "as ennobling as family life" in the next claim, are principally homilies and emotively charged expressions designed to produce a positive attitude about the Presidents view of families.
"Past government policies" is spelled out more or less clearly in the following remarksat least one such past policy is identified; "family values" is not too vague; we are probably safe in guessing that these are simply whatever values contribute to keeping families together. (Is the President saying that past government policies have contributed to breakups of families? If not, what would follow from this claim?)
The last portion of the passage is much more precise and understandable, although "dropped dramatically" could mean nearly any decreaseone politicians dramatic drop is not necessarily anothers.
As part of a political speech, this passage is probably typical in its overall degree of vagueness. PoliticiansDemocrats, Republicans, and others alikewould probably have a lot less to say if we held them to any high standard of precision.
Answer
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