These are just some random thoughts from a Brit (Welsh) who never was a dub.
When we had the referendum on devolution (settled 50.2% in favour, 49.8% against) no details of what the effects would be were available, IIRC. All was to be settled later. I remember a quote 'Few problems are solved by creating more politicians'. We now have an extra layer of bureaucracy with well-paid politicians, civil servants (6,000+), buildings, etc., and the 'Welsh Assembly' is now the 'Welsh Assembly Government'. Some outcomes have been good, some bad (IMO), some mixed.
Many issues (and major ones at that) are 'to be settled later' - by negotation. It seems to me that to be democratic, if there is a 'Yes' vote it must be followed promptly by a General Election in Scotland so that people and parties can put forward what they would wish to negotiate for.
In the UK the age of majority is 18. In this referendum, 16 and 17 year olds have been given the vote. In legal terms these are children, able to consent to sex (for example) but regarded as not able to consent to sex with a person in authority (eg a teacher). Unable to make an informed decision on that but able to make an informed decision (irrevocable?) on independence? Discuss.
On the principle of a democratic right to independence, these thoughts occur:
Some parts of Scotland (Highlands and Islands?) have expressed the view that they feel so far removed from Edinburgh that they would like independence. Allow a referendum?
Some parts of England (eg Cornwall) likewise?
What about Catalonia and the Basques?
How would the US feel if California wanted independence?
And, not wanting to be controversial, wasn't the American Civil War about the wish of some southern states to be independent from the then US?
So many questions, and I haven't even mentioned currency and the EU yet.
My gut feeling, based on no evidence, is that the 'Yes' campaign has been particularly vociferous. With a cool head, and in the privacy of the polling booth, I suspect that the 'No' vote will win.
