Bunuel
Competition Mode Question
Columnist on the arts: My elected government representatives were within their rights to vote to support the arts with tax dollars. While funded by the government, however, some artists have produced works of art that are morally or aesthetically offensive to many taxpayers. Nonetheless, my conclusion is that no taxpayers have been treated unjustly whose tax dollars are used to fund some particular work of art that they may find abominable.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, most supports the columnist’s argument?
(A) Taxpayers should be allowed to decide whether a portion of their tax dollars is to be used to fund the arts.
(B) The funding of a particular activity is warranted if it is funded by elected representatives who legitimately fund that activity in general.
(C) Elected representatives are within their rights to fund any activity that is supported by a majority of their constituents.
(D) Those who resent taxation to subsidize offensive art should vote against their incumbent government representatives.
(E) Since taxpayers are free to leave their country if they disapprove of their representatives decisions, they have no right to complain about arts funding.
Premises:My elected government representatives were within their rights to vote to support the arts with tax dollars.
While funded by the government, however, some artists have produced works of art that are morally or aesthetically offensive to many taxpayers.
Conclusion: No taxpayers have been treated unjustly whose tax dollars are used to fund some particular work of art that they may find abominable.
What is the principle used to arrive at this conclusion?
It has to be something on the lines of - "It is the right of the elected representatives to decide where to allocate funds even if public doesn't support it."
(B) The funding of a particular activity is warranted if it is funded by elected representatives who legitimately fund that activity in general.Makes sense. It says that funding for an activity is fine if it is funded by elected representatives.
(C) Elected representatives are within their rights to fund any activity that is supported by a majority of their constituents.Here is the problem - supported by a majority of their constituents
This option does not tell us that it is the right of Elected representatives. It tells us that it is their right if it is supported by a majority of the constituents. We know that many
constituents do not support these art works. Do we know whether the majority supports these art works? We don't. Then this principle does not support the columnist's argument.
Answer (B)