Sweating It

I thought politics was the "art of the possible" (Bismark). Have the English politicians learnt nothing of the Scots over 300 years to know edicts from Wesminster invariably cause an equally opposite reaction?
Cameron, Clegg and Osbourne's artless attempts to force the Scottish people to accept their version of a referendum is doomed to fail. And Alec Salmond is riding that wave of antipathy to the 'auld enemy' with consummate ease.
The two main conditions they wish to impose is on timing - by end next year - and the format - a simple yes/no without an option to extend Holyrood's powers.
In neither case can they point to some grander democratic principle other than "we think we can fix it so you don't leave."
I am a fierce advocate of the union, I am very much British before I am English, But we have to recognise the Scots have every right to self-determination and if that is what they wish to vote for it can only be antagonistic to try and dissuade them with baseless fears of economic meltdown.
The main tactic deployd appears to be to change the question; it would looks likely they would vote for Devo-Max which has no similar scare story to independence. So Cameron and gang talk as if Devo-Max doesn't exist as an option.
I am not convincd the timing, to co-incide with the 700 anniversay of Bannockburn, will sway it for the SNP. But Robert the Bruce's (pictured) story is quite extra-ordinary and he did re-establish independence. But it is Westminster's superior manner over the troublesome Celts will certainly stiffen the resolve of the die-hards and force the hand of many neutrals.