A serious malfunction has occurred in the conflict. Support for independence has been linked to the consultation. That is, it's taken for granted that if you are in favor of the consultation it's because you want independence. And if you are against independence, or are undecided, you have to be against the consultation.
This is a disaster for everyone: it has been impossible to openly give an opinion about a "no" vote. I would have liked it if there were debates over the advantages of "no", or to have heard experts who calmly recommended that it was better to stay with Spain. But as the parties who oppose independence have focused on illegality, we have missed out on the most important elements of this initiative: information, knowledge, and the possibility of debating "yes" versus "no".
Those who oppose independence have boycotted their own position and that of their followers. They're not aware of it, but they have stripped the "no" of arguments because, simply, they have not allowed it to defend itself. I have missed a movement, either minority or majority, that said: "I want to vote "no". But I want to vote".
On the other hand, I've heard talk show guests celebrating the systematic negation of the consultation because it creates more supporters of independence. The classic "The PP is doing our campaign for us". But that's not good news, because any consultation must be preceded by arguments for and against both options. If only the "yes" supporters vote, the consultation loses legitimacy. Legitimacy increases directly with participation, and participation increases with the open debate that we haven't had.
They'll say to me: "So, what do we do? It's not our fault". Yes, all right, but neither is it a positive thing.
I am one of the undecided, but I'm in favor of regeneration and firmly believe that we must vote. I was hoping to move forward, hearing arguments both for and against independence. Instead, the campaign has become one of "yes" or "no" on the consultation. And it should be about "yes" or "no" on independence. We are providing a sorry political spectacle to the world.
