In the UK, where debate about the in-out EU referendum dominates our news, Project Fear is a slogan already widely used to describe the Remain campaign, and it is true that all the “What If?” arguments used by government, some businesses and the EU itself seem designed to create an often unprovable fear of change to the status quo. In the USA, which is undergoing its most interesting and unpredictable election for decades, there is fear both about a Trump victory and also a Clinton victory, and many politicians and lobbyists are using fear-based tactics as the foundation for their arguments, often in an unedifying way.
In both the UK and the US, and elsewhere where this sort of activity is going on, this use of fear for political or corporate gain can be seen as a form of moral blackmail. Meanwhile, in other places in the world subject also to great change, fear is much more personal, for it is fear of death or terrible injury, of starvation or destitution. This is real, justifiable fear.
Uncertainty is part of life, and life is under constant change. Those people who argue for continuity of the familiar fail to recognise that living in the past is no protection from revolution. David Cameron declares that to stay in the EU means safety and security, life as usual, but he fails to take into account publicly that developments in Europe will affect the UK perhaps dramatically whatever happens. Similarly, a Clinton presidency will not pacify the millions of Americans crying out for a new way of politics and government, and who may choose to demonstrate that the status quo is unacceptable if they are not given proof of being heard soon.
I encourage you, whenever you hear something that gives you cause for fear, particularly if it is based on “What If?” and coming from someone trying to influence your thinking, to see the issue in perspective: can it be proven? Is it life-threatening? What is the motivation of the informer? What are the counter-arguments? What are the benefits of the idea? Most importantly, ask yourself if you are afraid of change, or do you embrace it? Understanding yourself will help your understanding of the arguments, and what you will do about them. What-If can be good. Fear is not, and is justified rarely.
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