Editor: Many candidates say that if elected they will reduce governmental intrusion into voters' lives. But voters a...
mgraves5August 23, 2019
How does A strengthen
A makes perfect sense if the question was a weaken question or would strengthen the argument if the conclusion was that intrusion would be reduce over time. As I interpret the conclusion it says that intrusion will rarely be reduced over time. How will politicians keeping their promises make that stronger? I would think that if they kept their promises intrusion would be reduced over time, not rarely reduced. My only thought is that if they keep their promise to provide assistance and assistance is considered intrusion then that would make sense. Seems like a very tricky question, but clearly 3 answers could be eliminated.
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In the stimulus, the editor tells us that some politicians promise that they will get the government to reduce their intrusion into people's lives. However, voters actually vote for politicians who promise that government will help solve their most pressing problems. This assistance costs money, and money can only come from taxes. To top it off, taxes are a type of government intrusion. The editor then concludes that governmental intrusion into the lives of voters will rarely be substantially reduced over time in a democracy.
There are two large assumptions that the argument is making. The first is that the argument is assuming that the politicians will fulfill their promises, as the premise states that voters elect politicians who promise assistance. Additionally, taxes are simply one type of governmental intrusion. The argument is assuming that other types of governmental intrusion will not be reduced to compensate for any increase in taxes. The correct answer choice will likely fill in one of these gaps.
(A) says, "Politicians who win their elections usually keep their campaign promises."
(A) looks great. We know that voters elect politicians who promise to give assistance. (A) tells us that the politicians will fulfill their promises, which means that higher taxes and additional intrusion are far more likely. Thus, (A) is the correct answer choice, as it fills in the gap of one of the two big assumptions in the argument.
Does this make sense? Let us know if you have any other questions!
