I've been struggling to get my thoughts in order since Friday morning. A wee break up north gave me some thinking time and has, I hope, let me put some perspective on things. I thought that writing some stuff down might also help. That link to bellacaledonia probably most captures my overall mood though.
First of all, let me say how angry I am. Not at those who voted No, more at myself. All my life I've believed that Scotland was a nation, a country in some sort of "reluctant" union with England. Folk talk of "national" anthems, of the "national" press. We have sports teams, leagues and competitions because we are a separate country. We have a separate legislature, education system and now a form of devolved government. We have a strong culture of song, story and poetry made richer by a frequent focus on Scottish nationhood. I guess I had allowed myself a semantic misunderstanding, that folk who talked of a separate Scottish nation actually meant it the same way that I did.
In the run up to the referendum, I had also fallen into a social media trap. I'm sure we've all done it to an extent. We "like" or "follow" the commentators, groups and feeds that back up our view of the world. Thus, with 18th September approaching, it was all too easy to read all the messages of confirmation and to believe that we really were capable of re-establishing nationhood. TBH, for me that probably didn't even have to result in too much change. A choice by the people of Scotland to assert their sovereignty could well have resulted in almost exactly the sort of union we currently have. The difference is that we would at least know it was of our choosing and that we could exit it without permission from some higher authority. This is, after all, the sort of union that already exists across the EU.
I do believe that the media played a major part in the result. I saw too much stuff first hand that was somehow downplayed or simply lied about to believe it was all unintentional. Of course, newspapers and independent sources don't have to maintain balance but I really had expected better of the BBC. I guess I will never trust any of their reporting again.
I never really believed that 50%+1 was sufficient either. Even 55/45 the other way seems too close as a result. Looking at independence movements in other countries, I'd have hoped for something more like 80/20. And now we are left with "the 45". I'm still getting all the pro-indy comments, how we can do it again in 2020, or devise some other method for upsetting Westminster.
Currently, this looks to me like the actions of a spoilt child that hasn't got what it asked for and is now just shouting louder in the vain hope that the decision can be overturned. Whether what we now have is the "settled" will of the people, I cannot say but I'm certainly not in favour of re-running these past two years every decade or so.
At the moment, I'm going through my facebook and twitter feeds and removing what I can and I'm going to try to open my mind a bit more to what other folk are saying, to listen to their spin on what Scotland is.
Until then, the best I can describe my feelings is to say that I feel like a person displaced. Like the country I thought I belonged to has been obliterated and no amount of lashing out at others will change that.
because we are a separate country
We know. So is England. My identify is English->British->European.
Being British is not yoke around our necks; it's a platform we stand tall upon, together.
There is no such thing as the settled will of the people. It's a fairly anti-democratic if you think about it.Whether what we now have is the "settled" will of the people, I cannot say
Maybe.buzz-lightyear - Member
it's a platform we stand tall upon, together.
TBH, for me that probably didn't even have to result in too much change. A choice by the people of Scotland to assert their sovereignty could well have resulted in almost exactly the sort of union we currently have. The difference is that we would at least know it was of our choosing and that we could exit it without permission from some higher authority.
It sounds like you've got exactly what you wanted then. A union like you already had, it is of your choosing, and you could have exited it if you'd chosen to do so.
There is no such thing as the settled will of the people. It's a fairly anti-democratic if you think about it.
Presumably if Yes had won it would have been anti-democratic not to offer people the chance to rejoin the union in a few years time if their will had changed (after seeing the reality rather than the promises).
Just to let you all know I've reported Scotroutes to the mods.
That kind of eloquent, well-argued and self-critical piece is simply not what we expect nor want to see on STW.
🙂
They would have been free to agitate for it and try and attain it, if they wished, i'm pretty certain some would be.aracer - Member
Presumably if Yes had won it would have been anti-democratic not to offer people the chance to rejoin the union in a few years time if their will had changed (after seeing the reality rather than the promises).
Whether England offered it is another story.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-29307940 ]Another demonstration in George Square[/url]
I think the official news is a professional is doing the timetable
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Scotroutes - good post.
Some of your comments speak along the aspects I considered , but fell on the side of voting no instead. I feel that Scotland does have enough of its own identity/culture/powers within the union and on a world wide stage. I just couldn't see that voting yes would have given us anything more, that significantly outweighed the risks of losing the securities of what the union brings.
As to the media trap ... perhaps ... also similar to other comments on here, the Yes camp were more vocal about things, and my Facebook would have Yes stuff all over it by friends, who are now posting bitterness: "You should be ashamed to call yourself Scottish " etc ... get a grip I think. Yes wanted a Scotland to have its own say, and now it has. I always have in the back of my mind, a scene from the good life where the posh one is talking to a shop worker who makes some political comment to which she replies "no, we are the silent majority" I think thats whats happened in this independence vote too.
I also get a bit annoyed about moans of business chipping in on the issue. Of course it affects them, and why shouldn't they have comment on it. The other thing is that a lot of people seem naive about businesses too. Many large companies don't care about sentimentality ... its about the bottom line, and if thats better by moving out, they will.
Its hard not to feel resentful against a campaign that used slogans like "Vote No. It's not worth the risk".
The mainstream media threw the kitchen sink at the Yes campaign and in the end it cracked.
I fell into Scotroutes' trap as well, for a Yes supporter social media (which was really the main campaign vehicle for that side of the debate) became a bit of an echo chamber.
But we have to respect the result.
I'm glad that the troubled that flared up in Glasgow on Friday night was an isolated incident, to honest I didn't know Britain First had that many supporters that could read well enough to organise a riot on social media
In the real world, I think the experience of most people is that we had a serious, grown up debate about independence. No vitriol or aggression. For me, and many others, the referendum was not anti English or even nationalistic. It was about the opportunity for Scottish society to go in a different political direction. I voted Yes and I'm disappointed with the result. I know there were No voters who shared the same vision of a more liberal, inclusive Scottish society, but didn't vote Yes because they were not happy about various issues such as the economic changes associated with independence.
The referendum debate engaged a lot of people who were not previously interested in politics. Whatever you think of the outcome, I hope some of those people continue to be engaged in the process and help build a better political system. The fallout from the referendum is just starting, and the implications for the UK are far from settled.
I wouldn't read much into a few people ranting on the internet. After all, you wouldn't see two wheels in a very positive light if you took some of the stuff posted on STW as representative of cyclists.
First of all, let me say how angry I am.
If you must (suppresses a yawn)...
Past your bedtime?
Might be worth actually reading his post rather than jumping one of the first lines, Woppit...
Its hard not to feel resentful against a campaign that used slogans like "Vote No. It's not worth the risk".
I'm not sure I see why that's considered an unreasonable attitude for a campaign resisting radical change to take to be honest.
If I was delusional enough to think that voting yes would fix everything I'd keep quiet too.
Straw man much?
yes, because everyone whose opinion differs from yours is a selfish and weak person.
Fearful, not weak. But on the referendum, essentially yes. They've voted for the perpetuation of a system which is failing financially and morally, but as long as they're ok...
I'd be interested to know whether Salmond (and you) seriously expected the new powers to be voted in on Friday PM or if you're just afflicted by bitterness.
Is this a serious question? The point is not that we don't have powers right now. The point is the very prospect is being backtracked on. Am I bitter about such a cynical and plainly transparent sop being trotted out to bolster the 'No' vote? Quite possibly.
Might be worth actually reading his post rather than jumping one of the first lines, Woppit...
Oh, O.K.
..............
Well that's another two minutes of life I'll never get back. 
Is this a serious question? The point is not that we don't have powers right now. The point is the very prospect is being backtracked on.
Where, by who?
Good piece Scotroutes, I feel that people expressed their view and the unionists won.I still believe independence was right for Scotland and if circumstances change I would campaign for it again.[b] Now is time to unite and try to build a better Scotland with further devolution[/b]. I am very proud to have been part of the Yes campaign, and I hope that the people who joined up in its various groups can stick together to work for a better future for Scotland. One thing I wont be joining -the 45 as I think it is divisive.
I like that post scotroutes. And to be honest it reflects to a somewhat lesser extend how I'd have felt if there'd been a Yes. I've always felt that my country is Britain, and Scotland's always been a part of that. Without Scotland the geographical entity would not have matched the sovereign state any more, so whilst rUK would still have been called Britain but to me it's questionable. Especially when you consider that without Scotland there really was no union - Wales was simply English held territory arguably as well as Ireland (if I understand correctly - or at least Northern Ireland.. but I'm no expert on that). The non-English native population would've been reduced by more than half. And I'm sure that without Scotland, Welsh devolution would never have happened and no-one woud be talking about English regional devolution.
But on the referendum, essentially yes. They've voted for the perpetuation of a system which is failing financially and morally, but as long as they're ok...
So you don't think there might be other rational reasons to vote No other than being selfish? Of course to imagine that would require you to question whether the crusade was perfect in all ways, so I can understand why you wouldn't want to do that.
You could do worse than to read the posts of your fellow No voters who have accepted the result and aren't being scathing about a majority of your own countrymen. That or just pause for a moment to wonder how the suggestion that the Scottish are less selfish (as suggested by bencooper amongst others, and not one I'm going to try and argue with) squares with your comments.
Where, by who?
Read the news.
An excellent and thoughtful post Colin. It does you credit that you can say these things in spite of the crushing disappointment. If the country is to move on from the result, people are going to have to accept what has happened. Too much of what is posted on the net does Yes no favours. I understand how depressed some people must be, but I do think the social media bubble gave them far too much grounds for hope, both in terms of the result and what might have happened if it had gone their way, but heigh-ho life goes on.
Read the news.
Maybe you can find a quote for us from one of those articles of somebody backtracking...
Read the news.
You appear to be mistaking debate and disagreement as 'backtracking'
party leaders decide on policy, some people within the party disagree and voice it - thats the eternal basic rule of healthy politics since day one and happens in all parties, including the SNP (NATO and Euro policies for example) it doesn't mean that it won't happen.
So you don't think there might be other rational reasons to vote No other than being selfish? Of course to imagine that would require you to question whether the crusade was perfect in all ways, so I can understand why you wouldn't want to do that.You could do worse than to read the posts of your fellow No voters who have accepted the result and aren't being scathing about a majority of your own countrymen.
I'm certainly under no illusions of any kind of perfection. I spoke to plenty of No voters during the campaign but didn't hear any rationale from any of them. I heard plenty of talk of 'the risk', or of 'security' etc. But nobody could tell me what risk or security they were so concerned about. Did I hear any No voters telling me how things would - or even might - get better? No. Did I hear more positive but similarly nebulous statements from the Yes side? Yes I did.
I haven't said I don't accept the result. I do. But that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it, and it doesn't mean that the issues underlying the 45% Yes vote have gone away.
The country is in the toilet. Our debt is rocketing. Inequality is growing. Millions and millions of people can't afford to feed themselves, or buy even modest homes. Wages have plummeted in real terms, even further in purchasing power. We should be ashamed, instead I've heard people say the No vote is great because there'll be a housing boom in Scotland! Insane. We have three mainstream parties who pretend to oppose each other but who, when their true interests are threatened, join ranks.
Would this have changed in an independent Scotland? It really could have done. Certainly more so than the UK will ever do.
Could have is not that definite, really.
Did I hear any No voters telling me how things would - or even might - get better? No. Did I hear more positive but similarly nebulous statements from the Yes side? Yes I did.
The problem is, the yes people had a wide open field to play with about things they can do. Jetpacks, teleporters, money growing on trees. The no people had to offer new stuff to tempt people that they hadn't already. In any referendum like this, the people for a split show the utopia that can be achieved and the people against it show the mess that can occur. General fact of life.
The country is in the toilet. Our debt is rocketing. Inequality is growing. Millions and millions of people can't afford to feed themselves, or buy even modest homes. Wages have plummeted in real terms, even further in purchasing power.
Applies to most of the UK, not just Scotland. Maybe solutions could be found to help all parts of the UK, working together.
party leaders decide on policy, some people within the party disagree and voice it - thats the eternal basic rule of healthy politics since day one and happens in all parties, including the SNP (NATO and Euro policies for example) it doesn't mean that it won't happen.
You'll forgive me for not sharing your optimism. The last time a Conservative government promised Scotland powers it was 20 years before they delivered.
Of course I'll be delighted to be wrong on this, same as I'll be delighted to be wrong on everything else. Let's see what happens to national debt, to the NHS, to wages and poverty in the UK.
Did I hear more positive but similarly nebulous statements from the Yes side? Yes I did.
So you're happy that the Yes side is better because their vague ideas suggested positive change rather than negative change? 🙄
I'm not going to rehash the whole debate on independence, beyond pointing out that there is no evidence that any of the issues you are concerned about would be any better in iS than in the UK - on the contrary at least some would likely get worse.
However the issue I'm concerned about is that you think 55% of your countrymen are selfish.
You'll forgive me for not sharing your optimism.
So your lack of optimism leads to you making statements like: "the very prospect is being backtracked on" despite no such thing having happened? Why don't you wait and see before condemning them for something they haven't done.
Of course I'll be delighted to be wrong on this, same as I'll be delighted to be wrong on everything else. Let's see what happens to national debt, to the NHS, to wages and poverty in the UK.
It's a shame* we can't compare how these things change in iS, and see whether they actually do any better than the UK. Plenty of evidence to suggest that they wouldn't. Oh, and you do know that the NHS is fully devolved and the Scottish government has already chosen to increase spending by less than in the rest of the UK?
* well not really
Would this have changed in an independent Scotland? It really could have done. Certainly more so than the UK will ever do.
It's a bit like I could have won the lottery if I'd know the numbers and Yes would have won without those pesky kids pulling off AS's mask and revealing he actually ran the fun fair.
All the hopes are dreams were in Yes, but all Yes did was allow an election for a government, no idea which one or what they would do when elected. The no Nukes, no this, no that stuff was policy for a government to pick (what if UK had offered millions to rent the trident base that would pay for tuition fees and free school meals?).
Enjoyed your post Scotroutes and can understand if not accept many of the feelings expressed.
...I've just reread my first reply to scotroutes up there, and it comes across a bit harsh - not my intention, as that was a very humble and well written post.
I'm not going to rehash the whole debate on independence, beyond pointing out that there is no evidence that any of the issues you are concerned about would be any better in iS than in the UK - on the contrary at least some would likely get worse.
Details, details.... 😉
However the issue I'm concerned about is that you think 55% of your countrymen are selfish.
[s]Angostura[/s] Anstruther bitters - coming to an off-licence near you!!
The last time a Conservative government promised Scotland powers it was 20 years before they delivered.
Conservatives are not promising - all parties are.
Why don't you wait and see before condemning them for something they haven't done.
OK, I will ignore Westminster's record on keeping promises and wait with baited breath.
It's a shame* we can't compare how these things change in iS, and see whether they actually do any better than the UK.
Have you seen the state the rUK economy is in? I mean the real situation not the 'Wahey recovery!' soundbites. We could barely do worse.
Yes I'm aware the NHS is devolved in Scotland. Spending doesn't stop your health service being privatised. Neither will it stop US healthcare interests buying it up then suing the state for profit.
Then there's the whole issue of corruption, unelected peers etc. but let's not get into that or I'll break something.
what if UK had offered millions to rent the trident base that would pay for tuition fees and free school meals?
Fine by me. 😉
Conservatives are not promising - all parties are.
Same difference.
But what if you were voting based on removing them, was it not promises to everyone?
Have you seen the state the rUK economy is in? I mean the real situation not the 'Wahey recovery!' soundbites. We could barely do worse.
How much did it cost to rescue those 2 scottish banks?
I will ignore Westminster's record on keeping promises
Like the promise of devolution in '97? The promise of a free vote on independence?
Though in a similar vein I will ignore your fabrications.
Same difference.
🙄
Have you seen the state the rUK economy is in? I mean the real situation not the 'Wahey recovery!' soundbites. We could barely do worse.
😯 You could do a lot worse! It's pretty arrogant to suggest otherwise, especially given no obvious way in which that was going to happen - most sensible commentators suggest that iS economy would likely do worse than rUK in the short to medium term.
Spending doesn't stop your health service being privatised.
No, not privatising it stops it being privatised. Devolution does give you control of stuff like that.
molgrips - Member
The last time a Conservative government promised Scotland powers it was 20 years before they delivered.
Conservatives are not promising - all parties are.
But it's likely the tories will be in power come next may imo. I don't think the people in England and Wales will be looking upon the referendum without opinion, regardless of policies, the fact that labour stood so close to the tories must grate alot of people? I'm geniunely interesting in that perception in E&W.
Do you think the referendum damaged labour in E&Ws? I think it's massively damaged them in Scotland.
