Package deal fallacy - Definition and Overview

The logical fallacy of the package deal consists of assuming that things often grouped together by tradition or culture must always be grouped that way.

It is particularly common in political arguments: "My opponent is a conservative who voted against higher taxes and welfare, therefore he will also oppose gun control and abortion." (Usually the connection is made much more implicitly.) While those positions are often grouped together as "conservative" in American politics, there's really no reason someone couldn't approve of some but not others.

The package deal fallacy refers to misuse of the and operator. For misuse of the or operator, see false dilemma.