Given the unpalatable
nature of reality, separatists tend to deny economics and appeal to
raw emotion. This tactic is effective but divisive.
The bullying conspiracy
against Scotland that has been conjured up in the popular imagination
loses no potency by virtue of being nothing but market forces dressed
up as a pantomime villain. Tribalism is immune to reason.
Since a large minority
will remain passionately opposed to either outcome of this
referendum, divisions will be slow to heal. In a future crisis we
shall be tempted not to pull together but to blame our neighbours who
foolishly voted the wrong way.
We should have learned
from history that a common legacy of unrealistic expectations is
social conflict and a search for scapegoats. Inside or outside the UK
we are going to suffer for the disunity that has been so recklessly
fomented.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Would you like to comment on this post?