Self-study
Editor: Many candidates say that if elected they will reduce governmental intrusion into voters' lives. But voters actually elect politicians who instead promise that the government will provide assistance to solve their most pressing problems. Governmental assistance, however, costs money, and money can come only from taxes, which can be considered a form of governmental intrusion. Thus, governmental intrusion into the lives of voters will rarely be substantially reduced over time in a democracy.
19.
Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the editor's argument?
a
Politicians who win their elections usually keep their campaign promises.
This strengthens the argument. It supports the editor’s assumption that politicians who promise to provide government assistance actually deliver on this promise.
b
Politicians never promise what they really intend to do once in office.
This weakens the argument. It exploits the author’s assumption that politicians who promise to provide government assistance will deliver on this promise.
c
The most common problems people have are financial problems.
This does not affect the argument. Voters prefer candidates who promise to help with their most pressing problems, which don’t also have to be their most common ones. In extension, there is no reason to believe that financial problems are voters’ most pressing problems.
d
Governmental intrusion into the lives of voters is no more burdensome in nondemocratic countries than it is in democracies.
This does not affect the editor’s argument, which is solely about democracies.
e
Politicians who promise to do what they actually believe ought to be done are rarely elected.
This does not affect the argument, which doesn’t discuss whether politicians promise to do things they believe should be done—instead, the argument focuses on politicians’ promises and the consequences of them keeping these promises.