[风雨与共] 第一周 argument习作 argument 237 by 【7】

shawn_pysUID: 2770388

237. The following appeared as part of an article in a local Beauville newspaper.
"According to a government report, last year the city of Dillton reduced its corporate tax rate by 15 percent; at the same time, it began offering relocation grants and favorable rates on city utilities to any company that would relocate to Dillton. Within 18 months, two manufacturing companies moved to Dillton, where they employ a total of 300 people. Therefore, the fastest way for Beauville to stimulate economic development and hence reduce unemployment is to provide tax incentives and other financial inducements that encourage private companies to relocate here."

1.急于概括，仅仅给出了D城的两项优惠政策，不没有提到D城是否有其他的政策，因此不能说2家新搬去的制造公司就归因于这两项政策
2. B城跟D城的实际情况可能有很多的不同，不能进行类比
3. D城是去年采取的措施，而时间已经过了18个月了，情况可能已经发生了很多改变，比如说很多公司在这一年的时间里已经去了比较优惠的地区
4. 2个公司带来的工作可能并无法解决就业问题

（文章和提纲有些出入）

In this argument, the author relies on certain evidences about the incentives that Dillton provide to attract more company to relocate into it, as well as the changes take place in it, to convince us of the conclusion that the fastest way for Beauville to stimulate economic development and hence reduce unemployment is to provide tax incentives and other financial inducements that encourage private companies to relocate here. One incentive that Dillton provide is reducing its corporate tax rate by 15 percent, and the other is offering relocation grants and favorable rates on city utilities to any company that would relocate to Dillton. In the past 18 months there are two manufacturing companies moved to Dillton, where they employ a total of 300 people.

This argument appears to be reasonable at first glance, suffers some critical flaws that seriously undermined the conclusion after close scrutiny of evidence, and accordingly is not thoroughly well-reasoned. The main flaws of the argument would be discussed respectively.

In the first place, the editorial observes a correlation between the incentives given by Dillton and the relocation of the two manufacturing companies to Dillton, and then concludes that the former is the cause of the latter. However, the editorial fails to rule out other possible explanations for the two companies' consideration of the relocation. For example, it is entirely possible that the two firms were motivated primarily by Dillton's climate, labor pool, or some other factor. Any of these factors, or other social, political or economic factors, might lead to such relocation as ones of the two business mentioned above. Without ruling out all other such factors it is unfair to conclude that television programs are responsible for this increase.

Secondly, even if it was Dillton's new incentives that enticed the two companies to Dillton, the argument relies on an additional assumption, which renders it unconvincing as it stands. Offered in the argument, the only evidence is that the two manufacturers employ 300 people at sum. Lacking the firm support, it might be the case that the number of the unemployment is much greater the 300. If so, it turns out that these new jobs are far from enough to resolve the problem. Since the author fails to account for this possibility, he or she could not convince us of the assertion that the incentives will be effective, let alone the conclusion.

Finally, granted that the author justifies all the foregoing assumption, the conclusion remains to be doubtful since the arguer fails to consider alternative means available. For example to improve the education quality, the public safe level may also attractive firms. For the author do nothing about comparing those solutions' advisability, it is unfair to say the "best" way to solve the unemployment problems and spur economics is which.

In sum, this argument, while seems well-supported at first, has several flaws as discussed above. Hence it is unacceptable and of no persuasion as it stand. Yet, it could be substantiated by providing more solid evidence that some business will be interested in relocate to Beauville if some incentives are provided. In addition, to further bolster the conclusion, the arguer should furnish the demonstration weighing several solutions' effectiveness. Accordingly, only with more logical reasoning could this argument turn to be more than just an emotional appeal.