The UK experience of the referendum has been unsatisfactory to say the least. British politics has been disrupted for 7 years due to an inability to look beyond the obvious and set contingencies for the unexpected. Politicians and journalists are culpable for lack of depth, resorting to sound bites and of derogatory headlines. 24hr news should provide a platform for informed, lengthy debate, but the media giants seem to be unwilling or afraid of testing the intelligence of the average citizen. Maybe an informed population is a dangerous population in current circumstances.
Cognitive ability is unlikely to be challenged by our referendum questions. What is simpler than a binary question? Choose Yes or No, choose Leave or Remain. I could train my dog to put a paw print in one box or the other. The electorate didn't find the process of voting difficult. In fact, with a turnout of over 84% the Referendum on Scottish Independence was the highest in UK history. The EU Referendum was a strong 65% turnout, so there has been no sign of apathy. One would say that this is a powerful example of the democratic process at its best. If that is the case, why did neither referendum end the debate and allow the country to return to growing the economy and providing for its citizens? Why the constant revisiting of the same tired old topics and re running well worn debates knowing what every mouth is going to say before a thought is articulated?
The question is simple, the answer is deceptively complex. The electorate must make a decision between Chaos and Order, Change or Status Quo, Yin or Yang and taking this into consideration, the enormity of the referendum reveals itself.
Where no grievance exists, there is comfort and security in the present condition of being. Technological advances and capitalism have helped the populace to wealth and heightened living standards that our grandparents may only have dreamed of. One can be a tolerant neighbour to the Devil you know. It's easy, and understandable, to be complacent. However, one can be willfully blind to the fact that this is a road to stagnation and unfulfilled potential. The World evolves constantly beneath our feet, and unless we are open to the incremental changes required to keep pace, as a society we will be left behind those with the foresight and ability to pay attention and repeatedly review current reality.
A vote for Change is a leap of faith. It's not a leap into the unknown, into uncharted territory or a trapeze leap without a safety net. The Changes required do not require the wheel to be re-invented. The options on offer have all been made by other countries and societies at various times throughout history. These examples provide a framework for what works and how it is best implemented. There are also instances where dire consequences have resulted. The lessons of these catastrophes must be learned and taken into account in the overall analysis.
The overall analysis is not just what is good for Scotland tomorrow, but what is also good next week, next month, next year and in 30 years time. The analysis is wider than that though. For Scotland to achieve its full potential, as a nation, we cant be constantly on guard to the angry response across the borders of our nation. So we have to take the rest of the United Kingdom and our partners in the EU into consideration too and aim at what is best for all.over the same time periods. This is the meaningful path, one foot in order and one foot in chaos, the balance between control and creativity. Navigating a middle road will deliver Scottish independence and a soft exit out of the European Union for the rUK to the satisfaction of most of the electorate. Small changes are far more palatable than following the lemmings over the cliff edge. It's the archetypal story of St George and the dragon. If you confront your greatest fears, you will receive riches and wisdom with which to return to share with your community. You'll return enlightened, triumphant and ready to aim at a high target for the future.
