The article Tax break on tickets? No, thanks posted in the Austin American-statesman on October 1, 2007 by the editorial board highlights an argument directed to Austin citizens that focus is to explain and defend a vigorously debated claim regarding a local controversial issue related to UT’s athletic department budget and tax breaks. To catch readers’ attention to this issue it is important to use appeals that match Austin citizens’ needs and values and also focus on motivating, and not on manipulating the readers. If the argument is not base only on opinions and presents solid evidence to support each point in the claim readers may accept or even adopt the board’s view on the issue.

The article argues about the tax break given through donations made to the UT’s athletic department. It points out that every year over $100 million of UT’s money goes to the the athletic department spending and that the millions earned from season passes sales also gives aways millions in tax break. The board outlines that instead of using the money to improve education, UT directs all the $15 million earned from ticket sales right back to the athletic department and states their position on the issue by defending deduction of taxes to donations that are somehow directed to education and opposing tax break to a donation that is beneficial only to the school’s sport department.

To support their claim the board mentions the amendment written by Austin Rep. Jake Pickle in the 1980s that permitted tax deduction through purchase of UT tickets and helped raise even more the athletic budget and states that after two years congress adopted his idea and gave the tax break but with a 20% lower deduction rate, and also comments on the work of writer Eric Dexheimer as an alternative source of support. For less, the article affirms that none of the Texas representatives questioned on the issue have not comment or taken a position on the issue.

This is definitely a successful argument, the claims are supported with accurate, relevant and appealing evidence and I am convinced that congress needs to review to issue and take measures to fix it. I have always believed that sports comes first at UT, having the best team seams to be more important than emphasizing on education, I know UT is a great school but that does not justify investing more in sports than in education.

Coaches are getting richer, athletes gets upgraded facilities and full scholarship and I’m sure UT fans are not complain about either sense they are saving tax money and investing on their team. What about the rest of Austin population? The ones who don’t spend money on tickets and have to pay full taxes and the students that do care about getting a real education have been taken for granted. Austin Representatives hold the power to make a change in congress, as long Congress ignores the issue UT will continue to spend millions on sports and giving away unfair tax brakes