#25 - The government has no right to tax earnings from labor. Taxation of this kind requires the

[Administrator]

Complete Question Explanation

Method of Reasoning. The correct answer choice is (C).

Answer choice (A):

Answer choice (B):

Answer choice (C): This is the correct answer choice.

Answer choice (D):

Answer choice (E):

This explanation is still in progress. Please post any questions below!

[sdb606]

Why isn't it A?

Government is obligated to not tax earnings if earnings are taxed, the worker will be forced to work for another's purpose working for another's purpose is pernicious taxation is violates individual rights.

Is A a reverse answer? Should the flow be:

An individual has a right to not work for another's purpose taxation is forcing one to work for another's purpose taxation is bad government is obligated not to do it.

[KelseyWoods]

Hi sdb606!

The conclusion of this argument is the first sentence. It breaks down like this:

Premise: Taxing earnings from labor requires the laborer to devote a certain percentage of hours worked to earning money for the government.
Sub-conclusion: such taxation forces the laborer to work, in part, for another’s purpose.

Premise: involuntary servitude can be defined as forced work for another’s purpose,
Sub-conclusion: just as involuntary servitude is pernicious, so is taxing earnings from labor.

Main Conclusion: The government has no right to tax earnings from labor.

The author supports the main conclusion by arguing that taxing earnings from labor is similar to involuntary servitude and then argues that since involuntary servitude is bad, taxing earnings from labor is bad too.

That's what answer choice (C) describes: "inferring that since two institutions (taxing earnings from labor and involuntary servitude) are similar in one respect (forced work for another's purpose), they are similar in another respect (pernicious)."

As you noted, answer choice (A) is somewhat backwards. The author is not "deriving a general principle about the rights of individuals from a judgment concerning the obligations of governments." The author is deriving a principle about the rights of governments from a comparison between taxation and involuntary servitude.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Kelsey