Argument Task to be reviewed

[Kaushik KS]

Argument:

The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Balmer Island Gazette.

 

 

"On Balmer Island, where mopeds serve as a popular form of transportation, the population increases to 100,000 during the summer months. To reduce the number of accidents involving mopeds and pedestrians, the town council of Balmer Island should limit the number of mopeds rented by the island's moped rental companies from 50 per day to 25 per day during the summer season. By limiting the number of rentals, the town council will attain the 50 percent annual reduction in moped accidents that was achieved last year on the neighboring island of Seaville, when Seaville's town council enforced similar limits on moped rentals."

Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the recommendation is likely to have the predicted result. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the recommendation.

 

 

 

My response:

The author has tried to make a case for the increased number of accidents that are observed in Seaville particularly during the summer season. However, the facts provided by the author are not complete and there are many logical links that are missing between the facts. Many assumptions are preposterously made and conclusions are drawn which are consequently rife with fallacies. Thus the following questions need to be answered before a major decision is taken and implemented.

 

The primary question to be raised is whether the populations of the two islands are the similar in terms of popular mode of transport. It is nowhere mentioned that the major form of transport in Seaville is moped. Moreover, Seaville might be a place known for scenic beauties and wonderful bike rides. So, obviously the probability of moped accidents taking place in Seaville will be higher due to reckless riding in high speeds. The author can further strengthen his argument by providing more comparative statistics regarding the vehicular usage in the two towns.

The next issue to be pondered about before taking such a major decision, is nature of the accidents that have taken place. It has plainly been mentioned that the accidents concerning mopeds and pedestrians is high. There is no survey conducted to prove that it is because of nonchalant driving of mopeds. For all we know, it might be reckless pedestrians who aren’t educated with proper lane disciplines. Or it could be an underdeveloped place where street vandalism is at its peak. Thus these labyrinthine facts have to be taken into account before moving ahead with decisions.

 

The increase in the population has directly been associated with the number of moped accidents just because of the fact that mopeds are a primary mode of transport. So, the final question to be asked is whether the rental sales is actually high during the summer season.  No facts, surveys or statistics have been proposed by the author in his argument regarding the sales. The increase in population during the summer might be because of a fair that takes place within the city. In such a case the number of moped rentals might not really be that high. Thus, the author can strengthen his argument by collecting the sales information of mopeds during the summer season.

 

It is very easy to conclude that the sporadic increase in accidents during summer season is mainly due to mopeds since it is a very well established fact that two wheelers are unsafe. But, detailed scrutiny of facts is necessary before major decisions like this aretaken failing which, the livelihood of many people who rent bikes will dolefully deteriorate.