Pundit: “Recent cuts to the food stamp program are regrettable but will not have a large effect. For the past two years, food stamp benefits have been cut by 5% each year. This year’s 5% cut is the same as in previous years, giving us no reason to believe that the effects will be any more severe. Food stamp beneficiaries have adjusted to the previous cuts and learned to shop more efficiently. They will successfully do the same this year.”
The pundit’s reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on which of the following grounds?