Hard Evidence

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” This is not an example of hard evidence. It is a statement that could be applied after using hard evidence to prove it to be correct. With this statement the reader must assume too much.

Drunk drivers are involved in more than 50 percent of traffic deaths. This is not hard evidence because it uses statistics from an unnamed source. Again it is useful only if the reader assumes basics: that the statement is from a reliable source that conducted a study and received these results.

DNA tests of skin found under the victim’s fingernails suggest that the defendant was responsible for the assault. It is hard to argue with DNA: DNA almost always represents hard evidence. Retrieving and analyzing DNA is an accepted practice to provide solid evidence for a case.

Polls suggest that a large majority of Americans favor a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning. This statement could be hard evidence, provided that the polls were shown to be relevant. The polls would also have to be legitimate.

A psychologist testified that teenage violence could not be blamed on computer games. This statement raises many questions. The title psychologist does not make the evidence concrete because the statement does not specify which psychologist.

Honey attracts more flies than vinegar. This statement suggests that a study or observation has been done. However, the statement by itself is not an example of hard evidence. It is not nearly specific enough.

History proves that cutting tax rates increases government revenues because people work harder when they can keep more of what they earn. This is hard evidence. The statement uses historical reference, which is generally good evidence for any claim. The last part is a little misleading, because it sounds like opinion; it’s fine if it’s historical.

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” A cliché is not hard evidence in my opinion. Like I’ve said previously for some of the other statements, it is too general and makes too many questions. The statement leaves for every person to make an opinion of their own. In this case, the facts can’t coincide with all the opinions.

Air bags ought to be removed from vehicles because they can kill young children and small-framed adults. This could be hard evidence, if the correct statistics were provided. The statement could be proved but would also have significant evidence against it.