Critical Reasoning

Politician: All nations that place a high tax on income produce thereby a negative incentive for technological innovation, and all nations in which technological innovation is hampered inevitably fall behind in the international arms race. Those nations that, through historical accident or the foolishness of their political leadership, wind up in a strategically
disadvantageous position are destined to lose their voice in world affairs. So if a nation wants to maintain its value system and way of life, it must not allow its highest tax bracket to exceed 30 percent of income.

Each of the following, if true, weakens the politician's argument EXCEPT:

(A) The top level of taxation must reach 45 percent before taxation begins to deter inventors and industrialists from introducing new technologies and industries.

(B) Making a great deal of money is an insignificant factor in driving technological innovation.

(C) Falling behind in the international arms race does not necessarily lead to a strategically less advantageous position.

(D) Those nations that lose influence in the world community do not necessarily suffer from a threat to their value system or way of life.

(E) Allowing one's country to lose its technological edge, especially as concerns weaponry, would be foolish rather than
merely a historical accident.

No OA but IMO E

The argument make a "giant jump" from the nation's strategically disadvantageous position to the loss of Value system and way of life. So here Author has to assume couple of things. So its gives us enough scope to weaken the argument when we identify them and try to " widen " the gap.

Since this is a except question , just try to look for the options that "DOES NOT" weaken the argument.

On that note as u rightly pointed out, E is the right option

Pick E. E does really "NOTHING " to weaken the politicians argument

Can you please explain how A and B are weakening the passage?

reply2spg wrote:Can you please explain how A and B are weakening the passage?

Hey,

The stimulus goes something like this: High tax = negative incentive for tech > low arms > low say in world affairs. Therefore, to maintain value system and way of life, tax should not exceed 30%.

(A) The top level of taxation must reach 45 percent before taxation begins to deter inventors and industrialists from introducing new technologies and industries.

Passage says that highest tax = 30% to deter tech. innovation. (A) says that highest tax = 45% to deter tech. innovation. Therefore it weakens the passage.

(B) Making a great deal of money is an insignificant factor in driving technological innovation.

The passage says that good tax is 30%. This one saying that tax is not a factor in tech innovation. Therefore the tax can be low or high. So it weakens the argument.

I hope this helps!!

Thanks, it helps.

Gurpinder wrote:

reply2spg wrote:Can you please explain how A and B are weakening the passage?

Hey,

The stimulus goes something like this: High tax = negative incentive for tech > low arms > low say in world affairs. Therefore, to maintain value system and way of life, tax should not exceed 30%.

(A) The top level of taxation must reach 45 percent before taxation begins to deter inventors and industrialists from introducing new technologies and industries.

Passage says that highest tax = 30% to deter tech. innovation. (A) says that highest tax = 45% to deter tech. innovation. Therefore it weakens the passage.

(B) Making a great deal of money is an insignificant factor in driving technological innovation.

The passage says that good tax is 30%. This one saying that tax is not a factor in tech innovation. Therefore the tax can be low or high. So it weakens the argument.

I hope this helps!!

I also pick E it does nothing the rest weaken the politician's argument.

I believe B to be effective in a different way to weaken the passage.

It is a more general point as it indicates neither the govt. nor the businesses alone but both of them together. As innovation can be taken up by both. And people usually try and innovate only if they need something new to increases their profits but as it has been stated in the passage if they are already Making a great deal of money then no one will think of innovating.