Chapter 21 Exercise 1.

The Shoelaces
Angle Concl’n Rule RP RA

Pro-tariff Political Foreign trade on shoelace
economy will not only take a toll on
our domestic manufacturers
but also threaten our national
security.
√Anti- Quantitative Foreign trade on shoelace is
tariff economics not only pragmatic but also
directing scarce economic
resources to efficient use.
1. Domestic manufacturers shall lose
competitive edge where (1) foreign
labor is cheap and (2) no tariff is
imposed on our imports.
2. Our national defense ability shall
be compromised where foreign
competition completely elbows out
our domestic manufacturers.
1. Goods shall be cheap where they
are essential to everyday life.
2. People shall be globalization-
pragmatic where international trade
is unstoppable.
3. Market efficiency shall be impeded
where (1) tariff distorts prices and
(2) scares resources are directed
towards incompetent industries.
1. Political economic law
§? Case precedents?
2. Political economic law
§? Case precedents?
1. Price is determined by
the marginal utility of the
product. Air is free.
Water costs little.
2. International trade is well
grounded on comparative
advantage theory and
international finance.
Interdependence among
nations is the trend.
(Nye, Jr.)
3. That foreign trade
expands a nation’s ability
to grow wealth while
tariff costs economic loss
is ground on established
economic theory.
1. Cheap foreign labor brings
down their production costs
as well as prices. Unless
taxed, our domestic
manufacturers will lose
substantial market share to
foreign shoelace products.
2. ? no factual evidence to be
applied
1. Shoelace, like table salt, is a
necessity. It shall be cheap.
2. It is impossible to cut
Americans off imported
goods in today’s globalized
commerce, high prices hurts
consumers and take a toll on
import/ export companies.
3. Even if American shoelace
manufacturers go out of
business due to foreign
competition, economic
resources will be directed to
industries that Americans
claim advantages.
Although the pro-tariff argument painted a vivid picture of closing factories and devastated

workers, which touched our heart and alerted our mind, it lacked substantial authorities to

justify this factual claim. The adverse effect of keeping the trade door wide open is clearly

foreseeable, but unless it is justified by scientific research or empirical studies, it remains a

gut feeling. The anti-tariff argument, on the other hand, counter-argues in terms of common

sense, economic theory and theory of international relations. Although the factual picture it

painted is comparably more abstract, every of its factual claim is substantially backed by

authorities and proof of authorities. Unlike the extreme prediction made at the end of the pro

argument, its counter-argument carries more weight, because it’s closer to our common sense.

The con is more persuasive. The pro could have been so if authorities had backed up the

claims.

Exercise 2. The Painter and the Preschool

Remember that a judge begins to take sides if she or he can visualize real people doing real

things to each other. In the memorandum in Appendix E, how and where are the mental

images created? Find the passages that put them into your mind. What did the writer do to

help you see them?

Appeals to Reason Emotion of fear Endangered social values

Means of 1. duty contaminate, poison, standard of care
appeal 2. breach of duty toxic, septic, fiasco, the health of children
3. damages environmental hazards,
4. proximate reduction of quality of
cause
life