to feel happy and excited about voting YES!

[area52]

I am just back from the polling booth and can say that I have never felt so positive about voting. The feeling that my vote is actually counting, rather than being swalowed up as is the case with Westminster voting, is also fantastic.

IMO a yes vote will reinvigorate the whole of Britain and, amongst other things, allow Scotland and England build better relations as equal but interdependent neighbours and allies.

Taking the piss out of Cameron is an aside to the process. A happy one.

I don't think Salmond is much better to be honest.

Cameron did look like he might squeeze a tear out the other day though.

I have thought long and hard about my vote, but I think Cameron deserves the worry. Maybe he'll know how it feels to worry about people who were hit by unfair benefits sanctions, and the disabled people who were told they weren't getting DLA because they were able to work.

Love all these comments like "if Scotland is so crap it can't support itself how come they're shitting themselves that we might leave?". Eh, maybe because no-one wants to be part of the government that 'lost' Scotland, much like George VIII is remembered as the king that lost America. Maybe because they're aware how interdependent our nations are, and how much of a ball ache attempts to separate the two will be. Maybe because they see Britishness as a patchwork of English, Irish, Welsh and Scottish-ness, and it won't be same just the three of us. Maybe because it's just a shit idea with good PR and sometimes you've got to say something. I could go on.

atticus - I am sure a lot of people like you are worried about a yes vote, lots of uncertainty comes with it. The scaremongering hasn't helped either. I haven't thought through all the details for UK and Scotland very true. I have thought about the bigger picture and how things could be better.

And I don't think there is anything wrong being amused watching the lying, cheating, blackmailing, hypcritical dictator Cameron grovel. If it is a yes vote Scotland are well rid. Unfortunately for us, we will probably be stuck with a Tory government forever. Maybe it's time to head north?

Cameron a dictator?
People, that's news to me. When did that happen?

People who vote yes are very quick to shout down anyone that criticises Alex Salmond with the argument that it's not about him. Well neither should you be voting on the basis you don't like David Cameron. He will not be around forever.

Cameron is a dictator? You need some perspective.

happybubblebrain all major political parties in rUK are backing the no campaign. This isn't about getting away from Cameron and anyone who votes on that basis is being very short sighted.

Happybubblebrain you are aptly named. You seem to epitomise Yes voters who will do the wrong thing for the wrong reason. Cameron a dictator?? Silly me I thought he was the democratically elected leader of our nation.

And of course the Yes campaign never tells porkies. Er remember the one about "we will keep the pound - the Westminster parties are all bluffing". Really? No plan B?

You've fallen for that soft focus big picture where everything will be OK because we want it to be. A fairer society will emerge overnight because it's only those bastard English that are stopping us? I hope you are right, but please, wake up to the realities of what a yes vote means.

So, who's staying up?

I think I'll go to bed early(ish) and set my alarm for 5 am.

I felt quite overwhelmed when I went to vote!

If it's a yes vote then the future of Scotland will look very much like the first scene in 28 Days Later

There really is some hysterical nonsense here.

I voted Yes for my own reasons, nothing to do with hating England and English people, a lot of my family are English. Its a bit arrogant for some English people to think its about them - yes you get stupid idiots spouting anti-English stuff but it works the other way to. The amount of anti-Scottish bile I've seen recently has sickened me. Not just the usual old resentments about subsiding us (wrong) spaying for our free prescriptions (again wrong), paid for out of the health budget just like Westminster could choose to do for England if they so wished) but nasty stuff, laughing at Scotland, the people,. our accents and life. Oh yes and all the "Fuck off jocks" is such banter eh!

And all the laughing at the prospect of the struggle Scotland will face and "don't come crawling back" type comments - Im under no illusions what it will be like and still think its worth it.

So how much of what will actually happen, if yes win, has actually been decided? I started listening ages ago, then got bored with it all tbh and real life has taken over - so I come today and now can't remember what's what anymore.

So, in terms of specifics, what exactly are people voting yes for?

eg.
NHS
Passports
Currency
Border controls
Trade
EU
EU funding (inc things like grants/funding to universities, etc.)
etc.

I cannot see the end of poverty in the next few years, the only people getting richer will be the lawyers. Whilst not keen on Cameron the UK was already up shit creek.

Its a bit arrogant for some English people to think its about them...

Is it not about all of the UK in many ways? Does it not affect us all?

My vote is based on a variety of different reasons, but being unhappy with the UK Government is a valid point.

A lot of people in the whole of the UK have been unhappy with the Government for a long time, and voting to escape that is perfectly acceptable.

I don't particularly like Salmond and the Scottish Parliament is by no means infallible, but by doing things like mitigating the bedroom tax they saved a lot of people from a very difficult period. I am happier with them than I am with WM.

Is Alex Salmond's behaviour any better? I think his behaviour towards the Chancellor. Of St. Andrew's uni was pretty dispicable.

Too much drama.

If it's yes Scotland will flounder for a while and them be fine. Not the oasis they may think but they will be ok. Just like any other country the people will moan and the vote will go from left wing to right wing.

England will be fine too.

Nothing new here really.

The world will still turn.

Bored with all the hype.

Thomyorke lawyers rule the world.

The sooner we all understand that the better.

I can't remember for the life of me why but isn't there a valid reason why it would have been a bad idea to have DevoMax included

If the selections most people made were

1. No 2. Devo Max or
2. Yes 2. Devo Max we might end up with Devo Max. Most people could put up with that.

If the selections most people made were

1. Devo Max 2. No and No won Yes would be very unhappy.

If the selections most people made were

1. Devo Max 2. Yes and Yes won Yes would win with less than 50% wanting it as a first choice.

What should have been offered was 2 separate papers or ballots . A straight Yes / No which would be counted first in the knowledge if it were No there would be a second on keep the status quo or go for Devo max.

Interestingly no-one even tried to deny Cameron is the other things I listed. Most people didn't vote him in but we are stuck with him. Scotland has a chance not to be. Of 1,000 reasons to vote Yes Cameron is one of the best.

I'm getting up early.

Its a bit arrogant for some English people to think its about them...

Is it not about all of the UK in many ways? Does it not affect us all?

I meant the reason for wanting independence as a desire to break free from England.

If people are unhappy now that people outside Scotland cant vote then its a bit late, that should have been campaigned for 2 years ago. Except there was little interest or indeed care from outwith Scotland. England has a population of roughly - what..50 million? Compared to Scotland's 5 million, where would the democracy be then due to the vast difference in numbers of population.

grovel I am ill so will be up and down all night anyway - planning a wee nihgt on the sofa bed to watch it while I dose.

Will there be a friendly MN ?

Is Alex Salmond's behaviour any better? I think his behaviour towards the Chancellor. Of St. Andrew's uni was pretty despicable

On which the Yes supporters here are oddly silent..