One lesson can be garnered from the FPA’s campaign. The lesson is that passionate unanimity is a red flag, that dissent is valuable. Henry Ford is believed to have said that reasons always exist not to do that which appears to be worthwhile. Governments, businesses and groups must take time to understand the deficiencies and potential negative consequences of their actions. If dissent does not appear, opposing opinions should be encouraged, even solicited, so that a full understanding can be achieved. Walt Disney’s “Davy Crockett” had it wrong: Instead of “Be sure you are right, then go ahead,” he should have said, “If you are sure it is right, maybe it isn’t.”
John Guy is president of Wealth Planning & Management in Indianapolis and a former national director of the Financial Planning Association. He is also the author of Middle Man, A Broker’s Tale.