What now for Scotland?

[millwall ken]

Cant send the S.A.S in there 70% Scottish.

PS: You're welcome to your Scottish SAS - I'd rather have the English Special Boat Service (SBS), which is the UK's premier Special Forces unit anyway.

 

[Des 56]

It seems light hearted comments are unwanted

 

[baldelectrician]

I'm glad I started this thread. It has put the cat amongst the pigeons

It has stopped the sponging Scots moans.

The union is OK, but I personally think the rest of the union is dragging Scotland down
It's the one size fits all for the ecomomy does the regions down

Since the Scottish parliament reconvened things have got better up here
landlord registration (with the authority to force landlords to do repairs and make it an offence to collect rent when they don't comply)
Better building regs (we had better regs than part P before 2004/5)
Removal of the private sector from the NHS
Home reports staying

I just think Scotland should have control of all the money brought in - including any additional income from new sources-
The Scottish Government want to expand offshore wave and wind power, but as things stand they will have to send any money generated to the treasury

The plan (from what I can gather) is to get money (loan) from the UK government and use this money to generate jobs and skills for the Scottish economy
They want to do a new Forth bridge, more hospitals / schools and build new council houses / social housing.
They also want to have > 100% of the total electricity generation made via wind / wave (offshore). To do this they have to build the machines and train the skiiled kids.
We want to invest in the future and get the benefit from it.

 

[millwall ken]

Cant see them outgunning the Welsh cavalry mind you
Their extra tough wearing their tank tops

And my Dad's bigger than your Dad...

 

[millwall ken]

I'm glad I started this thread. It has put the cat amongst the pigeons

It has stopped the sponging Scots moans.

The union is OK, but I personally think the rest of the union is dragging Scotland down
It's the one size fits all for the ecomomy does the regions down

Since the Scottish parliament reconvened things have got better up here
landlord registration (with the authority to force landlords to do repairs and make it an offence to collect rent when they don't comply)
Better building regs (we had better regs than part P before 2004/5)
Removal of the private sector from the NHS
Home reports staying

I just think Scotland should have control of all the money brought in - including any additional income from new sources-
The Scottish Government want to expand offshore wave and wind power, but as things stand they will have to send any money generated to the treasury

The plan (from what I can gather) is to get money (loan) from the UK government and use this money to generate jobs and skills for the Scottish economy
They want to do a new Forth bridge, more hospitals / schools and build new council houses / social housing.
They also want to have > 100% of the total electricity generation made via wind / wave (offshore). To do this they have to build the machines and train the skiiled kids.
We want to invest in the future and get the benefit from it.

Just where is all of this revenue that the SNP promise going to come from? Oil and Gas? Nope, its running out. Whisky? Pleasseeee. Tourism? No to that either. So where will your money come from? Also what currency will you use as Sterling is controlled from London. Or do you plan on adopting the Euro?

 

[Marvo]

From what I can see here from both Scottish and English sides, the Union / no Union issue seems to be more about money than history or culture and more specifically oil/gas. Hmmmm, sounds like you've got a taste of the middle East issue in your own back garden

 

[baldelectrician]

Just where is all of this revenue that the SNP promise going to come from? Oil and Gas?

You forget there is another 20 years of oil in the North Sea, and there is just as much off the west coast- that are just starting oil and gas production, so another 30-40 years there

 

[millwall ken]

You forget there is another 20 years of oil in the North Sea, and there is just as much off the west coast- that are just starting oil and gas production, so another 30-40 years there

So then what? What are you going to do in fifty years times? The only way a country can survive as a truely independant nation is by have unlimited quantities of a substance that EVERYONE wants and will always need. So unless you find a way to corner the world's supply of oxygen I don't see how you're going to manage it.

 

[baldelectrician]

From the TIMES

Oil 'would make independent Scotland rich'

A study by leading accountants shows 'black gold' would generate a £4 billion budget surplus

This was printed in 2008 and oil is about the same price now as then (it has fallen back to $115 per barrel for Brent Crude)

As for what Scotland will do in the future- that will be decided then.
One things for sure things can only get better as the song goes

 

[millwall ken]

From the TIMES

Oil 'would make independent Scotland rich'

A study by leading accountants shows 'black gold' would generate a £4 billion budget surplus

This was printed in 2008 and oil is about the same price now as then (it has fallen back to $115 per barrel for Brent Crude)

As for what Scotland will do in the future- that will be decided then.
One things for sure things can only get better as the song goes

RUBBISH. Total exageration and distortion. What will you do with your oil, when the world has moved on from oil and gas - as it will of done by the end of this century; and probably earlier than this estimate. But lets stick to your train of thought for a moment shall we, and stick with your so-called vast reserves of oil and gas. In the next fifty years China and India will be the big boys on the block. With a combined population of two billion people. How long do you think it will take their economies to rinse you out? Even Saudi Arabia realizes this scenario.

 

[Des 56]

Scotland was in essence a nation a thousand years before England could be described as such
If the Scottish people decide to go their own way,so be it

I am a little puzzled why English people feel that a call by Scottish people for self determination is greeted with a view often expressed that they somehow have to justify economically why they should do so
It sometimes makes me feel that the motive may be loss of benefits, rather than any concerns about thier ability to self govern

If Scotland wanted independance,let it be so,but in that case the union would be finished and all the countries should self determine and go their own ways
England and the English peoples need to have more confidence in being able to be alone, instead of throwing up its arms at the prospect of losing a long time partner

 

[Adam W]

... So this is all about oil then.
Oil and greed.

 

[pushrod]

I think America is strong because it is united. California could easily go it alone - it would be the 8th largest economy in the world if it was by itself. I do think that some times that some of the national pride can be a bit small minded and petty in the grand scheme of things. Scotland has been a very important part of the UK, just a small example of that is the number of prime ministers it has provided. It is a shame that things like that and the union are not celebrated. There is a strong chance that the baby will end up being thrown out with the dishwater. Are we all going to end up as small insignificant countries with masses of duplication of bureaucracy. Although i am proud of my roots i was pleased, in 2004, when the North East of England voted massively in favour of kicking out plans for a huge regional assembly.

An interesting point, similar to Des, If one country leaves the union it effectively breaks it up for all - so should all 4 countries get a say if any one country wants to go it alone?

 

[paturback]

United we stand divided we fall become a Roman and Divide and Rule!

 

[millwall ken]

Scotland was in essence a nation a thousand years before England could be described as such

How the hell do you reckon on that mate??? Scotland was a nation of feuding clans even up to the 16th century. By this time England had an established monarchy, standing army, taxation, Parliament etc etc and was on its way to being the supreme power in Europe.