Making the Case for Change

Joseph Thompson

[Excerpt ("It Is No Argument," reprinted from an undated pamphlet,
Simple Talks on Taxation, published by the author]

... There's one thing I wish you fellers, who're against any change, could learn. … What's that? … It's this: If the same argument can be used against what's being done now, there's no point in using it against a proposed change. … I don't quite get that. … It's like a two-way street; it's just as good one way as the other. … I still don't get you. … Well, suppose we were talking of changing from our rule, "Keep to the Right", to the English rule, "Keep to the Left", and someone said: "If we did there'd be collisions between cars going in opposite directions" ... … He'd be right! There would. … Any more than now? With "Keep to the Right"? … Oh, I s'pose not, after we got used to it. … Then what he said, if it's equally true of both, is no argument against either one of them, is it? … Well, maybe it ain't, but I don' wanner change. I'm for keepin' to the right! … I'm not for that change, either, but I was talking about him sayin' "If we do, there'd be collisions''. I said it was no argument. … Well, I say that anything is a good argument if you're against sump'n. … I'm afraid you voice the thinking of the general public.