General / Off-Topic Scottish Referendum Result. Post your thoughts here.

[deMangler]

What it has taught me is how an entire population can fall under the sway of tabloid nonsense and political spin. Politics and media are about manipulating views and science has provided them with a lot of effective methods but still, I was surprised. I suppose it is to be expected, and I do know it is an on-going thing for us in the modern world anyway. This referendum thing opened my eyes a bit more though.
At the end of the day I suppose this is largely down to devolution moving all the skilled nationalist politicians to Scotland, along with keeping all the skilled non-nationalist ones in westminster. Salmond has been like a shark amongst minnows for a few years and he is a clever man.
One thing I have learned is that whenever I actually do know about anything, either by being professionally involved or part of whatever it is, then I can see clearly that what is portrayed about it in the media is usually really, I mean really very far removed from what is actually happening. I suppose it is the same or even more so with politics so I have to accept that I know nothing really. And what I think I know is in all likelyhood down to the agenda of the people who wrote what I have read....

 

[Robert Maynard]

Strangely that graph never appeared in the debate, pretty powerful.

Indeed, because the No campaign would have been all over it.

 

[noodle]

Well, it seems like everyone here is happy with the result. I think it was pathetic to be honest, and shows how far we've fallen, but the mandate is pretty clear.

I think it's genuinely sad that you would dismiss the views of others as "pathetic" for not being the same as your own

 

[jabokai]

I'm surprised you are so easily offended. I seriously doubt my remarks are going to make any difference but I say things as I see them.

The will to be a serf. Its a problem the world over.

I'm not offended at all... as I said, I just think it's unhelpful. Even Mr Salmond isn't using this kind of rhetoric and is calling for people to put this behind them and work together.

 

[beelbeebub]

Scotland isn't the only part of the UK to feel that Westminster is out of touch and needs a real shake up.

Hopefully the Scots have given the politicians a good kick up the behind and we can get changes that will benefit all of us.

 

[Surfinjo]

I agree, it actually appears that the Scots want to be serfs.

The Scots, like people all over the UK, just want things to be better.

We're fed up with nepotism. With the blame culture. The domination of London over all other issues.

The no campaign's slogan was 'Not worth the Risk'.

The no campaign was backed by an almost blank cheque of promises, similar to the promises from Thatcher in 1979.

We've been fooled again.

 

[ianw]

I can understand people being very disappointed, but at the risk of stating the obvious, this is politics.

It looks from the outside that Salmond is just as guilty of "fooling people" as Westminster by massively overselling the whole Yes campaign hoping that if he got a Yes he'd then try and figure something out from there.

If the Yes vote had won does anyone really think Westminster would have handed everything you want over with a firm handshake and a "jolly well played chaps!"?

Seems the only card Salmond had to play was the threat of the uncertainty of the referendum - now it's done - whatever the result - that card has been played what does he have left to wrangle concessions with apart from politicians promises (as history shows us - the value of those is what exactly ...)?

That said,, I think it will shake things up a bit - but exactly how that turns out remains to be seen. Cameron is already talking about how millions in England haven't had their say..

 

[Juniper]

I don't suppose a cheery 'never mind' and a metaphorical arm round the shoulder would help...? A hug from Mrs. K perhaps?

Haha, cheers... always up for a hug from the lovely Mrs K.

I think if the nationalists had sorted the currency issue out - forgot about the pound and just said "We're going to have our own currency and our own central bank & use oil money to set it up initially" then more people would have gone for it. The No camp seem all about money, and the polls & result bore that out.

 

[Joe Spivey]

Just hypothetically, I wonder how the Scots would have reacted if it was the other way around. If the rest of the UK was voting to eject Scotland from the union. Now I know, this close to the referendum result, a lot of the 'Yes' voters would likely say that such an idea would be brilliant and they would be all for it. But think about it. The referendum we have just had never happened, instead it was this hypothetical referendum. Would it be the same? Or would the emotion swing the other way? Anyway, I'm off to work.

 

[Philip Coutts]

I really object to the term "serf". I'm proud to be Scottish and proud to be British and that seems to be a bad thing these days which is a real shame. As has been pointed out terms like "serf" are divisive, belittling and to be frank utter nonsense.

 

[withnail]

I think the serf stuff should stop, I can't see how it is helpful to anyone.

 

[Surfinjo]

I think if the nationalists had sorted the currency issue out -

I really object to the term "serf".

The term serf is being used metaphorically. But the point is well made. The reference is to the acceptance of empty promises.

As for the currency issue, I think that was part of an overall mistake in strategy. The apparent claim that everything would be fine. That the issues are economic. That there are any guarantees.

If the issues were simple economics then the obvious answer would be no.

The uncertainties of the current arrangement, together with the experience that events are ultimately controlled in London, that is a more important issue and that is where Salmond should have diverted the currency question.

In reality, the issue was petty and pathetic. An experience economist like Salmond should have been able to make that point.

 

[Surfinjo]

I think the serf stuff should stop, I can't see how it is helpful to anyone.

Perhaps may care to issue a list of topics which you personally don't like.

 

[Yaffle]

Mod hat on here, as I know I posted in the thread earlier about the topic

Stop the sniping at each other. Discuss the result but don't bait others.

As someone else has pointed out, even the politicians have said to put the vote behind them and get on with life. Let's do that here.

 

[withnail]

Perhaps may care to issue a list of topics which you personally don't like.

I'm ok with any topic, I just think that could be offensive to some people (and there are better ways to make the point).

 

[amigacooke]

My reaction to the result? Where's beta 2?

 

[Slawkenbergius]

My reaction to the result? Where's beta 2?

I'm with you there.

#Beta2gether!

 

[Cosmos]

I think the serf stuff should stop, I can't see how it is helpful to anyone.

Its not helpful to the winning side but stifling free speech is nothing new. All part of the 'reconciliation' I expect.

 

[Philip Coutts]

I fail to see how an election with a turnout of 85% can be accused of stifling free speech. Everyone had the chance to have their say and they did, for better or worse the result is in. Lets move forward and find a way to bring the country back together and improve the political system for everyone.

 

[Joe Spivey]

I think the UK should be very proud of itself. There aren't many countries in the world that could even dare to hold a similar referendum. But now it's done and the big benefit of the referendum is that it opens up debate on the role of central government in local affairs.