Shifting gears

Regarding “Texas’ franchise-dealer system is quite effective” (Page A30, June 11), George Landrith’s essay was written in defense of Texas’ car franchise dealer system, but it could have been addressing a myriad of other industries as well. Listing the gaps in his logic would only perpetuate the discussion on the surface level. To make any real progress, we need to address the underlying issue.

Any time someone feverishly defends the status quo, it signals fear. Whether it’s car franchises defending their turf against competition from Tesla, or coal and oil industries scorning renewable energy, the basic issue is the same: We fear change. Refusing to move past that fear and accept new ideas means that we miss amazing and innovative improvements.

It is ironic that the author is listed as president and CEO of an organization called Frontiers of Freedom, because his essay defends a system that prevents competition and stymies innovation. Landrith purports to be defending the interests of consumers, but if the franchise-dealer system is truly better, it will prevail in a free enterprise environment. True freedom is allowing competition in, welcoming change and improvement, and learning from those whose creative minds can envision new and better systems for the future.

Change is inevitable, so we may as well quit rationalizing the status quo and move forward with the leaders, because stubbornly holding onto old ways is what leaves millions of people without jobs when old systems become obsolete. Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston