Scottish referendum: invigorated democracy

I could not keep up with the twitter feed last night, as the opinions came thick and fast from everywhere. 

Veep Creator Armando Iannucci Has the Tweet of the Night on Scotland | TIME

Just hearing Alex Salmond has taken off from Aberdeen Airport and is flying to Panama  ‪#indyref

George Takei: Overheard: "Well, if Scotland votes for independence from the U.K., what's to keep Canada from breaking off from the U.S.?"

What an exciting demonstration of democracy. While I think Americans found it somewhat amusing and/or self destructive to a UK they beat out 250 years ago, I think Europeans, Africans, Asians were most inspired to see a mature handling of a difficult issue which so often leads to violent tensions in their own regions.

It did not look too promising for the 'yes' campaign from the start, even though those first counties were very small. The larger counties maintained the momentum, and it was then a relatively easy run into the final result. I think that is a good thing for the future - clarity on the night and a large enough margin, with the vast majority of counties voting against.

Only 4 out of 32 counties voted 'yes'. Glasgow and 2 neighbors, and Dundee City. I don't know, but suspect that poorer citizens and those more dependent on social programs tipped the balance there. While the majority elsewhere felt the need to maintain a strong Scotland through the platform of the UK, and enable them to continue to punch across their weight as they have for the first 300 years of the union.

Cameron has now set the stage for further reforms, which will not be easy. But what an opportunity to modernize not just the UK, but the templates for democracy, embracing the best of modern technology with a trust in people's ability to be motivated to make a difference.

Glasgow - BBC News: I'm in the centre of Glasgow, one of the few cities to actually vote Yes but where people are coming to terms with a really quite decisive defeat - a defeat brought about it seems by the shy Nos. The silent majority, people who didn't put up posters, didn't wear badges, didn't talk to us journalists, but in the privacy of the polling booth finally expressed their true support for the Union.

BBC News - The people have spoken. But it's not over: What's known as the West Lothian question hasn't been answered since it was first asked in 1977. (The question was, Why should the MP for Blackburn in West Lothian in Scotland be able to vote on English matters when the MP for Blackburn in Lancashire can't vote on Scottish issues?) This referendum may have ended one debate in Scotland - for now. It has, however, lit the touchpaper on the explosive question of where power lies in the UK

Slate: Scotland votes to remain in United Kingdom: Expect more political earthquakes in Europe.

"Supposedly, electorates across the continent were becoming apathetic, apolitical. It turns out that Europeans can be galvanized by politics, as long as politics offers something deeper: not a choice between marginally higher or lower taxes, not a debate about incremental changes to the welfare state, but rather an existential choice, a debate about identity and a chance to overturn the establishment."