An Absurd Suggestion from the Constituents
Imagine presenting the following situation to a class.
A newly formed political party has invited suggestions from its local constituents about laws that might improve the community. Party members must review the proposals and decide which ones should become official policy. Among the suggestions submitted is the following:
All dogs must wear pants in public.
Students are members of the political party. Their task is to discuss the proposal and decide whether the party should officially propose the law.
To reach a decision, they might discuss questions such as:
- Why would someone propose this law?
- Who might benefit from it?
- What problems could it create?
- Would it apply to all animals?
The premise is obviously ridiculous. Yet the interaction that follows often becomes surprisingly lively. Students debate practicality, fairness, ethics, modesty, enforcement, and even fashion. They interrupt one another with alternative ideas. They defend positions and challenge arguments. They comment on how ludicrous the whole thing is because animals are not people, etc.
The scenario is absurd. The communication, however, is real.
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