Our National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) suggests that the UK should spend billions of pounds on sending people on healthy eating courses (at £435 a pop). The idea is that by spending the money now we will save far more in the future through the reduced health care costs, as the punters will see the error of their ways, change their lifestyle choices and so avoid long-term ill-health.
A very sensible idea. Hmm, maybe we should do the same for international trading and finance. If we sent everyone who voted Leave on a course explaining what happens when a country leaves a free trade area and tries to make it on its own maybe they would change their behaviour and we could avoid long-term economic ill-health.
Come on Nice, this is very Nanny May. You can try telling people what is 'best' for them, but if you are expecting them to immediately nod their heads, saying, "Oh, I didn't realise! I will rewrite my shopping list right now and join a gym", you will soon be sadly disillusioned.
People aren't stupid, they aren't poorly informed.They have their reasons for what appears to be self-destructive behaviour.
Just as people voted for Leave despite knowing the consequences, people will keep buying cream cakes and driving to work despite knowing the consequences.
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