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>  blog:  Scottish referendum:  what a shambles

There are two problems with the Scottish referendum:

Firstly, no relationship is over until it’s over. With a significant proportion of Scottish voters wanting to stay in the union, the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK (or, should that be between Scotland and England?) isn’t over.

A vote to leave the union is the equivalent of one partner in a marriage walking out of the house because both of them together cannot resolve the issues that have come up in their relationship.

I don’t do political analysis but my suspicion is that it suits both parties just fine not to sit down and work out a consensual relationship together.

Which leads to…

Secondly, whatever the result of the vote, one significant group of Scots or another will feel aggrieved, hard done by, resentful. Simply put, one group won’t have got their needs met and they will, likely, make that very clear in the coming weeks, months and years.

The opportunity for political tantrums and throwing of toys out of prams is almost infinite, and will be richly enjoyed (and profited from) by all politicians.

Unfortunately, the Scottish people will be divided, and that’s far more serious. For that reason (never mind economics and politics) the capacity for Scotland to be, culturally and economically, a powerful country will be seriously diminished, whether it is inside or outside the UK.

The situation is like the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife?”  Each Scot will be damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

This is simply a manifestation of the divisive powers of referendums and why they are always a stupid way to reach group decisions.

Another blog:
> Are referendums democratic?