Walking Down The Street Today

I spotted an ad for a diet program: "Lose up to 25lbs! Guaranteed!" I'm sure they can guarantee that, because the only thing they are NOT guaranteeing is losing more than 25lbs. If gaining is viewed as losing minus-signed pounds then even someone getting heavier in the program would still be within the spirit of that ad.

Ads are like that, of course. Sales tell us that we can save up to 90% of the price (which might literally mean that some items have no discounts at all), but most of the discounts will be a lot less than 90%.

Political language is often similar to advertising, so you need to stay alert to figuring out what's wrong with the promises or the figures quoted on behalf one plan or against it.