Hotscot

Emotionally I want Independence.
However the Independence plan is Swiss cheese with a side of Scotch Mist.

A stronger Scotland within the Union.

In fact it's time the whole constitution was re-examined to the benefit of each member country. This London-centric aspect is so archaic.

Giantaxe

it's not all "London-centric". For example, Scotland has a disproportionate nyumber of MPs, which makes no sense at all.

Sally Redux

London should go for independence.

Hotscot

Oh I agree aspects of it make no sense in the 21st Century but Westminster is still the center of the world.

Hotscot

You're packing...will you be doing Tesco openings and parties?

scrubbedexpat099

Interesting question, Conceal Carry Permits in Scotland? Has there been any mention?

Sally Redux

I don't get you.

Hotscot

I believe your avatar is popular in certain circles.

Yorkieabroad

The way they're running the campaign, and failing to "score points" on all the holes in Salmonds campaign, I suspect No are secretly wanting Yes to win too

Interesting that none of them have really addressed the practicalities of either result...I mean, Salmond doesn't seem to have much idea about anything if he wins, Cameron doesn't seem to have much idea about what "increased devolution" means if he wins, and nobody seems to have much idea as to how the family silver is going to be shared out afterwards.

Ruth16

Yes I know, just meant how close ...

Ruth16

I think the yes people are planning on voting no anyhow. They'd be daft not to .

Pulaski

Certainly there are going to be some people showboating as "Yes" voters, to impress family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, .... and opinion pollsters, but will do something different when it comes to the crunch in the privacy of the polling booth.

Hotscot

I certainly hope so..and at least wee Eck is getting a kicking in the press today.

Honestly, if there was a case for Independence that could clearly show the myriad benefits instead of being based on patriotic emotion I would be there..but...wind, dust, tumbleweeds...

Buller?
Buller?

Ruth16

Exactly ..

Yorkieabroad

Dunrovings poll was quite telling for me. All along I have been saying "Yes", but when I went on that poll, I couldn't actually click that button. And that's not in a polling booth - that's just a silly little poll on an internet site with no import, no effect, no reality (Sorry Mr D!)

I have quite a few Scottish friends, and all of them are voting No. So why am I thinking Yes? When I thought about it, I just have not seen any case at all put forward explaining why life would be better after Independence, other than an emotional "we're free" sort of sentiment.

This is such a major, one time only, no going back change, that to vote for it, there has to be something more than the emotional argument, because that is going to wear pretty thin once the parties are over, and reality bites. This isn't a video game, a reality TV show, this is real life - real peoples lives. There has to be some sort of indication as to how and why it is going to be better going forward - some sort of idea, some sort of plan, some sort of vision for how the independent country would operate. And I just haven't seen any of that.

Remember that program Dragons Den? If Salmond was walking in there to ask for funding for a new project called Scotland, and presented the bare bones of his case as he has so far, the Dragons would laugh him out of the room.

Yes, in some ways he has run a decent campaign - he's largely dodged the punches thrown at him, at least in the eyes of his supporters, by consistently using the diversionary "scaremonger" tactic to mask the fact that he doesn't appear to have any clue as to what he will do, on anything, post independence. Or if he does, he's doing a fantastic job of keeping it secret.

He has avoided putting any firm numbers on anything, has "rubbished" any numbers any "No" related party has put forward, has rubbished any businessmen who have voiced concern, and has just banged the Dennis Norden line till a) he's blue in the face and most importantly, b) his supporters actually accept it, and believe it, without anything to support it.

So, although he has created a sentimental surge in favor, he hasn't actually presented a business plan, or a vision of how the new country can and will operate, on any level. I just cannot see how anyone can vote Yes and think they are doing it for cold, logical, economic, business reasons - if they vote yes, it will be for pure sentimental reasons, and for that reason, I have changed my view, and I hope it fails.

I have said before that I couldn't face running through this whole thing again in another 10, 20, 30 years, but in actual fact, I think I would rather go through it ad infinitum, rather than make a life-changing decision that is going to majorly f&*(-up peoples lives, based on the shoddy info presented so far. Maybe in 10 years Salmond will be out of the picture and someone with some sort of common sense analytical approach will present a clear plan that people can actually assess. And at that point, if the vote is Yes, then go with our best wishes. But now? With this campaign? This preparation? No way.

So now, I'm off to Mr D's polling booth....

Ps - if it is "no" next week, the first thing Westminster should do is add a Scottish Referendum increment (5% sound good?) on income tax for Scottish residents to fund the next effort
The second thing they should ALL do is sit down and plan how any future separation would work, because if it is a Yes next week, its going to be the messiest, most acrimonious divorce ever seen, especially if Salmond keeps pushing his new "let them invade us" line re shouldering Scotlands share of the National Debt...................