argument 10彼岸小组第6次作业 by muzhihao

muzhihao1UID: 2959675

"Thedepartment of agriculture in Batavia reports that the number of dairy farmsthroughout the country is now 25 percent greater than it was 10 years ago.During this same time period, however, the price of milk at the local ExcelloFood Market has increased from $1.50 to over $3.00 per gallon. To preventfarmers from continuing to receive excessive profits on an apparently increasedsupply of milk, the Batavia government should begin to regulate retail milkprices. Such regulation is necessary to ensure both lower prices and anadequate supply of milk for consumers."

Thearguer asserted that the Batavia government should regulate retail milk pricesto lower the price and supply adequate milk for consumers. This argument isbased on a report telling the number of dairy farms increases and the price ofmilk also, which indicates the farmers make excessive profits.

Firstly,the arguer is too imprudent to draw the conclusion that the farmers arereceiving excessive profits, only according to the price of the milk. As we allknow, the profit is determined by both the price and the cost. If the cost ofthe milk is unknown, it's entirely possible that the farmers are making lessmoney, even selling their products in a higher price, for the growing cost. Tostrengthen the argument, a survey about the detailed cost of the machines,material and the salary of the workers should be conducted. Afterwards, thearguer need to work out the certain statistics of the farmers' profit, incomparison with the lateral market price of some other products, to show up theactual situation of the farmers' business.

Secondly,the arguer fails to carefully consider the possible causes of the priceincrease at the local market. It's widely acknowledged that as the amounts ofthe products ascend, the price descends. Without the information about theoutput of the milk, the change in price can also be reasonably explained by thereason that the output of per farm is reducing at a fast pace than theincreasing number of the farm. What's more, the price of the milk is inrelevant to the economy of the society and events like the inflation wouldcontribute to its price change. The evidence is invalid to demonstrate thearguer's point unless necessary evidence is provided.

Finally,the regulation may not lead to the result as the arguer assumes. The constraintin the price, which inevitably cause less revenue, may compel some farmers toleave their farms and in turn, will bring about the shortage of the milk.Furthermore, the assumption that if the retail milk prices are regulated, theconsumers would buy more milk with the same money, reveals the arguer'sregardlessness of the potential demands of the consumers for the milk. It'sunwise to judge the price is controlled by the farmers, without precluding theregulation of the market. If the milk is in great need, naturally the pricewill increase and the restraint in the price will deprive the farmers of someresource which can be used to produce more milk.

To sumup, the report is inadequate in supporting the arguer's point without anecessary investigation into the market of the milk. The arguer should seek formore evidence, like the present supply of the milk, the specific demands forthe milk and the price level of the market, to choose whether to regulate theprice of the milk or not.