In defense of the slippery slope argument...

Flopping Aces ^ | 04-15-13 | Vince

[Starman417]

Liberals constantly decry conservatives’ slippery slope arguments against their progressive legislation as simply red herrings. Their refrain is usually “Don’t be absurd, no one’s trying to do _____ (insert the relevant slippery slope argument here).” They suggest that such an argument is mere hyperbole and conservatives are introducing ideas no one wants.

As usual, the liberals are wrong on both scores. History provides a rich trove of liberal camel noses leading to a tents full of camels.

The most famous of course is the income tax. In 1913 when the income tax was established, the top rates began at 1% on income over $20,000 ($450,000 in today’s dollars) and topped out at 6% for income over $500,000 ($11,430,000 today). Today, 100 years later, the income tax applies to virtually everyone earning more than $11,000 per year and tops out at 39.6% for incomes above $400,000. Think about that… the highest rate today applies to an income that would not even have qualified for the lowest tax bracket in 1913. And a tax code that started out four pages long is today four times as long as the Bible!

Then there is Roe v. Wade. In the run up to Roe v. Wade, liberals claimed women simply deserved the right to choose for themselves. How different would the arguments have been in the statehouses and courthouses if opponents could see that in 40 years the government would require abortifacients be available to underage girls without their parents’ consent or that government would be funding hundreds of thousands of abortions a year?

How about the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was intended to prohibit discrimination against the handicapped? What started out seeking sidewalk ramps, wider doors and job security for the handicapped has morphed into the government demanding companies allow alcoholics to drive trucks, forcing cities, towns and businesses to spend thousands of dollars or shut down swimming pools, or requiring companies to offer separate bathroom facilities to those too shy to pee in public bathrooms. Today the Americans with Disabilities Act has become a tort tool for lawyers and leaches to extort millions of dollars out of the pockets of small businesses.

Liberals may not like it, but the slippery slope is indeed a reality. What is outlandish hyperbole today is tomorrow’s reality. That is the fundamental nature of government. History clearly demonstrates the avaricious nature of government and its intent to expand its power in myriad ways once it gets a toehold in virtually any arena.

Unfortunately, the slippery slope is not just a parlor game. It has real consequences in the real world. Today there are two issues where the slippery slope argument is particularly relevant: gay marriage and guns.

(excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...

[humblegunner]

How do you defend your “pimpalicious” posting history?

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:starman417/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change

[Little Ray]

Slippery slope?
What do call “abortion in the first trimester” going “partial birth abortion” and the to Dr. Gorrell?
“Slippery slope” isn’t an argument - it is a fact!

[Slyfox]

Today, 100 years later, the income tax applies to virtually everyone earning more than $11,000 per year and tops out at 39.6% for incomes above $400,000.

Unless you are Nobama, then you only have to pay 18% on your income.

[humblegunner]

You’re wasting your time posting to this dude.

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:starman417/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change

It’s a bot and is not programmed to reply to your comments.

[Stepan12]

Communists and neo Communists always use salami slicing tactics. These people are not debaters at some Aristotelian lyceum. They are power lusting criminals trying to sneak their poisonous ideology into our once noble republic.

[Standing Wolf]

Liberals may not like it, but the slippery slope is indeed a reality. What is outlandish hyperbole today is tomorrow’s reality. That is the fundamental nature of government. History clearly demonstrates the avaricious nature of government and its intent to expand its power in myriad ways once it gets a toehold in virtually any arena.

Well said!

Some slippery slope arguments actually are logical fallacies; whenever the topic is government, however, there's a very high probability they're accurate predictions.

[beef]

There is a big difference between debate club rules and real life. 60’s radical Mark Rudd said it best, “The issue is NOT the issue!”