[2014-09-20 01:08:06 UTC] Soitinly there are lots of people in the UK now asking for more regional-based power, like the North and so on. There's a feeling that Westminster doesn't... get it [2014-09-20 01:10:40 UTC] I had at one point compared it to the US system of state-level governments, but then I remembered that California is bigger than the UK in geographic size. I suppose technically every state has less population than the UK, but still, my point didn't really stand. [2014-09-20 01:49:18 UTC] It's an interesting idea. The states in the U.S. can often be culturally quite distinct from each other as you move from one region to the next. But there are also demographic shifts... Texas keeps getting bigger, improbably (I think it's because industry is relatively unregulated there and thus, lucrative), and California among other states has to contend with the influx of Mexican populations. The character of Washington has changed dramatically since the early 1990s in large part because of the influx of people from California moving here to pursue tech jobs. [2014-09-20 01:51:26 UTC] But then it's not as though the UK is static, I know that there have been substantial immigration from India and Muslim countries (Pakistan? Iran? I don't know). Nevertheless, the regions, at least in my limited understanding of them, have had even the youth clinging to a sense of regional identity that persisted as the population shifted. The U.S., at least on the west coast, doesn't have that cultural entrenchment. [2014-09-20 05:10:05 UTC] since when do the youth in any country that isn't north korea cling on to regional identity?? and also have you not seen all the crazy hippies in seattle? I think that's cultural entrenchment... [2014-09-20 08:01:30 UTC] Pretty sure that more of the young voters wanted independent Scotland than the older voters, or at least that's how I heard the breakdown was. Also some Scottish bands I listen to (popular with the kids) talked about it and did shows in support. [2014-09-20 08:03:16 UTC] Also I don't give a good goddamn what the hippies want or are doing. They are utterly, utterly worthless. [2014-09-20 14:50:46 UTC] I went to see a scottish band last night - We Were Promised Jetpacks were playing. [2014-09-20 14:53:41 UTC] I had a look at the demographics, generally the youngest bracket voted yes, but in my age group there was a bit more swing to no, but yes it mostly followed the older/no-er line. [2014-09-20 14:59:29 UTC] Some areas have substantial Pakistani populations, for example. That sort of thing is less true of Scotland, and those looking for more regional governing are generally like based on geographical area, not so much population [2014-09-20 17:53:12 UTC] What's the deal with Scotland? Why are they so scottish? [2014-09-20 18:07:00 UTC] Sweden had an election last sunday. The racist party is now 3rd biggest [2014-09-20 18:07:05 UTC] Politics, am I right? [2014-09-20 19:26:15 UTC] maybe racist to politically correct fools like you [2014-09-20 19:43:05 UTC] I'd assume you'd dislike racism, being asian and all [2014-09-20 19:43:20 UTC] And I wouldn't consider myself politically anything [2014-09-20 20:25:17 UTC] dafuq? I'm not even asian, and plus you are politically correct since you called them the racist party [2014-09-20 20:25:26 UTC] i seriously doubt any party is racist because then they wouldnt win votes [2014-09-20 20:33:23 UTC] This is the party in Sweden that 2012 had 3 of their politicans "retire" because they had treatened a swedish middle-eastern comedian with iron pipes [2014-09-20 20:34:13 UTC] The BNP and UKIP exist so your argument is invalid [2014-09-20 20:34:49 UTC] There are worse parties in other countries, yes, but that doesn't really make SD respectable [2014-09-20 20:35:09 UTC] What's that French party called? [2014-09-20 20:35:24 UTC] National Front [2014-09-20 21:04:12 UTC] Was that the one that was trying to outlaw the wearing of burqas? I forget. [2014-09-20 21:52:28 UTC] Pretty sure all of these parties wants to do that [2014-09-20 21:54:33 UTC] Sweden Democrats have gone out talking about censoring the media [2014-09-20 21:54:52 UTC] That media should not be allowed to talk negatively about them [2014-09-20 22:09:50 UTC] These discussions are always interesting to me because I've known many people over the years who have idealized European politics as a whole, claiming that they do everything right to everything that 'Murica does wrong. [2014-09-20 23:23:07 UTC] I think that often comes from people thinking "well at least they don't have a black Muslim terrorist for president in Norway" so things must be pretty good there [2014-09-20 23:23:28 UTC] If they were there they would find something to complain about [2014-09-20 23:24:28 UTC] Shitty People Without Borders