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* Ben Yount discussed “Downstate independence” in the context of yesterday’s failed Scottish referendum…
Could downstate IL learn something from the Scots? What would Chicago independence look like? @ILWDRadio http://t.co/793rae9×9z #twill
— Benjamin Yount (@BenYount) September 19, 2014
I think his fatal flaw is believing that Downstaters want “smaller government.” If you look at the pension votes, the screams about facility closures, etc., lots of Downstate legislators, at least, don’t necessarily want a smaller government in their areas.
* Greg Hinz…
Maybe we could learn something from that. And maybe some of our politicians would learn something from Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, the main instigator of the independence movement.
After his view that Scotland would do better as an independent nation was rejected by voters by a better than 55 percent to 45 percent ratio, he announced his resignation both as leader of Scotland and as head of its leading political party. The message: The people have spoken. They rule.
When’s the last time you saw an American politician fall on his sword, metaphorically? When did a House speaker who couldn’t deliver what he promised, a mayor who has fallen short or a governor who has struggled to deliver anything at all accepted responsibility, much less offered to quit? And let’s not even talk about the last indicted Illinois legislator who walked away from his job, rather than waiting for the trial and impeachment.
Good for the Scots. I hope someone in Illinois is watching.
* The Question: Did you learn anything from the failed Scottish independence campaign? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:14 pm
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Weren’t the polls way off. The prediction markets did ok though.
Comment by Cassandra Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:16 pm
Denny Hastert stepped down as House GOP leader after they lost the majority in ‘06 and retired. So, yeah, it does happen when honorable people are involved.
Comment by Adam Smith Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:17 pm
That Mike Madigan is the Edward Longshanks of Illinois, and will never let it happen.
Comment by Western Ave. Doug Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:18 pm
Wow they sure can turnout! and results announcements made with backdrops? working all through the night and into the morning to get the totals in and the speeches made?!? Impressive show by the entire system in Scotland, whatever your position on the question. how did they get everyone so together when the question so divided them?
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:21 pm
I learned they need better Lobsters over there.
Comment by Lobo Y Olla Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:24 pm
I was surprised to learn I actually gave a — about the outcome.
Comment by Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:25 pm
whatever i learned i will quickly forget after i crack open a single malt this evening.
Comment by PoolGuy Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:30 pm
In 2014, independence isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I never did understand the appeal of the separtists. What was it they were hoping to achieve? Closer ties to the EU? More respect from Westminster? They couldn’t keep the pound, and accepting the Euro would have been a blow to their sovereignty too.
All in all, it just seemed to be a lot of disgruntled Scots trying to make a point about feeling irrelevant in the global world. Sort of like those who pine for state seccession here. It’s the wrong solution to a real problem.
I did learn though that a lot of Scots who wanted to stay in Great Britain kept their mouths shut to their friends and neighbors supporting independence. What people do in the privacy of the voting booth is often what makes accurate polling so difficult.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:32 pm
Folks don’t want to face paying fully for their centralized social services.
Comment by walker Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:32 pm
What walker said. I watched Gordon Brown’s speech the day before election day and that was one of his central tenets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J39bBV7CBJk
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:35 pm
What was learned was that for all the noise and speeches and emotions there are thoughtful people who do study the issues and vote accordingly. If people care enough about an issue, they will turn out to vote.
The ’silent majority’ in Scotland spoke through the ballot box and rejected independence. No riots, no bombings, life continued on the next day. Now we see if the promised devolution by London takes place.
Comment by Nearly Normal Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:36 pm
I didn’t care about the issue at all.
But to the politics of it, I was surprised that those pushing it did so even though they knew that under the best of circumstances a “Yes” vote would prevail only by the narrowest of margins.
You “declare” independence with 51% of the vote? It’s not soup yet.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:39 pm
Sean Connery is not as persuasive over there.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:44 pm
Scotland has the largest oil reserves in Europe, which would have paid for the centralized social services for many years. But like most oil reserves, it won’t last forever, so Walker and Rich hit on what was probably the most decisive factor for most voters.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:47 pm
Voter turnout for the Scots independence referendum was stratospheric, as high as 80% or 90% in some areas. I wonder if a referendum on “downstate independence” would have the same effect on our voter turnout… I kinda suspect that it would, especially south of I-80.
Comment by Secret Square Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:47 pm
The mistake people who don’t like Chicago always make is thinking the problems will go away if they just avoid Chicago. The reality is that what happenens in Chicago doesn’t stay in Chicago! If you don’t want Chicago to have a negative impact on Illinois you need to reform Chicago now! Williamjkellyforchicago.com to find out how!
Comment by William j Kelly Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:47 pm
Here is something I already knew…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovUkATL4l_g
Comment by OneMan Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:49 pm
The Scottish turnout (84.6%) for the vote should shame Americans.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Quite a bit (that I too never thought I would give a &^%* about). John Cassidy wrote in the New Yorker that Scotland is already very independent from the rest of the UK. Free college education in Scotland, not so elsewhere in the UK. In 2016, Scotland will be able to set its own tax rates. There are a bunch others I can’t recall. Now with all the promises David Cameron made, the Scottish will get even more independence, but their representatives will remain in parliament, voting on measures that don’t even affect Scottish folks. Eventually, it might be the United Kingdom that boots Scotland out.
Comment by bottom rung. Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Walker, you just learned that from Scotland? Illinoisans don’t want to pay for their services either. Thus the pension borrowing…err holidays, and our current kerfuffle.
Comment by PublicServant Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Single malt is better than blended malt, long filler is better than short filler and english ales are better than american ales.
Comment by The Colossus of Roads Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 3:55 pm
I learned that the Scotts are passionate about their issues and step up to put their vote where their mouth is. Good for them. If only we could get anywhere near their voter participation. 93% are registered to vote and dang nearly 85% did. Pretty impressive.
Comment by Sunshine Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:12 pm
There’s goes my damn Scottish Ambassadorship. Maybe I could run for US Senate in the new state of South Illinois?
Comment by Angus McTaggert Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:15 pm
Wensicia: “The Scottish turnout (84.6%) for the vote should shame Americans.”
It was the free Haggis that produced those numbers.
Comment by Jimmy Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:21 pm
== The Scottish turnout (84.6%) for the vote should shame Americans. ==
The Scotts actually had the power to enact serious change. Americans don’t have that opportunity. We can elect a Republican or a moderate Democrat like Bill Clinton who operates within the Reagan consensus.
Comment by Anon Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:23 pm
==Americans don’t have that opportunity.==
Nonsense, nothing kills opportunity for change like voter apathy.
Comment by Wensicia Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:26 pm
Got to agree with Wensicia. If we Yanks got off our politically disinterested arses and came out to vote in those numbers change would come. Maybe Madigan would never lose in his district, but electing independent (as in not under his or anyone’s control, not necessarily an independent party)reps district by district, change would come over time. But with low numbers nothing will change and people who don’t bother to vote will continue to complain, but not vote and wonder why nothing changes.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 4:46 pm
Voter turnout was massive because every single vote counted towards the outcome.
Reason eleventy-billion to eliminate the electoral college.
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 5:00 pm
Low turnout is something that can be changed with the right GOTV and making voters understand, voting matters.
Period.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 19, 14 @ 5:04 pm