Inquisitiveness demands Yes

Other people with far more expertise than I can offer have given their reasons why a Yes vote is so important. So I would like to be philosophical. At a (very) conceptual level, if our great ancestors had decided to 'remain in the cave' due to its perceived safety; not to strike two pieces of flint together; not picked up a lump of charcoal and scratch marks on a stone wall, we would not be here today. Inquisitiveness is what defines humanity, and it's only through self-belief rather than acceptance of the status quo that we can expand and improve ourselves.
 
Back in the real world, I feel that the paths of people in Scotland and those of the Westminster system have grown far enough apart in our societal ambitions to warrant a government that is elected by those people, supports those people and is more accountable to those people. We should not be confined to the will of an overwhelming majority with fundamentally different priorities, and I think it is in the interests of everyone, with allegiances to Westminster or Holyrood, to travel those separate paths. They are to be travelled in close parallel, with the frequent friendly smile and mutual support, but they are ours to take separately nonetheless. It has been proven that Scotland can be better off economically and socially, we just need the belief that we can actually do it. I also feel that, from an English point of view, a Westminster government free from the 'troublesome Scots' can pursue those causes it feels most important. I would hope this would lead to devolved powers for its regions, many of which have suffered similarly to Scotland under various south-east dominated policies.

It's only by saying Yes that we can progress as a people and as a nation and truly begin to rediscover ourselves.

Jonathan Mennie