In political and social debates, we often take the easy way out, constructing arguments the obvious faults of which are exploited by our opponents. While these straw arguments are manifestly weak, we continue to put them forward because they’re easy to make. However, if the aim of making an argument is to persuade one’s opponent of the merit of a particular belief, a straw argument simply won’t accomplish that goal.
One of the more frustrating straw arguments I see on a frequent basis pertains to DACA. Every other week, an article will pop up on a conservative news outlet; the title will run something like: “DACA Recipient Commits (Insert Crime).” Ten other conservative outlets will pick up the story, and it’s the news for a day.
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