This disputes the assumption that any income tax bracket exceeding 30 percent is high enough to create a negative incentive for technological innovation.

This calls into question the general rule, critical to the politician’s argument, that a high income tax produces a negative incentive for innovation.

This refutes the assumption that nations who lag in the arms race must be strategically disadvantaged, and thus breaks a link in the politician’s chain of reasoning.

This disputes the assumption that nations that lose international power risk compromising their values or way of life, breaking a link in the politician’s chain of reasoning.

This is consistent with the politician’s statements because he says that falling behind in the arms race will cause a country to lose its international power, even if it’s due to foolishness.