- This topic has 91 replies, 24 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 7 months ago by
.
- Posts
I’m very surprised to read you were a ‘yes’ voter… that you threw common sense out of the window in favour of absurd patriotism favouring a venture into the unknown.. a venture that, I see as selfish, self centred nationalism, that is inward driven, thinking only of itself and caring nothing for the rest of the UK population who would also have been very likely adversely affected…
I see a ‘yes’ vote as nothing to be proud of, moreso coming from a racing person.
Strong words Ugly Mare.What has been disguised very well during this campaign is the Anti-English agenda.Every YES voter secretly had that agenda attached firmly to their vote,its been born into them.40yrs ago the YES vote would have won by a landslide but thankfully the English influence of the past 35yrs has diluted that ‘Them and Us’ attitude and the NO voters appreciated that we are a United Nation…..The Black Watch fought alongside the Royal Marines in battle and thats how it should be,not bloody Bannockburn and that pathetic ‘Flower a ****** Scotland sh*te’!Geez!
Thing is , what damage has been done to Scotland in the process, lets say you were thinking of going there for a Christmas break (Im laughing at the thought ) would you still go now.. given the carry on over the last 2 weeks ??
I certainly would not …as far as I am concerned they can rot
They won’t ‘rot’. And your hypothetical boycott of your non-existent Christmas break will not be noticed.
Base comment.
Mike
UM – the future within the Union holds as many unknowns, in the long term, as a future for Scotland as an independent country. You might argue more given the foreign policies currently being pursued. It wasn’t ‘absurd patriotism’ that led me to a Yes vote, it was a considered view I’ve formed over several decades, having been anti-independence in my youth.
And racing, I’m afraid, much as I love it, featured lower on my list of priorities behind, for example, a sound and fair health service, a fitting standard care for the elderly, fair taxation and a high standard of education-for-all with no wealth-based inequality, favouritism and privilege.
I don’t want to enter into a debate. The vote’s done, we could argue for days about whether my view is right/wrong and likewise yours. I am fairly sure neither of us would convince the other. I am just stating my own take on it, in the context of this discussion. And also want to highlight that the Scotland which is being painted as a divided nation with tensions high and a dark undercurrent is far from the truth. We had a yes/no black/white vote, that is bound to be divisive in itself. Beyond that I see no divisions (again barring a tiny minority). Yes and No stood side by side outside most of the polling stations yesterday, in good humour. We’re not a nation to turn on our own when the chips are down and I’m certain, 100% certain, we won’t start now.
Finally, it is nothing to do with being anti-English. I love England. I love so much about it I wouldn’t know where to start. many of my best friends are English. It is the politics of Westminster consistently failing to address the needs of my country that I voted against. Sure, some had an anti-English agenda. Balanced, I am sure by the many English who were on social media urging us Scots to ‘**** off out of it’ and similar. A minority, like the Scottish anti-English minority. And, to TAPK, roughly 40 years ago (1979), we did vote. Contrary to the your ‘landslide’ comment we failed to muster enough votes to even secure the diluted devolution on offer at that time. Read your history and understand what you are talking about before spouting ill-informed rubbish. You were dead right about the bet to play though.
I think Westminster will try Salmond`s fragile patience. I don`t see what position he is in to demand concessions being implemented in rapid order anyway.
I think Westminster will try Salmond`s fragile patience. I don`t see what position he is in to demand concessions being implemented in rapid order anyway.
Alex Salmond has stepped down as First Minister and Leader.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
He’s in a position at the front of 1.6 million voters and at the head (for now) of the parliament of Scotland to whom, de facto, those promises were made (in desperation it has to be said), with accompanying timescale, in full public gaze by all three main party leaders and Gordon Brown, parachuted in to save the ailing No campaign from Darling’s ineptitude.
For England, the prickly ‘West Lothian question’ may finally now have an end in sight. I’ve long been of the view that it was unfair for Scottish MPs to have a vote on English-only matters. So the ‘concessions’ are not only for Scotland.
Wales and Northern Ireland will benefit also from additional powers, powers which are best placed locally within those countries where the priorities can be established according to the differing needs of those countries and communities.
I’ve put my ‘yes’ lapel badge in a box in the attic. I’m saving it for my grand-children when their time comes, if it is needed. Let’s hope they take the chance we’ve squandered.
I won’t go into the reasons I voted NO here. I would just ask you to consider the fact that if Scotland had voted YES yesterday, your Grand Children would have NO choice when it is their time. Their Grandchildren after them would have NO choice come their day.
I fail to see what we squandered? You cannot squander a vision.
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
I hoped Scotland would vote YES, but in the end tiresome practicality overtook the allure of ‘freedom’. Salmond’s fag-packet economics could not be buried under a sea of Saltires I’m afraid.
The idea that the YESsers were all ‘anti-English’ is as ludicrous as the view that NO voters are somehow ‘traitors’.
a sound and fair health service, a fitting standard care for the elderly, fair taxation and a high standard of education-for-all with no wealth-based inequality, favouritism and privilege.
I think you’ll find that’s what the overwhelming majority of all in the Union would like. Our chances of achieving that will be better with Scotland on board.
also want to highlight that the Scotland which is being painted as a divided nation with tensions high and a dark undercurrent is far from the truth.
I would think this was obvious to anyone with a brain cell.
Mike
And, to TAPK, roughly 40 years ago (1979), we did vote. Contrary to the your ‘landlside’ comment we failed to muster enough votes to even secure the diluted devolution on offer at that time. Read your history and understand what you are talking about before spouting ill-informed rubbish. You were dead right about the bet to play though.
Read your Maths Cormack,40yrs ago the SNP were historically at their strongest,(1974),sadly by the time of the 79 elections they reached an all time low.I hope for your sake a repeat of history doesn’t occur.
At least you acknowledge the Anti-English attitude that courses the Scottish vein,another Historical fact,one that sadly will live on. 
Good stuff, Cormack.
Passionate.
However, if you think the politics of Brussels would address the needs of Scotland any better than Westminster, I fear you’d be very disappointed. And that’s before even a mention of that red headed ******* child "the Euro" being foisted upon you at some stage in the future.
From a purely selfish viewpoint I’m glad Scotland voted NO. The last thing the Banana Republic needed was a serious rival for our foreign direct investment program, which I’m certain an independent Scotland would have been. Yank CEO’s prefer your golf courses as well.
But to witness this referendum, this democracy being exercised in all of its purity was a wonderous thing. Something every Scot, whichever camp they resided in can be very proud of.
It truly felt like a democratic engagement Cav, much more than any election I’ve voted in previously somehow. Stood in that voting booth looking at the ballot paper, although I knew the question before I went in, I was struck by the starkness and simplicity of the question. ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ and a box for yes and a box for no. That was it. A simple question, but what a question. And I was being asked to answer it. And my answer would shape the outcome. And I suddenly felt not only that this cross I was about to place was important but that I was participating in something wonderful, answering that fundamental question about not only Scotland’s identity and future but my own also, in a strange way. At least that’s how it felt.
I think that is why the turnout was so high. People intuitively engaged with the directness, simplicity and importance of the question. Ticking that box you knew that this was a choice, a moment, that would remain with you, either way, for your lifetime.
It was democracy alright, at least it felt more like democracy than anything I’ve experienced before, and it did feel pure, that is a great choice of word.
I am glad to read your words because I am proud that we had that vote and that we responded to that referendum in the way that we did (despite the result) and I’m glad the world saw that somehow through the politicking.I was struck by the starkness and simplicity of the question. ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ and a box for yes and a box for no. That was it. A simple question
As one of the results was declared in the small hours, the returning officer gave the number of rejected ballot papers and the reasons for their rejection. As you say, it must have been the simplest ballot paper in history but one poor soul blew their chance to be part of influencing the destiny of their country by managing to vote both Yes
and
No.
Well, I suppose if you have panicked at the last second you should hedge your bet!
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
managing to vote both Yes
and
No.
I didn’t realise ginger was Scottish.
It all makes sense now.http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ginger-santa.jpg
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
It truly felt like a democratic engagement Cav, much more than any election I’ve voted in previously somehow. Stood in that voting booth looking at the ballot paper, although I knew the question before I went in, I was struck by the starkness and simplicity of the question. ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ and a box for yes and a box for no. That was it. A simple question, but what a question. And I was being asked to answer it. And my answer would shape the outcome. And I suddenly felt not only that this cross I was about to place was important but that I was participating in something wonderful, answering that fundamental question about not only Scotland’s identity and future but my own also, in a strange way. At least that’s how it felt.
I think that is why the turnout was so high. People intuitively engaged with the directness, simplicity and importance of the question. Ticking that box you knew that this was a choice, a moment, that would remain with you, either way, for your lifetime.
It was democracy alright, at least it felt more like democracy than anything I’ve experienced before, and it did feel pure, that is a great choice of word.
I am glad to read your words because I am proud that we had that vote and that we responded to that referendum in the way that we did (despite the result) and I’m glad the world saw that somehow through the politicking.I think your posts have been most honorable and rational Cormack. That 45% voted for independence in the face of all the scare-mongering shows that it has become a movement rather than just a campaign.
The real problem is the disconnect between any Tory govt and Scotland and if the promises made are not kept this issue will resurface sooner rather than later…so this is Democracy?
these are the people who could have voted:-”It doesn’t matter where you were born but you do need to be living in Scotland now. You also need to be a British, Irish, other European Union or qualifying Commonwealth citizen”
…but not living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland…
that’s not democratic, that’s exclusive, it’s elitist…it’s privilege… you were privileged to be able to vote on a serious issue that affected all of us in our country, the United Kingdom…
..it’s surprising that the Scottish, who generally are known for their dislike of privilege, seemed quite happy to go along with this…
..a few thousand Poles, recently arrived, with no other connection to the UK, could vote, whereas the rest of us with long term investments, could not…
..and you call this Democratic..?
I have no time for secession… no more than Abraham Lincoln did…I believe in a strong central Government… and I would ask any ‘yes’ voter… what do you think the 20th Century would have been like, how our lives here in Europe would have unfolded, without a United States….?
Well said UM ,you have nailed it …elitist is exactly as I saw it , and pretty arrogant with it too
Still all over now …lets see what the fall out brings …A labour Gov , will not be rushing to seal all the deals , and thats for certain ….
Fun and games await !!
Meanwhile the show goes on
At least you acknowledge the Anti-English attitude that courses the Scottish vein,another Historical fact,one that sadly will live on. 
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.