Scottish independence thought experiment
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Suppose Scotland had always been an independent country: are there any convincing arguments for them joining the UK?
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Suppose Scotland had always been an independent country: are there any convincing arguments for them joining the UK?
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Suppose Scotland had always been an independent country: are there any convincing arguments for them joining the UK?
Well, they had a good reason in 1707 - they were broke, belly up, financially insolvent, an ex-parrot. A couple of years later (when all their bills had been paid by London) they had a vote to break the treaty of union, which was narrowly defeated. 'Spec the same will happen in 2020, when the oil slows down... :laugh:
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Well, they had a good reason in 1707 - they were broke, belly up, financially insolvent, an ex-parrot. A couple of years later (when all their bills had been paid by London) they had a vote to break the treaty of union, which was narrowly defeated. 'Spec the same will happen in 2020, when the oil slows down... :laugh:
Of course they won't have to worry about the banks failing. Wee eck has decided that the BOE will be the lender of last resort for Scottish banks, so any debts will be covered by the BOE.
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Of course they won't have to worry about the banks failing. Wee eck has decided that the BOE will be the lender of last resort for Scottish banks, so any debts will be covered by the BOE.
Be careful, they'll pay it al back by giving us Dundee
speramus in juniperus
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Well, they had a good reason in 1707 - they were broke, belly up, financially insolvent, an ex-parrot. A couple of years later (when all their bills had been paid by London) they had a vote to break the treaty of union, which was narrowly defeated. 'Spec the same will happen in 2020, when the oil slows down... :laugh:
Correction, the country was not broke. The nobility was broke. Hence Robert Burns poem that Scotland was "Bought and sold for English gold" The nobility, who were the only ones with a vote in Scotland's government at the time, had invested heavily in creating some form of colony in the New World. It wasn't the government that invested. Multiple factors, including the weather being totally unsuited to Scots, piracy, and hostility from the English Navy (if not outright, then at least passively). Remember also, that at this point in history Scotland and England shared a monarch after Elizabeth I of England died, her closest heir was James VI of Scotland, so it was an expectation that Scotland could call on its monarch for assistance. It was outright refused. This refusal engineered a situation where Scotland's nobility had no choice but to acquiesce should they wish to retain their status. Thus the union was forged.
User group: Scottish Developers Blog: The Blog of Colin Angus Mackay Quote: Man who stand on hill with mouth open wait long time for roast duck to drop in.
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Of course they won't have to worry about the banks failing. Wee eck has decided that the BOE will be the lender of last resort for Scottish banks, so any debts will be covered by the BOE.
I also note a lot of folks down south (Daily Mail types mostly) frothing at the mouth over Scotland wanting to retain a currency union. They want Scotland to either join the Euro or create their own currency. Be careful what you wish for. If Scotland were to leave Sterling, that would cause a massive single transaction sale of all of Scotland's assets into what ever currency Scotland was joining. What happens to any currency when more is sold than is bought? Would the rest of the UK be happy with Sterling sitting even closer to the €1 mark?
User group: Scottish Developers Blog: The Blog of Colin Angus Mackay Quote: Man who stand on hill with mouth open wait long time for roast duck to drop in.
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Be careful, they'll pay it al back by giving us Dundee
speramus in juniperus
You have to watch it with Dundee. The Equality Network took the Marriage Equality debate there and the locals thought it was drugs they were selling. In the local accent equality is pronounced "EE-quality"
User group: Scottish Developers Blog: The Blog of Colin Angus Mackay Quote: Man who stand on hill with mouth open wait long time for roast duck to drop in.
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I also note a lot of folks down south (Daily Mail types mostly) frothing at the mouth over Scotland wanting to retain a currency union. They want Scotland to either join the Euro or create their own currency. Be careful what you wish for. If Scotland were to leave Sterling, that would cause a massive single transaction sale of all of Scotland's assets into what ever currency Scotland was joining. What happens to any currency when more is sold than is bought? Would the rest of the UK be happy with Sterling sitting even closer to the €1 mark?
User group: Scottish Developers Blog: The Blog of Colin Angus Mackay Quote: Man who stand on hill with mouth open wait long time for roast duck to drop in.
Colin Angus Mackay wrote:
(Daily Mail types mostly)
There's your problem. A group, less informed by facts you'd be hard pushed to find.
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Suppose Scotland had always been an independent country: are there any convincing arguments for them joining the UK?
Not really, especially given the EU. If we're all part of a larger union then what difference does it make? 10 years from now it'll be the United States of Europistan and Scotland will just be another state with a governor mullah in charge. Some little bearded oik will be the grand vizier of England and Tony Blair, the President of Europe, will have converted to Islam and instituted sharia law by that time.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. Those who seek perfection will only find imperfection nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me me, in pictures
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Suppose Scotland had always been an independent country: are there any convincing arguments for them joining the UK?