The Language of Argument

7 0

C H A P T E R 4 ■ T h e A r t o f C l o s e A n a l y s i s

wage, or aid to education, or civil rights, such matters of

housekeeping seem too picayune to merit attention. The

Member simply checks the table and hires what he can hire

under the provisions and then forgets the whole business.

But I know the Members also want the people back home to

realize that what we do here is open and frank and accurate,

and that we set an example in businesslike procedures. The

more we can demonstrate responsibility the greater will be

the faith in Congress.

a. Once more the seas of rhetoric run high. Someone (though not Kyl himself)

has suggested that the members of the House wish to conceal information. He dis-

avows the very thought that he would make such a suggestion by the sentence “I

know this is not so.” All the same, he has gotten this suggestion into the argument.

b. Kyl then suggests another reason why the members of the House will

not be concerned with this measure: It is “too picayune.” The last two sen-

tences rebut the suggestion that it is too small to merit close attention. Even

on small matters, the more the House is “open and frank and accurate,” the

more it will “set an example in businesslike procedures” and thus “demon-

strate responsibility” that will increase “the faith in Congress.” This is actu-

ally an important part of Kyl’s argument, for presumably his main problem

is to get the other members of the House to take the matter seriously.

May I summarize. It is obvious that some Members need

more clerical help because of large population and large

land area. I have been working for some time with the best

help we can get on a measure which would take these items

into consideration. Those Members who are really in need

of assistance should realize that this temporary hastily con-

ceived proposition we debate today will probably obviate

their getting a satisfactory total solution.

a. This is a concise summary. Kyl once more assures the House that he is

aware that a genuine problem exists. He also indicates that he is working on it.

b. The phrase “temporary, hastily conceived proposition we debate to-

day” refers back to his arguments concerning untimeliness.

c. The claim that “it will probably obviate their getting a satisfactory total

solution” refers back to the economic argument. Notice, however, that, as

before, the economic claim is guarded by the word “probably.”

First, we should await redistricting of the Nation.

Second, we should consider appropriate allowance for

oversize districts considering both population and total geo-

graphic area.

A

E+

A

A

E-

G

D

M

A

E+

E+

97364_ch04_ptg01_059-078.indd 70 15/11/13 9:50 AM

some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materiallyCopyright 201^3 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights,

affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.