CR Tax Cut problem

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CR Tax Cut problem

by cah1b09 » Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:49 pm
I have the following problem and I am not convinced with the answer in PlatinumGMAT:

Political Commentator: During the previous presidential administration, members of congress approved large tax cuts and yet the economy today stands in shambles. During the current economic crisis, those who espouse large tax cuts as an economic stimulus should consider the failure of tax cuts during the past eight years to prevent the current economic recession as conclusive evidence that tax cuts will not help the country escape from its current economic troubles.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
A) The large tax cuts of the past administration targeted the capital gains on the financial investments of the ultra-rich while proponents of tax cuts today suggest cutting payroll taxes for both employers and employees.
B) Economists from across the spectrum now agree that tax cuts helped stem the country's most severe recession in history, which occurred about 70 years ago prior to industrialization in this country.
C) Economists from across the spectrum predict that if Congress fails to pass the tax-cut legislation, which also includes government spending and much more, it could well be 15 years before the economy escapes the current recession.
D) Economists from across the spectrum agree that these tax cuts will add less to the fiscal deficit than the tax cuts of the previous administration.
E) During the most recent political campaign cycle, which featured many deceptive political attacks, the governor of a prosperous state attacked those who opposed tax cuts by citing his own state's ostensible prosperity.

I will post the answer after few justified replies.
Source: — Critical Reasoning |

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by paes » Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:20 pm
IMO A

It s giving that there is some difference between previous and currenct tax cut.
So we can't compare them

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by cah1b09 » Sat Jul 31, 2010 9:22 am
paes wrote:IMO A

It s giving that there is some difference between previous and currenct tax cut.
So we can't compare them
"A" is the right answer but I was not convinced because it talks about some facts which were not specified anywhere in the passage. The "Don't assume any fact" is not applicable here.

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by M09 » Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:51 pm
paes wrote:IMO A

It s giving that there is some difference between previous and currenct tax cut.
So we can't compare them
I got the point. Thanks!
But Could you please justify why B is a wrong option to select?

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by paes » Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:02 am
cah1b09 wrote:
paes wrote:IMO A

It s giving that there is some difference between previous and currenct tax cut.
So we can't compare them
"A" is the right answer but I was not convinced because it talks about some facts which were not specified anywhere in the passage. The "Don't assume any fact" is not applicable here.
Remember : In a weaken/strengthen/assumption problem, outside information is allowed.
In a inference/main-point problem, outside formation is not allowed.

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by paes » Sun Aug 01, 2010 1:04 am
M09 wrote:
paes wrote:IMO A

It s giving that there is some difference between previous and currenct tax cut.
So we can't compare them
I got the point. Thanks!
But Could you please justify why B is a wrong option to select?
B says : Economists from across the spectrum now agree <X>

Remember : somebody agree or not agree : does not matter for a statement to make it weak or strong

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by Shawshank » Sun Aug 01, 2010 6:04 am
Looks pretyt straight forward to me,,, Did i miss something,,

IMO -- A
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