Peaceful Scottish Secession in the Works
By Melancton Smith • Monday June 4, 2012 10:57 AM PDT • 9 Comments
News reports inform us that members of the Scottish Parliament have for the first time voted in favor of Scotland becoming independent. Here is a snippet from the Stornoway Gazette:
First Minister Alex Salmond hailed the vote, by 69 to 52, as a “milestone” in the country’s history. He also revealed that 15,000 people have backed a declaration stating it is “fundamentally better” if decisions about the country’s future are taken by the people of Scotland.
The declaration is a key part of the Yes Scotland cross-party campaign for independence, which officially got under way just six days ago. At the time of its launch Mr Salmond declared that if one million voters put their names to it “then we shall win an independent Scotland”.
The declaration touted in the article is short and sweet:
“I believe that it is fundamentally better for us all, if decisions about Scotland’s future are taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is, by the people of Scotland.
Being independent means Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands.
There is no doubt that Scotland has great potential. We are blessed with talent, resources and creativity. We have the opportunity to make our nation a better place to live, for this and future generations. We can build a greener, fairer and more prosperous society that is stronger and more successful than it is today.
I want a Scotland that speaks with her own voice and makes her own unique contribution to the world: a Scotland that stands alongside the other nations on these isles, as an independent nation.”
The Yes Scotland campaign webpage can be found here. The vote on independence is scheduled for 2014. This should be an interesting movement to watch. What a beautiful thing to see a people debate and then cast ballots on whether their country should remain subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliament at Westminster. Perhaps this movement will remind others around the globe that secession is a key component of the right to self-government. It need not be violent, though sometimes our overlords make conflict necessary, and has been unfortunately maligned in the United States and other large countries.
Tags: England, Law, Nationalism, Power, The State 
“... We can build a greener, fairer and more prosperous society...”
Greener? Fairer? If those are their goals, they won’t succeed even if they secede.
DoctorT | Jun 4, 2012 | Reply
Smaller governments are better.... so hooray for an independent Scotland ....... I wish the stated goals were not so anti-freedom..
99guspuppet | Jun 4, 2012 | Reply
Scottish independence is an excellent idea. The Scots tend toward collectivism, which may not be too much of a local problem given their cementing nationalism. But, it can be a problem for England, given that instincts in England are much more instinctively individualistic (compare the two legal systems for example — Scotland does not have the common law and is more like France). It won’t be a smaller government for the Scots, and they’ll need to face up to some fiscal realities, but a good fence could make a better neighbor in this case.
Johnny English | Jun 4, 2012 | Reply
Agreed. Smaller govt and more freedom is the key to a prosperous society, not a socialized, centrally managed, collectivist society. If socialism was so good for a country, most of the countries in Europe wouldn’t be failing right now.
Rand | Jun 4, 2012 | Reply
The truth is, even if this doesn’t work for them it’ll work for us all. Let them try it their way, and if (when, really) it doesn’t work out, they’ll have the capability to fix their problems without relying on the British government. They’ve cast off not just a ruler but a nanny, and while the road may be painful before they understand that what’s good for Scotland (freedom from an overlarge government) is good for every Scot, they at least have a chance to begin.
The Redneck | Jun 5, 2012 | Reply
Go, Scotland! As a US American Citizen from Scotland, I can veryify that we, too, are most individualistic and that “wee” does not mean ignorant but, rather, we can move at a faster speed for we are not encumbered by size and bureaucracy.
sandra stevens-miller | Jun 5, 2012 | Reply
Was excited when I first heard about Scottish independence. But, when I read the words “greener & fairer” one can only suspect or expect it’s going to be another nanny state. From watching financial news & reports about the EU, will Scotland be another Greece or Ireland in a few years? The Scots are a great people, I hope this all works out for them.
Nockmoi | Jun 5, 2012 | Reply
I’m glad you said “...subject to the jurisdiction of the Parliament in Westminster” and not to those dreadful colonialists, the English themselves. At present, Scotland has its own parliament for many areas of life, except defence and foreign policy, over which the Westminster parliament has no jurisdiction. However, Scottish MPs in the Westminster parliament are free to vote on ALL legislation affecting England.
I’m partly Scottish – as indeed most indigenous Brits are, but will be quite pleased to see a Westminster parliament that is not laden with left-wing Scottish MPs. (I might remind US readers that our last two prime ministers were Scottish and look where that got us.)
Don’t be too sure that independence for Scotland is bound to happen. Current opinion polls show that a substantial majority still see the Union as the safer financial option.
John Harrison | Jun 6, 2012 | Reply