Ted Rall for August 02, 2001

Transcript:

Admittedly, purveyors of slippery-slope theories often go a little too far. (Man: Raise Business taxes? That would increase costs, drive the economy into depression and bring about the plague of fire ants that will kill us all!) Nonetheless, there's ample historical precedent for the dangers of slippery slopes. (Man: They're just talking trash... I wouldn't take it too seriously.) The relationship is clear: Sometimes it's possible to turn back in time, while on other occasions it isn't. The slippery slope exists: It's unpredictability makes it all the more dangerous. (Man: Street cameras help keep our city safe. Perhaps we should expand the program!) Unfortunately, muddled thinking about slippery slopes is itself a slippery slope. (Man: Talk about a Orwellian police states is far more dangerous to civil liberties than cops who spy through your window.) (Man: Yeah- you don't want to go there!)