Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

So the "also rans" managed 16% in 2010. The SNP managed 3% more. Certainly from 1997 onwards the SNP has managed to poll between 2% and 5% more than the conservatives at each UK general election. Prior to that the conservatives generally got more votes than the SNP.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

This is I believe the crux of the matter.I understand very easily, why the Scots want
seperation from Westminister.Forget any other themes on Independence, this alone
would be grounds alone, to want to jump.

Not only Tories but many westminister based Socialist ,and forget rhetoric ,were not sympathetic to the everyday Scottish life and difficulties. YES they threw you the occasional bones, but expected the whole bloody animal returned.Strangely enough I cant remember a Scottish MP in westminister fighting your cause from within.Then again one could say that for all counties including, Wales and Ireland, with exception of the Home counties.
The heart of where money was actually worked and made, never seen any true/honest
re-investment, it was gobbled up to feed 'Londonshire'...Up the revolution...!!!

In spite of my rantings where I show sympathies, understanding, supporting the Independence. I ask.....' please dont go dont leave us alone'.
One reason.....I believe you will be sh#t on and let down from within.
IMO the White Papers are not worth the paper they were written on, because themes
and topics all mentioned, but for me without substance, it all seems to be
Lets all vote YES, then we will see where we go from there.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Out of ALL (that's all)of the country's that have gained independence in the world in the last 50 years, not one has tried to reverse the decision. What did they gain that they cannot let go of.
Why does Ireland not want to be part of the U.K again ?? Surely bigger is better ?
Is it just liberty alone ?

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Out of curiosity, can you please list all of those countries who have gained independence in the last 50 years, and who they gained independence from?

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Here's the African ones

Malawi, Republic of 6 July 1964 Britain
Zambia, Republic of 24 October 1964 Britain
Gambia, Republic of The 18 February 1965 Britain
Botswana, Republic of 30 September 1966 Britain
Lesotho, Kingdom of 4 October 1966 Britain
Mauritius, State of 12 March 1968 Britain
Swaziland, Kingdom of 6 September 1968 Britain
Equatorial Guinea, Republic of 12 October 1968 Spain
Guinea-Bissau5, Republic of 24 September 1973
(alt. 10 September 1974) Portugal
Mozambique, Republic of 25 June 1975 Portugal
Cape Verde, Republic of 5 July 1975 Portugal
Comoros, Federal Islamic Republic of the 6 July 1975 France
São Tomé and Principe, Democratic Republic of 12 July 1975 Portugal
Angola, People's Republic of 11 November 1975 Portugal
Western Sahara 6 28 February 1976 Spain
Seychelles, Republic of 29 June 1976 Britain
Djibouti, Republic of 27 June 1977 France
Zimbabwe, Republic of 18 April 1980 Britain
Namibia, Republic of 21 March 1990 South Africa
Eritrea, State of 24 May 1993 Ethiopia

Scotland can be the new Eritrea.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

That was kinda the point I was making. All the countries that have gained independence in the past 50-odd years are basically just shaking off colonial rulers, or in the case of Iron Curtain countries, brutal dictatorships. Of course they're pleased to be independent.

Only the most blinkered Nationalist would claim that Scotland is in a similar situation.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Czech Republic and Slovakia split successfully. Although I am undecided whether a split would be in Scotland's best interest, it is not the calamity for Scotland that many are suggesting.

I think part of the problem is that from a UK perspective, it would be better for Scotland to stay in, but a Scottish perspective is judged on different criteria (national pride being one).

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

I did, in fact, realize that that was the point you were making. Hence the recent appearance of karma in your account.

We could add the various independent fractions of what used to be Yugoslavia and the Czech Republic and Slovakia. But I'm not sure either of those cases represents independence as much as disintegration.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Northern Ireland secedes from the Irish Free State and rejoins the United Kingdom in accordance with the Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Yugoslavia a different story, to be sure.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

It would be a minor currency and have higher risk of inflation with the socialist governments Scotland would be likely to elect. Euro would be the way to go.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

I actually predict a resurgence in a centrist-right party if Scotland gains independence. I don't for one minute believe that Scots are natural socialists (any more).

The Tories historically always had a fairly healthy representation in Scotland. It was only Thatcher's callous dogma that finished the Tories in Scotland, forever. Quite a feat, really, for one prime minister to have turned an entire nation against her the way she did.

The Scots are basically quite (small-c) conservative at heart, and post-independence would be as likely to return a sensible one-nation conservative party as anything else. The 'dangers' of an independent Scotland becoming some socialist utopia are, imo, quite unfounded in reality.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Interesting commentary, but the fact is that nobody knows! Plenty of conservatives, plenty of socialists in Bonny Scotland. In one way, independence would permit the true political character of the country to emerge or maybe even evolve.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

Now look what you have done,.....procured another twist why the Scots should vote Yes..

Actually 2 excellent posts.

Re: if the scots go, do you care?
 

I'm channelling my inner Salmond. :D