Scotland's Referendum - is that process not prideful?

So many references to “initiatives’ (followed by binding referendums) in recent news articles. When will we, in democratic Canada, finally note such in our media?

          Just why is it that many of us hesitate to endorse citizen-initiated referendums upon issues, when we don’t see the dilemmas caused by  our encouragement of those same people voting for   representatives? For, what can be so complex as the character of a person, with his party allegiances, unfulfilling promises, and his unknown to us, back-room influences? And so,  just why do not we see the conflicts about encouraging voting upon such  as Toronto’s mayor – Ford, for example?  Yet, we hesitate to encourage those same  people voting upon relatively simple to explain issues, in this day of easy communication?

         Recently in the international magazine, The Economist, there was a lengthy review of  the upcoming referendum about Scottish independence. It intimated within the article, some embarrassment abroad about   Britain, in the possible outcome. A letter to the editor in a subsequent issue of the magazine from a resident of California, (where   referendums have been common-place since the early 1900’s,) tried to reassure them. To quote him – “whatever the outcome, the parties’ use of a peaceful referendum to settle a complicated political question should be seen as a source of pride”.

         Such a clear point of view. So much better – than, for example, in eastern Ukraine, where there is obvious differing views among very many residents, between staying within the country, and either federating, or separating;  – and where we have a neighbouring power, Russia, intervening, with potential world-wide conflict.

         When will we recognize the ability of our citizens,  so long as proper safeguards are included, to vote upon significant issues? Yes, leadership is very important; but as is so clear, the power that sometimes is manifested through leadership, can be easily provoked into terrible consequences. Politicians just cannot be expected to know the right answers to everything. We, the people should prefer to provide our own binding conclusions to whatever issues we decide are worth our intercession.  Don’t you agree that that is the essence of democracy, - “directly” influencing the decisions? - as in Scotland.