Scottish Independence



Unless you have been living in a cave for the last few weeks, you are aware that this Thursday, September 18th, there is an absolutely huge election being held in Scotland that, quite literally, the world is watching.

It is, of course, on the question of Scottish independence. Latest reports indicate that the vote is just too close to call at the moment.

The leader of the pro-independence movement, Alexander Salmond, seems to know what's at stake. He has vowed that this is a truly unique opportunity for Scotland, and that if the independence vote does not win, even if it loses by a single vote, there will be no second referendum. Opportunities like this, he wants everyone to understand, come around only very rarely. Here is a quote:

“That’s my view. This is a once in a generation opportunity, perhaps even a once in a lifetime, opportunity for Scotland."

Salmond claims that there is no such thing as a no vote, only a delayed yes vote. He also claimed that he is aiming to win this election with a "substantial majority".

Here are some excerpts from Prime Minister Cameron's Speech on his most recent visit to Scotland, which will be the last before the election (from David Cameron: “We do not want this family of nations to be ripped apart” by Anoosh Chakelian of New Statesman, 10 September, 2014 - see link below):

"It’s difficult to put into words what our United Kingdom represents. This is the group of small islands in the North Atlantic that have punched above our weight for centuries – and we’ve done so together.

"When the world wanted representation, we gave them democracy. When they wanted progress, we had the Scottish enlightenment and the industrial revolution.

"When slavery bound innocent people, we abolished it; when fascism threatened freedom, we defeated it. A hundred years ago, our boys went off to war together – and they did so as comrades, united by purpose and hope for a better world.

"As individuals and as nations, we have done extraordinary things. This is the special alchemy of the UK – you mix together Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and together we smash expectations.

"This week, the No campaign set out more detail on this. Power for Scotland over how much money it borrows, what taxes it raises, how it spends that money – all agreed by November, all put into draft legislation by January. This is the package that Gordon Brown outlined on Monday. It is one I wholeheartedly support. Because we know that brighter future for Scotland rests not only on staying in the UK, but also on having significant new powers.

"The United Kingdom is a precious and special country. That is what is at stake. So let no one in Scotland be in any doubt: we desperately want you to stay; we do not want this family of nations to be ripped apart. Across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, our fear over what we stand to lose is matched only by our passion for what can be achieved if we stay together.



More quotes from Cameron's speech, these taken from "David Cameron in final 'patriotic' plea to Scots not to quit the UK" by Christopher Hope, Political Correspondent for the Telegraph, 14 September, 2014:

“Scotland is a proud, strong, successful nation. The vote on Thursday is about two competing visions for Scotland’s future: the Nationalists’ vision of narrowing down, going it alone, breaking all ties with the UK; or the patriotic vision of a strong Scottish nation allied to the rest of the United Kingdom with its own stronger Scottish Parliament at its heart and with the benefits of UK co-operation on jobs, pensions, healthcare funding, the currency, interest rates.

“It really is the best of both worlds and it’s the best way to get real change and secure a better future for your children and grandchildren.”



And one more quote that I found, and though was particularly fascinating. You see, for many people, including a lot of pro-independence Scots, Prime Minister Cameron himself is the very epitome of everything that is wrong with England, with his very privileged background and rather stuffy mannerisms, to say nothing of his obviously conservative politics. Here, Cameron actually acknowledged this, and tried to remind Scots that the current political climate in the United Kingdom will not be permanent:

"Don't think: I'm frustrated with politics right now, so I'll walk out the door. If you don't like me I won't be here forever. If you don't like this government it won't last forever. But if you leave the UK that will be forever."

Hmmm...

The thing is, I was listening to the debate about independence for Scotland on NPR earlier, and there was a lot of debate - fierce debate - about what this election really is about, anyway. Turns out, there are many elements to this!

Traditionally, Scotland is pretty liberal, and they are tired of being controlled by the far more conservative government in London, and feel that their needs are not being heard.

Furthermore, the pro-independence side has made this kind of about the regular people versus the 1% kind of an issue. Elites are frowned upon, which is why the distaste with which Prime Minister Cameron is generally held is not just some minor detail in this whole thing, but rather the point. He embodies the very thing that many Scottish are tired of, and want to break away from.

In fact, the English have often mistreated the Scots throughout history, and much of this history is well known. But this vote for independence is, perhaps a bit surprisingly, not about that, although surely many Americans, like myself initially, imagined that it largely was. In fact, the liberal tendencies of the Scots, not to mention the whole skepticism of the tendency of right wing politics in London to greatly benefit the ultra elites, has become the issue. Scots believe that they can rule their own land better than London can, and they just might be right!




Here are the articles that I got the quotes used for this blog entry from. They also proved beneficial in writing this blog entry in general. Here are the links:



David Cameron: “We do not want this family of nations to be ripped apart” by Anoosh Chakelian of New Statesman, 10 September, 2014:

http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/09/david-cameron-we-do-not-want-family-nations-be-ripped-apart




David Cameron in final 'patriotic' plea to Scots not to quit the UK by Christopher Hope, Political Correspondent for the Telegraph, 14 September, 2014:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/11095696/David-Cameron-in-final-patriotic-plea-to-Scots-not-to-quit-the-UK.html




On last visit before vote, PM Cameron appeals to Scots to keep Britain intact by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn of Reuters, September 15, 2014:

http://news.yahoo.com/pm-cameron-one-last-scotland-visits-vote-try-080242865--sector.html



For a bit of levity, I thought it would be a nice touch to add this very humorous clip. I know that it had me laughing.  Maybe it will do the same for you. Click on the link to see:

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Scottish Independence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YkLPxQp_y0