18/06/2015
Having only been arguing this general point for ten years or so, albeit with increasing intensity over the last two, publishing the answer as
Flexcit, it is now useful to see Charles Moore
intervening to say exactly what we've been saying for all those years.
Says Moore, "as in the referendum on Scottish independence, there is a 'What would actually happen?' problem which is much more dangerous for the side which wishes to change the status quo". Alex Salmond, he notes, "could never answer the: 'What will happen to the pound?' question". And thus are we warned: "There will be equivalents, at least as grave, thrown in the path of the 'no' campaign".
"At present", he says, "those of us who incline to getting out are the victims of a false logic, which states that because EU membership is bad, British independence is automatically better. Nothing is automatic here: every single point has to be answered, every possibility thought through".
However, it is rather revealing that Mr Moore declares, "those of us who incline to getting out are the victims of a false logic â¦", a statement which encompasses the entire known universe. That some of us might not be stricken by this "false logic" is of no relevance. Outside the bubble, we are not part of the "known universe". Our views are invisible. Nothing exists until a denizen of the bubble has invented it.
Fortunately, now the thought has percolated to the stratospheric heights of the
Spectator, it can officially exist and be discussed by the
chatterati. Then, in good time, we will be instructed on what needs to be done to avoid this terrible peril that Mr Moore has discovered.
We can then nod gravely, and agree wholeheartedly, blessing our good fortune that we are privy to such wisdom. This will be in the certain knowledge that we could not possibly have come to such profound conclusions unaided. And that, we will be told, is the natural order of things - that is how things should be.
