Question

Political columnist: Money talks as never before in state and local elections, and the main cause is.TV advertising. Thirty seconds can go for as much as \(\$ 20,000\). Political fundraising is one of the few growth industries left in America. The way to stop the waste might be for television to be paid by state and local government, at a standard rate, to provide airtime to all candidates to debate the issues. This might be boring at first, but eventually candidates might actually brush up their debating skills and electrify the TV audience with content, not style. Which of the following presuppositions is necessary to the political columnist's argument above? A. Candidates do not yet spend too much money on television advertising. B. Television is the most effective medium to reach the public. C. Freedom of speech does not abridge the freedom to spend. D. Television can be used to educate and inform the public. E. The television audience desires exciting political candidates.

Short answer

The necessary presupposition to the political columnist's argument is option D: Television can be used to educate and inform the public.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the argument

The political columnist's argument is that TV advertising is the main cause of increased costs in state and local elections because of high advertising costs. Consequently, he suggests that to stop wastage, TV should be paid by state and local government at a regular rate to give all candidates time to debate the issues.

Evaluate each option

Go through each option, A - E, and evaluate each one according to the columnist's argument.

Assess Option A

Option A 'Candidates do not yet spend too much money on television advertising'. This option however contradicts the columnist's argument as he clearly states the excessive spending on TV ads.

Assess Option B

Option B 'Television is the most effective medium to reach the public'. This option is important for the argument, but not necessary. The columnist doesn't necessarily say TV is the most effective, just that it's currently the most costly.

Assess Option C

Option C 'Freedom of speech does not abridge the freedom to spend'. Freedom of speech is not directly addressed in the columnist's argument, so this is not a necessary presupposition.

Assess Option D

Option D 'Television can be used to educate and inform the public'. This is a necessary presupposition based on the columnist's view that TV should give candidates time to debate issues, thereby being a tool for education and information.

Assess Option E

Option E 'The television audience desires exciting political candidates'. This is not a necessary presupposition for the columnist's argument. He does suggest candidates might eventually electrify audiences, but it is not necessary to his core argument.