I would appreicate if you guys can rate the following argument for me.
_____________________________________________________
The following appeared in the editorial section of a West Cambria newspaper.
"A recent review of the West Cambria volunteer ambulance service revealed a longer average response time to accidents than was reported
by a commercial ambulance squad located in East Cambria. In order to provide better patient care for accident victims and to raise revenue
for our town by collecting service fees for ambulance use, we should disband our volunteer service and hire a commercial ambulance
service."
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
_____________________________________________________
The author argues that West Cambria should hire commercial ambulance service and discontinue the volunteer ambulance service. As explained below, this conclusion is based on fallacious reasoning , faulty assumptions and lack of credible evidence and information.
First, the author assumes that the demographics of West and East Cambria are the same. The author provides the evidence of longer response time. If the West Cambria has a larger area to cover, then that provides alternative explanation for longer response time. Similarly, the population of the West Cambria may be lot higher than the East Cambria thus resulting in longer response time. These scenarios will not be addressed by hiring the commercial ambulance service as they will face the same issues. Also, the author also does not provide any quantitative figures for longer response time. The actually difference in the response time may actually be negligible.
Secondly, author assumes that revenues will increase by default if the commercial ambulance service is hired. What if the hiring costs are prohibitive themselves? If the hiring costs offset the increased revenues, if any, from hiring the commercial services, there is no point in hiring these services. Worst case, West Cambria may actually face losses depending on the contract with these commercial services. Hence, the author needs to consider the total costs (one including hiring costs) before making any conclusions about the expected revenues.
Finally, author mentions about the better care for accident victims. The ambulance care may not necessarily be used for the accident victims only. It can and typically, does get used for all kinds of emergencies. The volunteer ambulance service may already be doing better job at addressing the accident victims. Author can be more convincing if he can provide more data around services rendered, specifically for the accident victims.
Given above mentioned deficiencies, the author's argument is difficult to support. Author needs to do a better job at explaining any assumptions, drawing the conclusion and providing the evidence.
_____________________________________________________
The following appeared in the editorial section of a West Cambria newspaper.
"A recent review of the West Cambria volunteer ambulance service revealed a longer average response time to accidents than was reported
by a commercial ambulance squad located in East Cambria. In order to provide better patient care for accident victims and to raise revenue
for our town by collecting service fees for ambulance use, we should disband our volunteer service and hire a commercial ambulance
service."
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
_____________________________________________________
The author argues that West Cambria should hire commercial ambulance service and discontinue the volunteer ambulance service. As explained below, this conclusion is based on fallacious reasoning , faulty assumptions and lack of credible evidence and information.
First, the author assumes that the demographics of West and East Cambria are the same. The author provides the evidence of longer response time. If the West Cambria has a larger area to cover, then that provides alternative explanation for longer response time. Similarly, the population of the West Cambria may be lot higher than the East Cambria thus resulting in longer response time. These scenarios will not be addressed by hiring the commercial ambulance service as they will face the same issues. Also, the author also does not provide any quantitative figures for longer response time. The actually difference in the response time may actually be negligible.
Secondly, author assumes that revenues will increase by default if the commercial ambulance service is hired. What if the hiring costs are prohibitive themselves? If the hiring costs offset the increased revenues, if any, from hiring the commercial services, there is no point in hiring these services. Worst case, West Cambria may actually face losses depending on the contract with these commercial services. Hence, the author needs to consider the total costs (one including hiring costs) before making any conclusions about the expected revenues.
Finally, author mentions about the better care for accident victims. The ambulance care may not necessarily be used for the accident victims only. It can and typically, does get used for all kinds of emergencies. The volunteer ambulance service may already be doing better job at addressing the accident victims. Author can be more convincing if he can provide more data around services rendered, specifically for the accident victims.
Given above mentioned deficiencies, the author's argument is difficult to support. Author needs to do a better job at explaining any assumptions, drawing the conclusion and providing the evidence.
