I'm not sure Bill's post got to the whole list, so here it is with my reply. Jim Elwell > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Elwell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 10:02 AM > To: Barbara and/or Bill Hooper > Subject: RE: [USMA:13055] Re: On a lighter note ... > > > Bill writes: > > > If extremism is no vice when done in defense of liberty (see Jim's quote > > below), it is only one small step to suggest that "extremism" in the > > promotion of any worthwhile goal (such as metrication) is no vice > > either. So > > what's wrong with saying "metric is the law of the land. Please > use it or > > face penalties." (I would stipulate that the penalties be > > reasonable for the > > crime.) > > Extremism in "promotion" is fine; I am as much an extreme > promoter of metrication as anyone. Laws are not promotion, they > are coercion. To coerce someone to use the units you happen to > like is the opposite of defending liberty. > > The "Please use it" makes me laugh. "Oh, Metric Czar, please > don't throw me in jail because I put the word "pounds" on that > box, because my customers prefer it." > > You can either defend liberty, or promote coercion, but not both. > > Jim Elwell >
