Further to what I wrote the other day, I would just like to make a couple of other points.
Firstly, it's not that I think that a referendum would necessarily produce a "better" result than one obtained through the "usual channels". Quite possibly it would not. Probably even. But after a few hair-raising episodes, I think we would quickly become sufficiently mature to withstand blandishments and manipulation. Besides, all of the dangers inherent in this approach also apply apply, sometimes in greater measure, to our present uniquely parliamentary decision-making process.
With reference to the question of Scottish independence, it is interesting to list the other "separatist" regions of Europe: Catalonia, Flanders and Lombardy. Whatever the nationalist and cultural fervour underpinning their drive for independence, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that that these entities, like Scotland, primarily believe that they would be better off economically without Spain, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom. In other words, material gain counts for quite as much as national identity. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and there is no reason why the march of history should be expected to grind to a halt in the 21st century, but the regions concerned might like to acknowledge as much.
Firstly, it's not that I think that a referendum would necessarily produce a "better" result than one obtained through the "usual channels". Quite possibly it would not. Probably even. But after a few hair-raising episodes, I think we would quickly become sufficiently mature to withstand blandishments and manipulation. Besides, all of the dangers inherent in this approach also apply apply, sometimes in greater measure, to our present uniquely parliamentary decision-making process.
With reference to the question of Scottish independence, it is interesting to list the other "separatist" regions of Europe: Catalonia, Flanders and Lombardy. Whatever the nationalist and cultural fervour underpinning their drive for independence, it is difficult to escape the conclusion that that these entities, like Scotland, primarily believe that they would be better off economically without Spain, Belgium, Italy and the United Kingdom. In other words, material gain counts for quite as much as national identity. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and there is no reason why the march of history should be expected to grind to a halt in the 21st century, but the regions concerned might like to acknowledge as much.
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