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UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: The proportion of the civilian labor force 16 years or older that is actively seeking employment, but is unemployed and not engaged in the production of goods and services. The unemployment rate is estimated and reported monthly by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is used not only as the prime measure of labor unemployment in the economy, but also as a key indicator of business-cycle instability. In principle, the unemployment rate measures the proportion of the labor that is willing and able to work, but employed. In practice, the official unemployment rate is simply the ratio of total unemployment to the total civilian labor force, in percentage terms.
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                           FALLACY OF FALSE AUTHORITY: The logical fallacy of arguing that something is "correct" or "true" because an "expert" in an unrelated area says so. This is commonly used by both advertisers, politicians, and anyone who relies an "apparent expert" for the "correct" answers to controversial issues. The fallacy of false authority is commonly used in political arenas and commercial advertising. Relying on experts, even though the experts are not really experts on the topic at hand, appears to give legitimacy to an argument. It is a powerful, but deceptive tool.Suppose, for example, that Chip Merthington has been wrestling over the appropriate stabilization policy to use during a business-cycle contraction--monetary or fiscal. Chip's Uncle Clyde argues that fiscal policy is better because he does not trust monetary policy (and those devious fellows with the Federal Reserve System) since the local bank denied his loan application last year. Uncle Clyde is an excellent barber, the best in the tri-county area. He also makes an excellent pot of chili. But, he is not an expert on stabilization policies. If Chip pleads with his Congressional delegation to choose fiscal policy over monetary policy, based on Uncle Clyde's "expert" advice, then he is committing the fallacy of false authority. Alternatively, Chip is also committing the fallacy of false authority if he accepts hairstyling advice from the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. It works both ways. Advertising, especially television commercials, is an activity that is most prone to commit the fallacy of false authority. Actors, actresses, athletes, celebrities, and others with recognizable faces offer their "expert" product evaluations. "I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV. So you should buy this pain reliever." Very seldom do celebrity "experts" have any real expertise about the products they promote. A professional athlete might have insight into the best athletic shoe, but is unlikely to have any better knowledge about hamburgers than Chip's Uncle Clyde.
Recommended Citation:FALLACY OF FALSE AUTHORITY, AmosWEB Encyclonomic WEB*pedia, http://www.AmosWEB.com, AmosWEB LLC, 2000-2023. [Accessed: March 30, 2023].
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GREEN LOGIGUIN
[What's This?]
Today, you are likely to spend a great deal of time flipping through mail order catalogs wanting to buy either a T-shirt commemorating the first day of winter or software that won't crash your computer. Be on the lookout for pencil sharpeners with an attitude.
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More money is spent on gardening than on any other hobby.
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"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." -- William Ward ‚ Texas Wesleyan University Administrator
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FMV
Fair Market Value
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