Rhetorical Analysis of Leo Beletsky and Jeremiah Goulka (post 2)
Summary:
Most Americans know about the continuing opioid epidemic in our country, however, many people might not know what actually started the epidemic. On September 17, 2018, Leo Beletsky and Jeremiah Goulka explored the tactics of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and described why the agency has been failing us for decades, in their New York Times Blogs article, “The Federal Agency That Fuels the Opioid Crisis” The authors created a timeline of the attempts and failures, and ultimately, the consequences of all of the D.E.A.’s poor strategies to control the opioid epidemic. Beletsky and Goulka then praised and gave credit to the cities and states (such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, San Francisco, and Seattle) who they claim are taking the right steps to cure the epidemic. They then concluded the article by making a call to action that we must “reinvent” the Drug Enforcement Administration to prevent the exacerbation of the opioid crisis. Leo Beletsky and Jeremiah Goulka’s main point is that the severity of the opioid crisis in our country is due to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s lack of competence and “poor design”.
As a result of Beletsky and Goulka’s credibility, use of statistical information, and display of the actions of the D.E.A and their effects/ consequences on the opioid epidemic, their article is extremely convincing to the reader that the Drug Enforcement Administration has done more harm than good in our country’s opioid crisis. The authors’ use of some of Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals- specifically ethos and pathos- helps assist them in communicating the point across to the readers.
Ethos:
One technique that was carried out by the authors was the use of Ethos, which is the appeal to the credibility of the authors. Before the authors even begin to talk about their issue, there is a small subtitle before the introduction stating each of the authors’ occupations. “Professor Beletsky is the faculty director of Northeastern University’s Health in Justice Action Lab, where Jeremiah Goulka is a senior fellow” (Beletsky and Goulka). By establishing that Beletsky is a professor and faculty director of an accredited university, and that Goulka is a senior fellow in Professor Beletsky’s lab, the authors’ rhetoric initiates a certain trust from the reader, because they now know that the authors are credible, and that the information they are going to receive is valid.
Pathos:
Another method of persuasion that was implemented by the authors was the use of Pathos, which is the appeal to the emotions of the readers. Beletsky and Goulka begin the article by stating a shocking statistic; “Every day, nearly 200 people across the country die from drug overdoses(…) The death toll has risen steadily over the past two decades”(Beletsky and Goulka). The authors’ use of the topic of death stimulates the reader’s emotions and makes them feel unsettled, while also making them subconsciously start to form an opinion on the subject at hand. The authors’ choice of connecting the concepts of death and opioids creates an unpromising image, which has no positive attribute, and persuades the reader to want to take action or help the situation. Another instance when the authors utilize pathos is when they begin to talk about the D.E.A. “Despite the investment of hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars and the earnest efforts of thousands of employees, the D.E.A.’s track record is abysmal.”(Beletsky and Goulka). Beletsky and Goulka reason that even though there are massive amounts of money being shoveled into the agency, and many employees involved, the work of the D.E.A. still isn’t significant enough to get the job done. The use of Pathos in this quote is easily noticed due to the colorful and descriptive language that is included.
Conclusion:
Ultimately, Beletsky and Goulka’s use of Ethos and Pathos functioned as a great communication tool to get their point into their reader’s minds. The authors use of rhetoric and tone was both appropriate and influenceable for their audience, and if I were the person writing this article, I would have implemented the same tactics.
Works Cited:
Beletsky, Leo, and Jeremiah Goulka. “The Federal Agency That Fuels the Opioid Crisis.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/opinion/drugs-dea-defund-heroin.html?login=email&auth=login-email
