I think its odd that Scottish bars have all been given a 6am curfew today, i would have thought it would be one of the most tension riddled nights out you could have.
I think there were restrictions like you have to ensure you only have one side of voters in your establishment. I dont know.
I voted. I am going to try & stay up to hear the results. The suspense is killing me. I am a yes voter but I am hoping that, whatever the result tomorrow, the animosity between both sides will diminish and we unite as a nation again.
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
No Patch, you can't have your cake and eat it. Somehow doing this has been the basis of Salmond's campaign throughout and he's either on another planet or he's a downright liar. Whichever way the vote goes there's going to be huge resentment among the half that lose.
I have Scot's blood in my family but down here in England, where we're only able to watch what's happening, I can tell you that there's a significant number of people saying "well, if the buggers hate us so much then they can f... off and not expect any favours if they win and then expect to take their pick of just which cherries they want when it comes to the subsequent carve-up."
So, in at least part of the rest of the UK there is also great resentment that a small part of the whole has been allowed to blow apart a Union which has existed successfully for over 300 years. We get the result in the morning but the subsequent kerfuffle will go on for years ...
I still think it will be a no. I am also sick of seeing bloody Braveheart quotes on facebook. Seriously? Braveheart?
I want to stay up but you know, work and stuff. Keeping my fingers crossed for a no.
"I know you're sad, so I won't tell you to have a good day. Instead, I advise you to simply have a day.
Stay alive, feed yourself well, wear comfortable clothes, and don't give up on yourself just yet.
It'll get better. Until then, have a day."
Tony, it's not about "having my cake and eating it". As with all politics there are always two sides to a debate. Yes, it often causes a split in communities and obviously differences of opinion, but that does not mean that this conflict has to stick after this result. Scotland can come back together as a nation regardless of the result and move into a new era together.
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Will one side be disappointed? Of course. Will it go back to normal right away? Probably not. This, however, goes not mean lasting resentment and conflict. At the end of the day, the Scottish citizens have fought hard for what they believe in, whichever side they are campaigning for. This is positive.
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
The beeb has called it for the no side with 26/34 counted
Then wear the gold hat, if that will move her;
If you can bounce high, bounce for her too,
Till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high-bouncing lover,
I must have you!"
Thomas Parke D’Invilliers
There are times to stay put, and what you want will come to you.
But there are times to go out into the world and find such a thing for yourself.
I aint no abacus but you can count on me.
I'm glad we are staying together. It's the choice I made for my daughters future. I also had the privilege of casting my inlaws votes by proxy for them, and it's the choice they had made as well.
I actually had a dream last night that I woke up and the result had been announced as yes. I was trying to reconcile myself with what that meant and couldn't. I think if many things had been made more clear during campaigning I wouldn't have been so scared of a yes vote, but IMO Alex Samond is the worst type of politician
Nobody knows, nobody cares that I die on the inside
Nobody sees the lie that is me, as I smile on the outside
Excellent news for Scotland, the UK as a whole, Europe and the rest of the world. Maybe not for Catalonia though.
I know all the unionist parties (and the Yes campaign) are now pushing these proposed new powers, but I don't think a No vote was a vote for that. It was a vote for the union, and new powers don't necessarily come into that. I know a lot of people who don't want more powers to the parliament, especially not if they are related to taxation.
Phew! Thank God that's now over and has turned out so well. But we're now in for a huge amount of bargaining over devolution, not just from the Scottish point of view but also to allow the rest of the UK to feel that whatever extra powers Scotland has are also matched for the other three members of the Union. I'm particularly relieved from the point of view of defence, which didn't receive nearly as much attention as it should have in the debate (when push comes to shove defence should be a Government's first priority, even above more schools, hospitals et al).
And Patch, I do hope you're right about people now getting together and letting their differences heal - it'll be the only way forward. There were some pretty ugly sights, mostly in the ranks of the Yes campaigners, but let's hope that they were the exception ...
The Scottish people don't have any say on what will be given either. If you have a concern, write or otherwise contact your elected representative(s) with your views and request that they raise them with the appropriate people.
Referendums cost a lot of money, and to grant free votes on all decisions isn't practical.
I, personally, don't see further devolution to Scotland as a benefit, necessarily. I can foresee higher taxes, which can cause issues, especially for those living along the border. Any and all 'benefits' for Scotland (or anywhere else, for that matter) will need to be paid for through taxation and maximising returns.
Ok obviously I'm disappointed with the end result, however I take consolation in the fact that so many people did turn out to vote and I hope that this high voter turnout continues for future elections and also inspires other people in the UK to get off their arses and actually vote too.
I have always said that regardless of how this vote goes at least it's shaken people out of their apathy now lets see if Cameron and co keep their promises of more powers for the Scottish parliament and also for wales and northern Ireland.
