Re: Scottish Independence
 

Well let's face it that's not that uncommon. Hell the lawyers haven't even got involved yet!

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Unbiased information ? From the Daily Mail, The Telegraph and the BBC. All the other stuff is commie propaganda.

Readers should activate the IRONY ALERT at this stage !

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Tired, the driveway was 500+ yards uphill.


I'm quite excited by all of this. If I could, I'd vote No. But I can't. Dad can't either but can't give me a straight answer, his thought process is:

No, it's suicide. It's a mad decision. People are idiots.
But, it would be nice to be free from the English (yes, that's me...).
But surely it won't pass, nobody can think it's a wise move.
But, it would be nice to stick one up Westminster. We'll show them.
Hang on, Salmond is a wanker.
But so is Cameron.

Then, he settles on a 'No' vote but can't answer which box he'd tick if he were in a polling station in Scotland, might change that last second.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Equally nonsensical is the idea that you can initiate a divorce but demand that you still have full access to the joint account forever more.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

agreed, you'll find no argument from me on that point.

i feel that a very large portion of the pound issue is because people are irrationally terrified of anything other than the pound they know and love.

Salmond knows this and thus sticks to the mantra he is clearly smart enough to know isn't true.

I'm not getting at the arguments for and against other currency options here just that Scots and Brits in general are overly suspicious of anything that isn't Sterling.

I'm talking about a basic mistrust of any other currency, most expats for example seem far more relaxed about "foreign" currencies and are well used to thinking in terms of multiple currencies everyday, for us there is no fear factor in the name itself or feel of the notes. (apart from Egyptian pounds, those things are disgusting and stink)

For those at home though I have noticed over the years a suspicion and mistrust of "foreign" money, even down to the way people handle and look at notes they will use on holiday.

There is an impression of the exotic, mysterious and a deep seated mistrust to anything not resembling a pound sterling note. (lets not even get into spending Scottish notes in Kent or Surrey).
As I say I'm not addressing the very real issues of what currency but rather the fear of any other option beyond economic arguments.

Regarding the joint account there are in all reality near innumerable option that could be taken, some better than others, some worse.
I don't however understand why the SNP hasn't broached the subject of a Scottish central bank at all.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

well they are not legal tender south of the border.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

They aren't even legal tender in Scotland! They are legal currency in Scotland and Northern Ireland but not England or Wales. Anyone has the right to refuse a Scottish note in England or Wales as a form Of payment.

There are actually no currencies currently that are legal tender in Scotland.

Scottish Banknotes Legal Position - The Committee of Scottish Bankers (CSCB)

Bank of England | Banknotes | Frequently Asked Questions


But your remark does further highlight the need for a valid Scottish currency / legal tender since we don't even ****ing have one that is legally required to be accepted in the rest of the UK right now!

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Scottish independence: Ireland since 1919 is a lesson for Scotland in what a Yes vote means - Comment - Voices - The Independent

fisk is no fool

I like dhis finish

"So if the Yes voters win, my guess is the Scots will insist they are independent while knowing they are not. And the British will claim that the Scots are still British at heart. And go on doing what they’ve always done: publish the work of Irish and Scots poets in anthologies of “English poetry”

Re: Scottish Independence
 

He's no fool but nor has he lived in the UK for ages, I think?

Very different times to the Irish split. I can't imagine many Scots wanting to go to war over independence. Nor, do I think the challenges and results will be the same, completely different era.

There will be heaps of difficulties that we'll hear loads about one way or the other. What, unfortunately, I doubt we will hear much of is the success of certain things regardless of which way the vote goes.

Completely agree with your earlier post about how engaging this has been and the voter turnout I hope reflects it.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

would like to see Salmond explain this one BBC News - Scottish independence: NHS in Scotland 'faces £400m funding gap'

Re: Scottish Independence
 

I don't think there's any great mystery there. Salmond wants Scotland to be in the EU, but he knows that campaigning for Scotland to adopt the euro would be political suicide. Agreeing to adopt the euro is a condition of EU entry for new applicant countries (as is having your own central bank of course, but let's not quibble over extremely important details).

Somehow, Salmond seems to think that an independent Scotland's application to join the EU will be nodded through with all of rUK's privileges, including its opt-out from the euro, intact.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

I'm not Scottish, but my husband is. I am half Welsh, half Irish and sound English. As we live here, he doesn't get to vote but is a no. A couple of his greater family are a yes and, honestly, their FB posts are insane. I'd quite happily give them the country after the things they have posted, but as it stands, will just not speak to them again. Nasty and ugly.

The worst thing about this election is that, whichever way the vote goes, there will be almost half the population who will be pissed off. Already there have plenty of things said that can't be unsaid.

Re: Scottish Independence
 

euro no euro a central bank makes sense even with a pound peg or dollar or whatever

Re: Scottish Independence
 

Inevitably, a Scottish central bank would mean a new Scottish currency. Salmond doesn't want that, because of the massive uncertainties it would create. It would easily mean many years of things getting worse before they got better. It might well be better for Scotland in the long run - say, in 10-20 years - but Salmond is still just another short-termist politician.

Salmond also knows that the threat to renege on Scotland's share of UK debt would be impossible to carry through if Scotland had its own currency. Scotland would immediately be considered a debt-defaulting nation with a completely unproven currency, which would have major consequences in terms of its treatment by the global financial markets. Salmond wouldn't be shooting himself in the foot, he'd be effectively sticking the gun into his mouth.