Democracy is a type of government system whereby majority rules and those that govern are selected by election. Rhetoric is a form of public speaking which seeks to solve a particular problem persuading a public audience. Rhetoric is inclusive and it allows for political participation. Democracy allows for the popular vote to gain seats in parliament. Rhetoric allows people to be able to come together. Rhetoric therefore shapes democracy through inclusiveness, popular sovereignty and collective unity.
Inclusiveness is very important when in relation to democracy. Rhetoric allows people to be able to listen to the speaker allowing them to be able to participate in the political problem solving process. This participation encourages that people voice their opinions and aid in the analysis of political situations. Through this rhetoric, democracy allows people to select the leader that appeals to them. Rhetoric permits speakers to gain support through affecting the population. Inclusive rhetoric should be considerate of the members of the public and the message is conveyed through the media. The inclusive process is very dependent on the media. The role of the media is to be able to publicize the rhetor. Without the media, people would not be able to participate in an inclusive fashion. The media takes rhetoric to the homes of the viewers. This allows for an increased awareness of politics. The media allows for the generation of interest. Inclusive rhetoric allows for the critical analysis of its contents which therefore permits plurality. Rhetoric therefore, enables the different views of people to be able to be voiced which then are amplified by the majority and conveyed through the media. Through this, democracy is stimulated because of the inclusivity of rhetoric.
Rhetoric and popular sovereignty are interconnected. Effective rhetoric appeals to the majority of the people. Through this the fundamental principle of the popular vote, a major proponent of democracy are fulfilled. Social media allows for the popular vote to be able to succeed. Through social media people can share and like the rhetor. The public sphere are able to analyze the contents of rhetoric on their own time. Through this they can talk and communicate amongst themselves, agree to disagree and support causes. Effective rhetoric allows the public sphere to be able to come together through popular sovereignty thereby promoting democracy. Social media is very important to rhetoric and democracy as it serves to consolidate support. One such example of effective rhetoric in the contemporary macroscopic environment is Donald Trump who effectively uses social media to garner support. He uses platforms such as twitter to spread his messages far and wide, this allows him to be able to create a support base.
Rhetoric develops a bland politically correct way which allows people to come together collectively. The rhetorical style is dependent on inclusiveness. If rhetorical style is not inclusive, democracy fails and the collective cant come together united. If the rhetor alienates people, his support base would hypothetically shrink. Style matters when delivering rhetoric as it allows for consensus which thus supports democracy. Offending rhetorical styles can be supported by the mass variable to the political environment. The modern day example of Donald Trump’s rhetorical style is such that it is not inclusive but effective because it has entertainment value. Through entertainment, people can have unity. Trump has two styles of speech. One is formal and the other informal. He uses formal rhetoric for congress which then people come together but he wittingly uses informal speech to address the media, an effective tactic. If he uses informal rhetoric when addressing congress, he would not have the support of the united people as his tactics include paralpsis, ad hominem attacks, ad baculum attacks, hyperbole, reification. These tactics are not contusive to public unity as it excludes people and the support base will shrink. However, the formal method of addressing congress is what allows people to be collectively united.
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