![\"UK](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/r9f.352.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Union-and-Scottish-flags-007.jpg\" "\\"Source:")
<\/a><\/p>\nI was alarmed when I learned that 16- and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in Scotland\u2019s bid for independence.<\/a> What might happen if complicated economic and social issues were fanned with the flames of developmental yearnings? Extending the franchise to such young people seemed as dubious as introducing Ayn Rand to resentful teenage boys. After all, what adolescent chafing for freedom doesn’t want to be\u00a0the\u00a0self-determining hero who defies\u00a0the influence of the state?<\/p>\n It might be unwise to superimpose youthful reading follies or one\u2019s own household experience onto geopolitical affairs. The Scottish independence movement rests on an uneasy history and understandable grievances about economic and social policies that favor the rich and southern countries at the expense of the North.<\/p>\n Still, I couldn\u2019t help but think of my own children\u2019s strivings for independence over the years: The\u00a0two-year-old who insisted\u00a0on negotiating a steep flight of stairs by herself, chanting, \u201cSelf! Self!\u201d with every step. Perpetual refrains of, \u201cYou\u2019re not the boss of me!\u201d Then the heavy artillery of adolescence: \u201cStop treating me like a kid!\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s so unfair!\u201d \u201cI can\u2019t wait<\/em> to get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n Is it really that far from my house to the blended Houses of Stuart and Hanover? Let\u2019s drop in on\u00a0a typical family meeting as it might have been unfolding recently at Balmoral Castle<\/a>. We join parents David and Elizabeth (aka\u00a0Queenie) as they sit down for a serious talk with their teenager, Scot:<\/p>\n David<\/em>: Scotty, your mother and I want to talk with you about this petition for emancipation you\u2019ve filed.<\/p>\n Scot<\/em>: Stop calling me Scotty. I\u2019ve told you a million times I prefer Scot. Besides, what\u2019s there to talk about? I\u2019ve had it with you, and I\u2019m leaving.<\/p>\n Queenie<\/em>: Is this about our\u00a0taking all those pound notes from your billfold without asking?<\/p>\n Scot<\/em>: It\u2019s so unfair.\u00a0 You treat me like a serf. I\u2019m outta here.\u201d<\/p>\n David<\/em>: Don\u2019t be ridiculous! You can\u2019t possibly make it on your own!<\/p>\n Scot<\/em>: Sure I can! In fact, I\u2019ll be better off without you.<\/p>\n Queenie (crying a little)<\/em>: How could you do this to us after all we\u2019ve done for you? I’m tired of you\u00a0blaming us for everything!<\/p>\n David (shouting as Scot gets up from the table)<\/em>: We\u2019ll cut off your allowance! If you walk through that door, there\u2019s no coming back!<\/p>\n Scot slams out of the room.<\/em><\/p>\n David (turning to console his weeping wife)<\/em>: There, there, dear. It\u2019s just a bluff. Scotty will calm down and be back in time for dinner.<\/p>\n In the ensuing weeks, Scot is more resolute than ever. He hangs out with friends, eliciting sympathy and offers of supper and a spare bed from their mothers, who have never much liked those imperious\u00a0snobs, David and Elizabeth.<\/em><\/p>\n We rejoin Scot\u2019s parents as they argue over whether to double down on tough love, or reach out to their wayward child.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Queenie<\/em>: Perhaps we\u2019ve been too harsh . . .<\/p>\n David<\/em>: Nonsense! We can\u2019t give in to these antics!<\/p>\n Elizabeth<\/em>: Maybe we could grant a little bit more independence . . . a later curfew, more control over his money . . . I don’t want to lose him.<\/p>\n David (sighing as he reaches for\u00a0the phone)<\/em>: Scotty, er . . . Scot . . . It\u2019s me, Dad. Listen, your mother and I want you to know we miss you. We love you very much and wish you\u2019d come back. Can we talk?<\/p>\n A few hours later, Scot strolls through the front door.<\/em><\/p>\n Scot<\/em>: Now that I\u2019ve got your attention . . .<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Or something like that . . .<\/p>\n Now the ballots have been counted. Scotland, despite the youth vote, has decided to stick with the parental unit. Perhaps the realities of going it alone registered; perhaps gaining concessions, more autonomy, and a later curfew were sufficient. With high-fives for democracy all around, the UK and Scotland are\u00a0still one big, happy, dysfunctional family.<\/p>\n Which may be about as good as it gets\u00a0for reasonable households and countries everywhere.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was alarmed when I learned that 16- and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in Scotland\u2019s bid for independence. What might happen if complicated economic and social issues were fanned with the flames of developmental yearnings? Extending the franchise to … Continue reading