Why I’m Totally Psyched for Scotland’s Historic Vote
Full Disclosure: I lived in Edinburgh for around a year when I was 20, so Scotland is close to my heart. However, beyond the “Screw yoo, Ya English Bastards!” nationalism that I imbibed with the beer while I was over there – I’m psyched for this Independence referendum vote on Thursday for more practical reasons.
This “Yes” vote will be a vote for turning away from the corrupt “Bank profits first and foremost” policies that Westminster learned from Bill Clinton. The UK had a proud Northern European social welfare tradition before it was infected by the American economic disease of Shareholder Primacy.
The Scots align politically closer to Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland than they do to the US, and they are voting to return to a socialized national health system that works for everyone because isn’t profit based. Like their Arctic Circle neighbors, the Scots do not believe that insurance company profits should be sacrosanct.
In addition to freedom from modern American capitalism, they are voting for a margin of neutrality in world affairs. If this referendum prevails, the Scots will be separating themselves from a lapdog relationship with the United States in which they are automatically involved in any cockamamie wars that can be dreamed up by the likes of Dick Cheney.
Finally, I’m psyched for this vote for the example of peaceful and rational discourse it represents. There have been no bombings or assassinations to bring this to a vote – and for that Westminster deserves some credit. If Scotland can peacefully chart its own path, according to its own proud liberal national values, so can other countries.
If Scotland can say YES to the question, “Can we live, as we have in the past, without these inhumane inequalities?” Then, can’t we all begin to say yes?
http://www.salon.com/2014/09/15/must_see_morning_clip_england_needs_to_romance_scotland_if_it_wants_to_avoid_secession/
Don’t miss this one
John Oliver’s incredible take on the vote:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YkLPxQp_y0
Yeah. I saw that last night and laughed my ass off. He really nails why the Scots hate David Cameron.
Mr 330 wrote:
No, you’ve gotten the question wrong. It ought to be, “Can Scotland live, under a massive social welfare policy, on it’s own, and actually succeed?”
Any country can pass what you would see as “a proud Northern European social welfare tradition;” Greece certainly did! It doesn’t always work out quite so well for them.
For every Greece and Spain there’s a Sweden and Germany. While we’re talking democratic socialism (“welfare states”) I suppose we should also mention all our other friends like Australia, New Zealand, Canada… actually it’s like all of them.
If you want to make little smart comments, maybe they should be smart?
Dana, I would think conservatives would be jumping up and down at the Scottish secession vote.
This could start some things in motion that finally frees America from places like Mississippi … or dare I say… Texas!
Dana’s uninformed idiocy barely registers for me anymore. The best I can say is that I guess it is nice to know the Fox News position once in a while though. (Not that I couldn’t have guessed the Fox News position on this.)
If Scotland wanted to break off and make a Christian fundamentalist society where you pray away the gay, Fox News would be demanding Obama send them weapons just in case Mum resists their Independence.
^Word^
Ha! Yeah, ben…
Frankly, I don’t care what the Scots do. I just appreciate that people, regular working people, understand that British Labour has failed them. See some working people in the world actually understand and will stand up for their economic interests. I know this concept is difficult to understand here at home in the hinterland between the coasts. Jesus and AR15s don’t put food on the table and buttress personal security.
When people just throw out some vacuous partisan punchline those people are exposed as empty-headed zombies.
The possibility that this could be the first little bit of water over the dam is the most exciting thing about this.
Scottish independence is about a whole lot more than a political faction failing them or the socialist welfare state.
Its about an abused spouse wanting out of a dysfunctional 1000 year marriage.
Ben wrote:
Some certainly approve, knowing that independence will put the Conservatives in a dominant political position in England. I’d rather not see secession, but they are a free people, and it’s up to them.
Mr 330 wrote:
Does this mean that you’d like to see other nations breaking up? If so, which ones?
And would your position on this mean that you believe President Lincoln was wrong, and that the the Confederacy had a perfect right to secede?
No idiot. Read my comment. No more hand holding for you.
For the record Scotland has been in the Commonwealth since 1707. Treaty of Union 1706 and all. So it’s more like 300 years not 1000.
“And would your position on this mean that you believe President Lincoln was wrong, and that the the Confederacy had a perfect right to secede?”
Not wrong per se… it was important to stop slavery and the inhumane Southern Conservatives who would try to oppress others and advocate White Supremacy… but there have been many a time when I wonder if we shouldnt have just evacuated all the slaves and let the rebs go.
Greetings Jason 330!
My name is robin brown & I’m a reporter with The News Journal.
Enjoyed your post!
I am working on an article about Scotland’s vote & would like to include your thoughts.
Please contact me at rbrown@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2856.
Thanks!
@Dana: Stuck in the past a little?
Whatever happened the first time the dumbfucks of the South unleashed their brilliance on the world, I think that nowadays you’ll find that lots of us up here in the civilized states — I’m not sure Pennsyltucky counts — would be more than happy to let the Old Confederacy go, especially as the land desertifies in coming decades.
“For the record Scotland has been in the Commonwealth since 1707. Treaty of Union 1706 and all. So it’s more like 300 years not 1000.”
Consider the first 700 years was a pre-marital dating period of abuse and war. Wars dating back to 900 AD and attempts at union dating back to the 16th century.
Thanks for the shout out Robin Brown – even when DL’s contributors are mentioned in the NJ, the blog itself is very rarely if ever mentioned.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/opinion/paul-krugman-scots-what-the-heck.html
I like Krugman, but think he is a little too egg-head on this. Economists can’t capture the Scot’s deep seated desire to prove the English wrong.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119498/scotland-rejects-independence-alex-salmond-and-snp-still-gain
Imagine that, Jason liking Krug the Thug.
Deep-seated = 45% a liberal majority! #ifuckinglovemath
Good to see the News Urinal is trawling in DL’s wake. Let’s hope a tsunami capsizes both ships of fools.
And Geezer…..just give the word and the Old Confederacy will gladly walk. Let us vote for our independence, and this time, don’t be so clingy.
I admit that I continue to underestimate the power of fear in the age of Rupert Murdoch. Anyway, the SNP has come a long way in the past 25 years. They won a lot through this process and will continue to roll up gains as the fearful old bastards die off.
“just give the word and the Old Confederacy will gladly walk. ”
Right after we reauthorize and complete the Secure Border Initiative. I expect my taxes will decrease dramatically since the Old Confederacy manages to rake in considerably more federal dollars than pay, which will help pay for the fence.
“Let us vote for our independence, and this time, don’t be so clingy.”
Not a problem. You will have a problem, though, with finances, as currently every state of the Confederacy is a net importer of federal dollars.
@Dave: Facts in Stereo.
@Ringo: We might invade again when you reinstate slavery.
Letting the Confederacy go would be a boon except for having an utterly disease ridden, impoverished banana Republic on our southern border within ten years.
We just move all of that Border Security we paid for north.
LOL! Let’s build that fence!
Plus there’s opportunity for revenue — Border Inspection can also collect tolls from these guys when they come north to visit and conduct business.
… Or send their kids to college! 😉
😆
We’ll have to agitate for a Former Citizen of the US tuition level for them.
The question is, should we put boots on the ground to defend them when the Mexican drug cartels invade? Personally, I just want to arm the moderate elements within the New Confederacy to defeat the religious fanatics.
Except how do you know who the moderates are? Besides, there are several DOD bases in Texas — we should just leave some protective gear and hand weaponry when the US leaves there. Maybe they’ll decide to raise funds by holding Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly captive.
Queen Accepts Scotland’s Apology