December Close Reading

You Mean Those People Who Put Me Here?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/opinion/you-mean-those-people-who-put-me-here.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

This article, found in the NY Times editorials, criticizes the "revamping" of the New York tax code by Governor Cuomo. The author of this article uses diction, details, and syntax in order to convey his message and opinion on the topic and pursuade readers to feel the way he does.

The author uses diction in the article in order to convey his negative opinion on the new tax code. In today's economy, "deficit" is always used in an extremely bad way. The country's deficit is out of control and still growing, so when he mentions that the tax code will not help solve the "deficit," it makes readers feel poorly about it as well. With all the buzz of the Occupy Wall Street movement, the country's leaders have been paying much attention to the "middle-class" rights. This middle class makes up a large portion of the US population and is very sensitive to taxes. When the author mentions that the new taxes will have "modest" effects on the "middle class" many people would disagree with this change.

The author also uses some specific details to support his claims in the article. The author mentions that this tax will raise about $2 billion dollars, only "half as much as the so-called millionaire's tax" and that the state deficit will be at least $1.5 billion next year. These details support how ineffective the new tax will be at curing the financial disaster. The author further criticizes the tax code by mentioning how little it will do for the middle class, and that the biggest tax break will go to those "with taxable income from about $300,000 to $2 million a year." The author of this article also makes fun of the New York governor by mentioning his odd statement, "I am the government" of New York state.

The author lastly uses syntax by asking obvious questions of the readers. The title is a sarcastic question, "You mean the people that put me here?" This is criticizing the governor, who was elected by the majority population (middle class) and who is doing nothing to help these people. The article also asks "and for the voters and taxpayers?" and answers that they were left out of the loop. These questions cause the readers to wonder about the intentions of the governor and agree that he is being unfair to those who actually put him in office.

By using specific diciton, details, and syntax the author effectively criticizes this new New York tax code and how ineffective it will be. The author's use of these elements pursuades readers to feel the same way.