arg(max)

I must be in a mood today because I find myself picking on helpless newspaper bloggers. I’m more frustrated in the quality of arguments people carelessly throw out on the web. From a perspective, the cost of posting columns is so low that it makes sense. But when you’re backed by a newspaper I expect more thoughtful arguments. Not the typical, “in my experience,” or, ” I knew a family when…” A single case does not make a convincing argument. Here is a comment I posted on one such website discussing a possible cigarette tax in Iowa.

The most pathetic argument to be used in favor of a cigarette tax is one that generalizes a single, familiar experience to justify a policy that impacts a certainly diverse set. While I technically agree that a cigarette tax, among other policies, is appropriate; you neglect to mention a single point that lends support for the tax. First, people are allowed to make consumption decisions without those decisions being termed wasteful. Your definition of wasteful is neither complete or absolute. And if, as you claim, people are augmenting food income with food stamps to free up income for cigarettes, your argument should be in favor of eliminating food aid programs. Second, you haven’t reported the numbers for the population who smoke and don’t have health insurance. According to studies, health care costs shared by the public will increase, yet these studies fail to reflect the increase in coverage required for longevity effects. Everyone at a stage in their life will get sick. If it’s not smoking related then there will be another factor (obesity possibly). These effects need to be recognized if an honest debate on the issue can occur.
It is careless to approach your columns in this fashion. It serves little purpose in furthering the argument and only amounts to stratifying your audience. If I were to write a column concerning stay-at-home mothers and their self-importance I would be promoting a careless opinion. It is certainly not true and I have no evidence to support the claim. What is necessary, however, is a subjective understanding of the solution. Present facts and step back from your ideas for a second. Even questioning yourself can be an important exercise. But carelessly expressing your opinion with little aforethought does little to strengthen your ideas.