第七篇 argument 237 顺路的帮忙拍死我！

raisebenUID: 2867978

TOPIC: ARGUMENT237 - 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."
WORDS: 517
TIME: 00:58:51
DATE: 2011/2/10 13:36:22

The argument appears to be convincing at the first glance. The arguer hastily asserts that the fastest ways to simulate economic development and reduce unemployment for Beauville is to provide tax incentives and other financial inducements encouraging private companies to relocate there. The conclusion is referenced to the experience in the city of Dillton. Additionally, the author unfairly assumes the prosperities in Dillton owing to the policies--reducing its corporate tax rate by 15 percent and offering relocation grants and favorable rates on city utilities to any company that would relocate to Dillton. Only a simple example is given to demonstrate the prosperities in Doillton. Several logical flaws, however, make it unstable as it stands.


To begin with, the author merely tells us the single data that two manufacturing companies moved to Dillton, where they employ a total of 300 people during 18 months since the new policies went to effects without complete information when concerning whether the local economy has been booming or not. Our real concern is if the data of per capita gross product is of growth, and if living condition of residents has been considerable improved. On the contrary, it is more likely that the local rate in unemployment is increasing, and more and more stores have to be closed forever because of the economic depression and so on. If so, how can writer come to such a conclusion just informed with the partial information?


In addition, even assuming the booming in Dillton, the author directly contributes appearance to the policies made by local government. There is no evidence presented that merely these actions had anything whatsoever to do with the prosperities in Dillton after these policies become effective. Perhaps Dillton is in good condition about mild climate and good environment available to live, strategic location and convenient transportation. It is entirely possible that without these policies, the economy of the city is very prosperous in the first place, or the policies are not the main reason. As a result, the author cannot justified conclude that policies of Dillton is the main cause, or even a contributing cause, of prosperities.



Last but not least, even if policies as mentioned are proven effective in Dillton, there is no assurance that they will just work as well in Beauville. Yet this argument fails to take into consideration other possible conditions for the disparity in the two cities such as traffic loads, location and other environmental variables. Common sense informs us that Beauville was in low tax rate before. Just providing tas incentives cannot work, and the government will not have sufficient gains on cities utilities, for instance. Therefore, even if the policies are confirmed effective in Dillton, there is no warranty that it will be suitable to another city, Beauville.
To sum up, the arguer fails to build any clear correlation between the two cites. To boost the economy of city of Beauville, there must be many ways instead of copying the method in Dillton, such as more concerning about the local existing industries, and encouraging the development of education and innovation to stimulate local economy.