They should start by discarding California's lame argument that exploring the contents of a smartphone—a vast storehouse of digital information—is similar to, say, going through a suspect's purse.

首先，他们应该摒弃加利福尼亚州站不住脚的观点，即探索智能手机的内容，这是一个庞大的数字信息库，相当于翻查嫌疑犯的钱包。

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A similar argument goes for claims that, by spurring more vibrant green technology, the 30% cut would create lots of jobs, exports and the like.

一个相类似的观点就是如果使用更多的绿色科技，30%的减排将会增加大量的工作机会、出口等等。

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By diverting time and resources towards manned moon landings, the US government may have delayed useful exploitation of space by decades (a similar argument can be made against the original transcontinental railroad).

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It's a similar argument to that made by Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, which first published the Prophet cartoons back in 2005.

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It is true, however, when people who have given one punishment in one case and then want to give a much harsher punishment in a very similar case, make that argument, it's legitimate to say they are motivated by something other than what they admit.

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