I've deliberately refrained from boring you guys with the Scottish referendum, but I've got to share some of this shite with you. There's been a spate of "No Thanks" posters being vandalised up and down the country, including two near me. It's claimed that only a minority are doing this, but all the ones I've seen vandalised within 15 mile radius of here were all done with the same shade of silver paint, so this "minority" must be helluva mobile. http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/.../vandals-launch-attack... Aberdeen school hit by Yes campaign vandals:- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/.../graffiti-attack/ Separatists vandalize public monuments in Aberdeen:- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/.../yes-campaign.../ There is no doubt - Salmond approves use of abusive tactics:- http://www.express.co.uk/.../COMMENT-Make-no-mistake-Alex... And then you get this from so-called effing doctors- "PEOPLE who are scared of spiders are more likely to vote no in the Independence Referendum, according to a study. Psychologists believe people’s choices are more driven by physical reactions to fear than by rational consideration of issues. And the more risk averse people are the more likely they will be to vote no. A study for BBC Scotland documentary “Mind Games”, to be shown tomorrow, shows that people who react strongly to a photo of a spider also react more strongly against the idea of independence." http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-no-voters-scared-of-spiders-1-3513157 I mean Holy f..., somebody actually got paid for that?! And it's compounded by the sheer naivety of some of the Yes supporters- "One month from now when the votes have been cast and the results are in ... you will know that YOU were part of the movement who helped make Scotland Independent and rid this country of poverty, forever and it's YOUR children and YOUR children's children who will forever reap the rewards." https://www.facebook.com/groups/vote4scotland/permalink/726399727432413/ Which is almost as farcical as the idiots who end every post with "only a yes vote can stop this happening?!". What...flatulence, war, famine, bad weather, flat feet? And then there's the conspiracy theories! "My mate is back from the rigs and confirmed that his friends on the Clair Oil Field (supposedly the biggest reservoir of oil in the world) were stood down and sent home on full pay until the end of September. The results of the prospecting showed that the field was three times bigger than expected and that the oil is premium grade. Execs were flying in from all over the world and Mr. Cameron sneaked up to meet them. Immediately after the is, they were stood down. This could be the single biggest and most devious act of treachery Westminster has committed in Scotland. This simply cannot happen. We must tell everyone. Sadly, many Scots are complicit in deceiving the Scottish people and directing them into a future of bondage, servitude and humiliation. We have the chance to stop them and MUST. This is Scotland's birth right and it's our children's future they are stealing." https://www.facebook.com/tony.marr.5/posts/10204432213505917 Seriously, the country seems to be in the grip of mass public delusion caused by naive twats who've seen Braveheart once too bloody often. Not sure my blood pressure will make it to the referendum...
I must admit I haven't been following this. I saw an article on it today, but it was mostly about the referendum. Can an independent Scotland be successful?
I predict Scotland will gain independence, and elect Donald Trump Prime Minister after making him a citizen. He will sell the oil rights to Dubai, The Scotch industry to a Hong Kong investment group and use the money raised to build condos, casinos all on new golf courses.. Everything is much clearer from Alabama.
Depends what you mean by "successful". North Sea oil has declined over the last three years, yet all you ever hear from nationalists is how Scotland is supposedly "the only country to discover oil but get poorer". Oil would apparently fund everything. Obviously never heard of Dutch Disease- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_disease Salmond refuses to tell us what currency we would use, because despite the fact every party has refused to endorse currency union (ie Scotland would still use the Pound Sterling and be underwritten by the Bank of England...not "independence" by anyone's standards) he has no Plan B. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/11042341/Salmonds-fantasies-make-their-mark-on-the-real-world.html The population is ageing, yet all the nationalists can talk about is encouraging mass immigration. To me, that's tantamount to ethnic cleansing. It's also telling that when the UK government spoke about increasing the retirement age, some of the loudest breast beating came from nationalists and their allies. Note that at no point does this clown mention where all this money is going to come from- http://www.snp.org/media-centre/news/2014/jul/swinney-yes-vote-will-grow-scotlands-economy Sorry, but I don't do blind optimism. Or BS- https://www.facebook.com/YerScottishBanter/photos/a.469400589847901.1073741826.249156381872324/608506105937348/?type=1&theater Seriously?! It's actually scary to hear so many supposedly intelligent people use "The Tories/Westminster/The English" like a 21st Century version of "the bogeyman" or "reds under the beds". Next time I hear some clown telling me they're voting yes for "a socialist Scotland", I swear I'm going to buy them a one way ticket to somewhere like North Korea. What's the betting they wouldn't write weekly and tell me how much fun they're having?
Australia has voted no twice in my lifetime...not because we love Britain, but because the two models put up as an alternative were scary bad...the weight is in favour of this being the same in Scotland...
The 13 US colonies were seperate populations that could have voted for independence (of each other) and elected not to. So there goes the first country to reject independence pseudo fact. Northern Ireland a choice as well didn't they? Then there is Porto Rico which has rejected independence several times.
That's my point, chaps. There is so much brainwashing aimed at the gullible who believe everything they hear from a guy in the pub it's unreal. The nationalists keep claiming Scotland is supposedly the "14th richest country on the planet", but can never find the figures without playing around with other people's- .http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26614122 I don't see any logical reason to break up the UK, beyond a scarily narcissistic need to blame the English/Tories/Thatcher for everything wrong in your own life, and being scared to think for yourself 'cos you're worried what your mates will think. An independent Scotand IMHO would be run like a student debating society with the chattering classes obsessing with BS rather than the stuff that actually matters, like the SNP councillor who recently suggested renaming an Edinburgh street Palestine State Way (it being sheer coincidence the US consulate has been on that street since around 1795, of course), and the Glasgow councillors who flew a Palestinian flag from the council chambers, and started an online petition screaming for the sacking of a Tory councillor who tried to give balance by flying an Israeli one. I don't want to live in a country like that.
I feel your pain Gordon You could always move to Yorkshire! Is it just me or does anyone think Alex Salmond is an arse? There is another live debate on TV on August 25th coming up with Alex and Alistair Darling. I don't really follow politics (or understand them-does anyone?) but they only tell you want they want you to know at the end of the day-I should think most people are only concerned about how much more/less money is going to be in their pockets. If and when we get the vote on joining the Euro, how many people will really understand what it will mean for them? I haven't got a clue Lesley
Both sides in this debate are coming out with some astonishing statements that sound mostly crap to me. My fear is that we will become independent by default as the Yes voters are sure to turn up for the ballot and that will include many 16 year olds who are so excited at getting the vote. What on earth do they know about politics? The rest of the population, if going by previous years, will show a very low turn out. A lot of the yes campaigners allude to the nation being 'stolen' from us in 1707 by the English. If they read their history they would see that the Scottish leaders after having become bankrupt in a failed attempt to establish a colony in the Americas, betrayed their people by accepting money, titles and power in exchange for a yes vote. Some things do not change in politics me thinks. As to Glasgow City council hoisting the Palestinian flag in the name of Glasgow citizens (I am one and nobody asked me), it just shows how power can inflate the ego of these small-time councillors. I am, at the moment, challenging their right to do so and I will not give up. Any one want to help me erect barricades in George Square? A guillotine sounds good too.
True, Lesley. Been thinking about Northumberland a lot recently. No, he is. Unfortunately, that's true. That's m'boy. Not sure Canada's ready for me!
Elections here are always a race to the bottom...we usually vote for who we find the least unsavoury...
Are either side using "Parcel of Rogues" as a theme song or are both a bit nervous about doing so. Would post a link to the song but am not sure which is the best one so take your pick from: https://www.google.com/#q=song+parcel+of+rogues for those unfamiliar with it.
Politics is bullshit and economics is everything. Unfortunately, political appeals are directed at the emotions and economics is merely dull arithmetic (right up until bankruptcy), so politics will always win. In other words, if independence made economic sense then why not? I doubt that's the case because from my rather distant (and perhaps inaccurate) view the people pushing hardest for independence seem like the type who would squander any economic advantage. I note there is an active idependence movement in Wales, as well. Too, (and this is pure emotion on my part), the idea of a world without a united Great Britain is a sad thought. Great Britain did great things because it was an amalgam of different peoples who honored and respected each other. One thinks of Scottish engineers, scientists, doctors contributing to that united kingdom. The great Scottish regiments standing next to English and Welsh and Irish regiments across the globe - all because of the English mastery of the sea that brought wealth and trade from around the world. It's not politically correct any more to admire the Empire, but it's a damned shame that the original nation can't even hold together long after the colonies were cut loose.
What exactly are the terms? Is it just that Scottland will have a seperate parliment or is it more than that (or less)?
Scotland has it's own parliament but also has members of parliament in the Westminster. UK government decides on how much funding each area gets. It covers education, the health service, justice, policing, housing, environment, farming, fisheries etc. Uk government deals with defence, foreign policy, economic policy, taxation. The vote on 18th September is for Scotland to have full independence though keeping the monetary system ie the pound and the Royal family! No wonder people are confused.
