ARGUMENT7 =August Rush=小组 by KevinSpacey

KevinSpaceyUID：2645771

TOPIC: ARGUMENT7 - The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Clearview newspaper.

"In the next mayoral election, residents of Clearview should vote for Ann Green, who is a member of the Good Earth Coalition, rather than for Frank Braun, a member of the Clearview town council, because the current members are not protecting our environment. For example, during the past year the number of factories in Clearview has doubled, air pollution levels have increased, and the local hospital has treated 25 percent more patients with respiratory illnesses. If we elect Ann Green, the environmental problems in Clearview will certainly be solved."

KevinSpaceyUID：2645771

WORDS: 523
TIME: 01:02:11
DATE: 2009/8/9 16:30:51

The notion that residents should vote for Ann Green seems at first glance to be an obvious conclusion. After all, this guy seems like friendlier to environment than Frank Braun. However, the conclusion that if Green becomes mayor, the environmental problem will be solved is unconvincing for several critical flaws.

First of all, the examples - like the number of factories, air pollution level, and the number of respiratory patients - provided in the letter cannot prove that the environment of the Clearview town is being damaged during the past year. There is no evidence in the letter to show the new factories are polluting style industry. It is entirely possible that these new factories meet the environmental protection standard thus will not damage environment. The author also fails to provide the real reason why the pollution levels of town increased. Perhaps the weather last year is unusual than before that the pollution gas cannot be released by the wind in time which makes the air seems like more dirty. It is not mentioned in the letter what causes the respiratory illness. In fact, perhaps the respiratory ill is one kind of epidemic disease but not the result of pollution air. In one word, the author cannot convince me the environment of the town is getting worse.

Even if it is true that the environment was severe damaged during the past year, the letter contains no evidence to support the assumption that the town council is not protecting the environment. Lacking evidence it is equally possible that the polluting factories are built by federal or state government. Perhaps the town council members did whatever they can to resist the order of federal or state government, however, they just failed unfortunately.

The author also fails to differentiate the institution with its members. The decisions made by the town council are no indication of the idea of Frank Braun. Even if the town council is not friendly to environment, it does not mean Braun is too. All decision the council makes are the result of the discussion and the voting. Thus, until the author substantiates that Braun is indeed not protecting environment I remain unconvinced.

The conclusion that Green will solve the environmental problems suggests that it is presumed that Green was and will be always protecting the environment. This is often not the case. It is possible that after Green become the mayor he tend to care about the tax revenue but not the environment, or that he would be corrupt and become the delegate of the pollution factories businessmen. There is also no evidence to show Green is competent for the mayor. The author forgets two more important character of a leader – moral and ability.

To make the letter more convincing, the author need to provide evidence to bolster the assumption that the environment of town is getting worse during past year and that Frank Braun is not protecting the environment as a member of town council. The author should also evaluate the morality of Ann Green to make sure he will always try to protect environment and do good for the residents.