Scottish independence vote, September 18

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In the popular FOX show The Simpsons, Scottish character Groundskeeper Willie weighs in on Scotland's vote for Independence from the United Kingdom....

...Independence for Scotland is more an emotional than a practical issue. To the devil with the bean counters and toff politicians in London. Sharpen the broadswords and break out the whiskey. The spirits of Robert the Bruce and William Wallace are rising....

...In September 2014, Scotland faces the possibility of independence once again. They do not have to draw up the schiltrons and face down a heavy cavalry charge of English knights. Their independence opponents are big business, banks, The Labour Party, The Conservative Party, the Liberal Democrats, Prime Minister Cameron and the Queen, not to mention the EU. The biggest supporters for independence are The Scottish National Party, The Scottish Green Party and the Scottish Socialist Party along with a variety of small groups all with different agendas for Scotland.

Some believe that Scottish secession would start a domino effect around the world, perhaps including the Republic of Texas and Republic of Vermont? At the least it would contribute to decentralization of the UK and force Scotland to pay for its own welfare system. Others think that independence would precipitate a crisis in England, leading to the downfall of the Cameron government or England?s withdrawal from the European Union.

The democratic impulse of our times has finally created a nice crisis worth watching, though I would still much prefer to see Robert the Bruce cross lances with Henry de Bohun or William Wallace chop down the front line of the heavy cavalry. Fighting and dying for liberty isn?t what it used to be. Liberty isn?t what it used to be, either, although it would be worth fighting and dying for. ?Social democracy? is a foolish and deadly force that should be killed, but we won?t see that on September 18 whatever the outcome of the vote.