Posted by
Andrews on Monday, May 12, 2008 4:35:21 PM
Every time I argue against the FairTax, the advocates not only tell me to "read the book" (now I suppose it is "read the books"), but they also tell me I have an obligation to read it if I argue against the FairTax.
I think they have that backwards. Those who propose a change are obligated to sell that change, not those who are being convinced. They can tell me as much as they want that I have to read the book, but if they want to convince me, someone will need to tell me why I am wrong.
The FairTaxers should take a page from the Christian missionaries. They do not go to some foreign lands, tell the locals to forget their old religion and embrace Jesus, and then, when asked why say "you have to read the Bible to find out". They carefully explain what the Bible says. They listen politely to arguments and respond with well reasoned replies. They actually care about persuading their listeners. And that is why Christianity has spread around the globe.
So, the FairTaxers can continue to chant "read the book" all they want, but they need to remember they are trying to sell an idea. If they want anyone to listen, belittling them because they are unwilling to read the book does not work. You need to give them a REASON to read the book, you have to sell your idea well enough that they WANT to read the book. And the current approach fails to do that.
Telling skeptics that you won't respond until they read the book is hardly the way to win over new converts. And without convincing skeptics, the FairTax will join the Ron Paul movement, Dennis Kucinich for President, and many other failed movements, all convinced of their own brilliance, but unable or unwilling to sell anyone else on that idea.