Thunderdome for the Poor

I saw this posted on Facebook: “Homeless Servicemen Should Come Before Any Refugee”.

This is an example of a The False Dilemma Fallacy. A False Dilemma Fallacy is defined as:

This common fallacy misleads by presenting complex issues in terms of two inherently opposed sides. Instead of acknowledging that most (if not all) issues can be thought of on a spectrum of possibilities and stances, the false dilemma fallacy asserts that there are only two mutually exclusive outcomes.

This fallacy is particularly problematic because it can lend false credence to extreme stances, ignoring opportunities for compromise or chances to re-frame the issue in a new way.

At the heart of this meme is the conceit that the choice is between helping refugees or helping homeless servicemen. If I was to propose an update to this virtual patch, mine might say, ‘Help for those in need should come before tax breaks for the wealthy‘.