“Why didn’t they fly the eagles to Mordor?” Or, the arrogance of simple solutions

It usually starts with “why don’t (didn’t) they just ____?”

(1) There’s a complicated situation. (2) There’s also an easy and obvious “answer” to the problem.

“Stop using carbon-based energy!”

“Tax the rich / Feed the poor / ’til there’s no rich no more.”

“Pay teachers more.”

“Teach the unemployed to code.”

Is there a name / label for this sort of simple-minded “solution”?

One thought on ““Why didn’t they fly the eagles to Mordor?” Or, the arrogance of simple solutions”

  1. Simple-minded solution might be the winner. Runners up could be: reductive, facile, unsophisticated, sophomoric, and facile.

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