On Friday, we almost had another independent nation join the global community. Regardless of an unsuccessful secession, Scotland will prosper from the experience.
Parliament passed the Scotland Independence Referendum Bill in November 2013. It created an opportunity for Scotland to break free from the United Kingdom by voting on Thursday to become an independent country after a more than 300-year-old marriage.
Both sides, proponents and opponents of Scottish independence, had lively campaign groups representing important issues. “Yes Scotland” was the primary group for independence and had multiple strong arguments. They believed an independent Scotland would receive more farming subsidies, arguing that Scotland’s misrepresentation in Parliament caused a democratic deficit. Other issues included people discussing when they could get this chance again or what happens if we go back now.
Yes-voters also talked about possible mistreatment after disrespecting the United Kingdom by trying to leave. A Scottish national student who voted yes said, “We can’t go back now, we’ve shown them we’re not all in this.” This statement was a common sentiment among yes-voters, but also could have been argued for the no-voters as well.
All of this publicity and attention could point out to the United Kingdom that Scotland is willing to leave and that it deserves more respect. Showing the United Kingdom that Scotland is unhappy with its current situation brings attention to its issues. Better Together, the no campaign, also discussed currency issues along with European Union membership. Would Scotland keep the pound, switch to the Euro or establish something new? Others were concerned about reapplying to the European Union. Lastly, those who voted no constantly hung on to the argument of never being able to go back because there would almost certainly be no reentry into the United Kingdom in the future.
Each side posed important arguments, dividing households, marriages and friendships. But they also caused an incredible voter turnout.
On Thursday, 84.59 percent of eligible voters showed up to help decide the fate of their country. For comparison, the 2012 presidential election in the United States saw approximately 58.2 percent of eligible voters on Election Day. The 84.59 percent turnout is unusually high for any type of vote and demonstrates the importance of this to Scottish citizens. So regardless of the winner, I believe the process was a success, and democracy won.
We often don’t get a chance to see a good representation of a democracy. Yes, every two years we have elections supposed to symbolize our equality, but 58.2 percent is hardly half of our population. Scottish citizens were passionate about this decision because it was important to them. There are a number of news articles that describe sleepless nights awaiting Friday’s verdict, and it’s good to see. I wouldn’t say there aren’t any American citizens like that, but I would say there are far fewer.
Scotland made an important move and will prosper from it. Scottish citizens stood up for something they believe in and acted upon it. Democracy won, and whether or not somebody was a yes-voter or no-voter, they have to stand behind their country’s decision and move forward.
As the Prime Minister said, “It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end, and I know this sentiment was shared not just by people across the country, but also around the world.”
Scotland can move forward as a country and know this was the right decision.
