An Independent Scotland

[Stavros]

The most important aspect of this campaign is that it has shown that people, when motivated, are not cynical about politics, but can be engaged and turn out to express themselves without resorting to violence. A turn-out of over 84%, the highest since the General Election of 1951, is in itself a vindication of the referendum and the democratic process.

Looked at in detail one notes the lowest turn-out- and even that was 75%- was in Glasgow (which voted Yes) and that in the three districts with a voter turn-out of over 90% the No campaign won by a large margin (East Dunbartonshire 91%; East Renfrewshire 90.5%, an Stirling 90.1%).

I think the moral case for a government more in tune with what its people want, more concerned with poverty than wealth, and the creation of a fairer Scotland was made, but that people did not believe the economic case made by the Nationalists. The currency, oil revenues and the long term impact on jobs of being outside both the UK and the EU I think must have played a major role in decision-making, even if only to raise doubts about independence.

Nevertheless, the impact of the referendum will now be translated into the details of the increased devolution of powers for the Scottish parliament, a settlement of the 'West Lothian Question', and the as yet incoherent argument for more local representation in England.

[tsadriana]

I watched all night ,trully remarkable....

[trish]

Then let us pray that come it may,
(As come it will for a' that,)
That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.
For a' that, an' a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That Man to Man, the world o'er,
Shall brothers be for a' that.

[Ben]

American author Charles Eisenstein on Scottish Ind...

[Stavros]

Here we go again. Can Nicola Sturgeon achieve what Alex Salmond did not? Has the context, ie Brexit, fundamentally changed, not the justification, but the mechanics of 'independence' -and, just as in 2014, what does it mean to be 'Independent' and be part of the European Union, whose trajectory toward Federalism is stated in every Treaty since 1957, ie 'Ever Closer Union'- ?

In 2014 Independence meant -not British, not part of the UK. And this begs the question- how confident are the Scots that the levers of power in the hands of the SNP will deliver success, based on its record so far?

"Independence doesn’t guarantee success for any country – we should never pretend that it does.
But for Scotland, independence will put the levers that determine success into our own hands."
Nicola Sturgeon’s speech launching the case for independence — Scottish National Party (snp.org)