Brexit Metaphor No 149
Quack medicine has been practiced for millennia. In ancient times doctors (who also worked as barbers) used leeches for bloodletting as a cure for multiple diseases. In most cases the treatment did not make things worse but in cases of anemia it did.
In the Middle Ages people believed that rubbing mustard on the weapon that wounded you could heal the wound. In effect, this superstition was sustained only because it was more effective (i.e. less harmful) than the alternative medicine - which was rubbing mustard into the wound itself.
Not all Brexiteer politicians are charlatans. Many misguidedly believe that Brexit would be good for the patient (i.e. the UK) overall. Some admit that there are trade-offs and they are willing to accept a cut in wealth and prosperity in return for sovereignty. The charlatans are only those who maintain that there are no down sides to Brexit while being fully aware that Brexit entails huge disadvantages. Boris Johnson and Co are rubbing mustard in Britain's wounds while also rubbing their hands in expectation of new political roles for them.
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| Mustard (Source: Wikipedia) |
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Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 149 have been posted so far and another 12 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, nature, science and Rubik Cubes.
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