LSAT 117 | Section 3 | Logical Reasoning: Q14

LR Question 14 Explanation

QUESTION TEXT: The reasoning in the city council member’s…

QUESTION TYPE: Flawed Reasoning

CONCLUSION: The Mayor is sacrificing the city’s interests to personal interests.

REASONING: The Mayor’s opposition to the real estate tax is biased: he and his family have significant real estate investments.

ANALYSIS: Just because the mayor has an interest in seeing the legislation fail does not mean he is wrong that it will actually decrease revenues. The legislation could be bad for the mayor and also bad for the city.

___________

1. It is definitely relevant to consider the mayor’s interest. It just isn’t definitive. We should evaluate the mayor’s arguments instead.
2. CORRECT. The mayor’s move to block the legislation could be good both for the mayor and for the city. 
3. It’s irrelevant whether the council member has an interest in the legislation. Assess the argument, not the person. 
4. We’re not talking about whether the city has a right to raise taxes. We’re debating whether the mayor’s action is good or bad for the city.
5. This would make the mayor’s interest stronger but it doesn’t make the city councilor wrong.