Save the Fat Cats

Nicholas Kristof tries to persuade his audience, those who disagree with the bailout plan, that unless we ratify the bill we will end up with economic stagnation, repeating the mistakes of Japan. Nicholas Kristof is a reliable journalist and because he has been writing for so long he has mastered the art of persuasion. Like any good writer, Kristof can throw facts out there and bring people to his side of the table. Let's evaluate his argument. His article "Save the Fat Cats" centers on an argument stating that if we don't act to help our banks we will end up like Japan; economically ruined for decades. He compares the banks and government of Japan to that of the United States. The big banks are sinking as a result of their own bad decisions, the same reason the Japanese banks were in trouble, but who wants to save these fat cats? Kristof argues that we need the fat cats to keep our country running. Banks keep the credit flowing and according to Kristof that the most important thing for our nation during this time. Now after stating all of this Kristof continues to try and persuade those who disagree with the bailout by saying that they are right in being furious but only passing this bill, along with other measures, will save America. Kristof assumes that America's problem has the exact dynamics as Japan's and that a bailout would have corrected Japan's economic problems. Does America have reason to be scared? Possibly. Kristof's article is very persuasive. His facts about Japan are useful in swaying the readers opinion because it is a real life situation and not just theory. Yet, I am not completely persuaded that he is right. He has a solid argument backed by evidence and logic but I am still skeptical. Just because Japan became economically stagnate doesn't prove that approving a bailout would have made the situation any better nor can he prove that passing the bailout in the U.S. will redeem our economic stress. Politically speaking Kristof's argument has great value if the reader agrees with his assumption. Even if one disagreed, Kristof's argument is an important one because no matter which side of the argument one is on the results will change the economic field.