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08 Nov 2016, 01:06
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The following letter to the editor appeared in the Coastal Times:
It has become clear that President Leonard needs to be recalled. His approval rating is down below 50% and the unemployment rate is well above its historical average. While I agree with his handling of the recent international conflicts, we simply cannot afford such stagnant economic growth. We must recall President Leonard in order to put our neighbors back to work!
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
My response:
The above argument is flawed because it lacks information vital for the evaluation of the situation at hand.
Firstly, argument asserts that the incumbent president should be recalled because his approval ratings are below 50% and because the unemployment rates are above the historical average. However, no information has been provided on the basis of which the approval ratings have been given. The nature and source of the ratings are ambiguous. Additionally, the unemployment rate may well be high, however, we are not certain of the reasons for it being above average. There might be external factors which are contributing to the high level of unemployment in the economy that are not under the presidents control. The argument must provide data for unemployment rates during the regimes of other presidents against which the current rate can be compared. Without proper comparison and adequate and certain reasons, it is incorrect to attribute the high level of unemployment to the incumbent president. The argument also omits information regarding the steps that the incumbent president might have taken to bring down the high level of unemployment.
Secondly, the argument mentions that the president is handling international conflicts. The presence of such conflicts could be one of the main factors that are resulting in a drain of the nation's resources and causing unemployment. The president's efforts to handle these conflicts are themselves and indication that he intends to resolve the issues at hand that might be causing economic stagnation. We are also unaware of whether the conflicts are a result of the current regime's policies and clashes with other nations or whether they are the consequences of the poor decisions made by the previous administration, for which the incumbent president cannot be blamed, but should rather be supported since he is the one left to do the damage control. We also do not know for how long the incumbent president has been in office. If he has recently taken charge then more time is needed before one can reasonably assess the soundness of his policies and actions. Most One cannot also neglect the fact that international compromises and conflicts take a long time to start showing positive effects. Hence, if any steps have been taken or any compromises reached then time needs to given for them to take effect and produce positive results for the economy.
Thirdly, the argument also suggests that the economic stagnation is due to his incompetence. However, it does not provide any information to support its assertion. In order to prove that the incumbent president's policies are ineffective or their poor execution are the reasons for high unemployment and slowed economic growth, we need more information on the president's policies and the steps that he has taken to execute them effectively or ineffectively.
To summarize, information regarding all factors affecting unemployment whether internal or external such as the international conflicts mentioned above must be given in addition to data on the incumbent president's policies and his efforts to mitigate the slowed economic growth. Only when these statistics are given and compared against the data of the previous administration can one make a decision on whether the president needs to be recalled or not.
Thank you for your time and help!!!!:)))))
It has become clear that President Leonard needs to be recalled. His approval rating is down below 50% and the unemployment rate is well above its historical average. While I agree with his handling of the recent international conflicts, we simply cannot afford such stagnant economic growth. We must recall President Leonard in order to put our neighbors back to work!
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underlie the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound, and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate its conclusion.
My response:
The above argument is flawed because it lacks information vital for the evaluation of the situation at hand.
Firstly, argument asserts that the incumbent president should be recalled because his approval ratings are below 50% and because the unemployment rates are above the historical average. However, no information has been provided on the basis of which the approval ratings have been given. The nature and source of the ratings are ambiguous. Additionally, the unemployment rate may well be high, however, we are not certain of the reasons for it being above average. There might be external factors which are contributing to the high level of unemployment in the economy that are not under the presidents control. The argument must provide data for unemployment rates during the regimes of other presidents against which the current rate can be compared. Without proper comparison and adequate and certain reasons, it is incorrect to attribute the high level of unemployment to the incumbent president. The argument also omits information regarding the steps that the incumbent president might have taken to bring down the high level of unemployment.
Secondly, the argument mentions that the president is handling international conflicts. The presence of such conflicts could be one of the main factors that are resulting in a drain of the nation's resources and causing unemployment. The president's efforts to handle these conflicts are themselves and indication that he intends to resolve the issues at hand that might be causing economic stagnation. We are also unaware of whether the conflicts are a result of the current regime's policies and clashes with other nations or whether they are the consequences of the poor decisions made by the previous administration, for which the incumbent president cannot be blamed, but should rather be supported since he is the one left to do the damage control. We also do not know for how long the incumbent president has been in office. If he has recently taken charge then more time is needed before one can reasonably assess the soundness of his policies and actions. Most One cannot also neglect the fact that international compromises and conflicts take a long time to start showing positive effects. Hence, if any steps have been taken or any compromises reached then time needs to given for them to take effect and produce positive results for the economy.
Thirdly, the argument also suggests that the economic stagnation is due to his incompetence. However, it does not provide any information to support its assertion. In order to prove that the incumbent president's policies are ineffective or their poor execution are the reasons for high unemployment and slowed economic growth, we need more information on the president's policies and the steps that he has taken to execute them effectively or ineffectively.
To summarize, information regarding all factors affecting unemployment whether internal or external such as the international conflicts mentioned above must be given in addition to data on the incumbent president's policies and his efforts to mitigate the slowed economic growth. Only when these statistics are given and compared against the data of the previous administration can one make a decision on whether the president needs to be recalled or not.
Thank you for your time and help!!!!:)))))
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