The American Tobacco Company
1. The American Tobacco Company has argued for years that smoking is not really unhealthy, but what would you expect the company to say? It would take the same position regardless of any evidence, so I can’t trust them.
2. The Joint Chiefs of Staff argue that the U.S. government needs to increase its military budget, but an opponent responds, “Well, of course, they will want as much money as they can get for their departments. They always ask for more money even though most of the time they don’t really need it. So this time, again, they probably don’t need it.”
3. After Congress passes a military draft during a war, an opponent says, “If members of Congress were eligible for the draft, they would not vote for it. So we must not really need a draft.”
4. Of course, the party in power is opposed to term limits. That’s just because they want to stay in power.
5. The main opposition to tax reductions comes from people who depend on government programs funded by taxes, so they can hardly be impartial, but only those who are impartial should be allowed to speak on such a crucial issue for our whole country.
6. The main support for tax reductions comes from people who pay taxes, so their views can’t be a reliable indicator of what the best policy is.
7. Very few citizens have studied the entire tax code, and nobody understands the effect of taxes on the economy, so we have little reason to believe them when they say that present tax policies will destroy the economy.
8. An economist cites recent trends in sales of raw materials as evidence of an upturn in the economy, and then a critic, who doubts the economist’s prediction, responds, “If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich?”
9. As a criticism of pro-choice activists, Ronald Reagan said, “I’ve noticed that everybody who is for abortion has already been born.”
10. Attacking male opponents of abortion, a feminist claims, “Most opponents of abortion are men.”
11. When a member of a fraternity argued for co-ed houses in place of frater- nities, a critic responded, “When he quits his fraternity in protest and joins a co-ed house, then he will earn the right to criticize us.”
12. When Fred argues at a fraternity meeting that his house should admit women, another member announces, “Let me remind you all that Fred held exactly the opposite position last year.”
13. Let he who is without sin among you cast the first stone. (John 8:7)