Probably, the most important tool in a bullshit detection kit is the ability to see through language tricks. A common one is euphemisms.
"Revenue enhancements" = tax hikes.
"Single payer" = socialized medicine.
"Set asides", "goals", "time tables" "proportions" "diversity" = quotas.
"Undocumented immigrants" = illegal aliens.
If what someone is advocating something good they will have no reason to call it something else.
Of course the right is guilty of this one too.
"Pro-life" = anti-abortion.
Now that I've mentioned abortion, let's just call both sides what they are, pro and anti abortion, and be done with it.
The point is that whenever anyone resorts to rhetorical tricks instead of just stating things in a straight forward manner, you can dismiss them.
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