The Scottish Independence referendum

[laidbackscot]

Hm my last post seems to have disappeared! Probably me not hitting reply properly...

Very briefly put we're voting on whether to end the 300 year union with England , Wales and northern Ireland and become an independent country again. We've always had our own legal and educational systems as part of the union and have our own parliament but no control over certain areas like tax, welfare, defence which are reserved to the UK parliament.

I'm still not even fully sure how I'm voting. Its all over the news here for obvious reasons and the endless debates vary between fascinating and tedious.

I do feel we're on the brink of something massive and turnout is predicted to be at over 80% so its a historic time.

[Miles]

Hm my last post seems to have disappeared! Probably me not hitting reply properly...

That will happen sometimes if you have fewer than 50 posts, posts get randomly moderated and show up again later

[BabyPolarBear]

Would this really be a good move for Scotland in the end

[happyschizoid]

So being from the states I have always thought of you as independent.

Go for it

[Pix]

no control over certain areas like tax, welfare, defence which are reserved to the UK parliament.

How would Scotland likely approach these things that are different from the UK parliament? (And is this the primary reason why some Scots want independence?)

[Bowyn Aerrow]

So scotchland (cause you all are scotch right?) is what the 58th State of the USA? And its located just north of Florida, right? I'm not up on my geology, so I don't know know where places are... I'm Amurikan so you are completely forgiven.

U! S! A!



Currently the news on TV is reporting IsIs (is what? Just Is) and Ferguson riots (or protests, depends on which race you are and how you feel about blacks). We are also discussing Obama's choice in a light tan suit for his last speech, I mean like serious that was the most important part of his speech, he just looked so not like himself out of his usual dark suits.

We are also focused on the reemergence of the USSR. Putin, as you know, is invading some place, I think Georgia or something.... IDK. I will have to look at my twits, I mean tweets and check up on my facebook page....

No seriously, this is pretty much what passes for 'news' in the USA. Scotland independence - I learn that by going to the BBC, What's really going on with Russia, Pravda.

Now compare with CNN and FOX.

As for what I think... Well I am half Scot.... My grandfather was very proud of that and reminded me of my heritage every chance he got... So I understand a wee bit the long, long, long relationship between the English and the Scottish and the many, um, disagreements on how the two vastly different nations should go and how they should be ran.

Long old disagreements may be resolved this way... IDK...

[laidbackscot]

The main argument revolves around having control over our own affairs. Currently we have a government in the UK parliament which barely anyone in Scotland voted for. A lot of people voted in the current Scottish administration for that reason I think.

Specifically as I understand it an independent Scotland would look to cut corporation taxes to attract business and reverse some of the welfare decisions that have been made recently. But that would depend on which parties were voted into the first fully independent Scotland as we would need to have another election.

As to whether its a good move... That is the question.

[MisterLove]

I didn't even know there was going to be a referendum.

Nothing against Scotland but it's not a good idea, in Scotland or anywhere else in Europe.

We should evolve towards federalism and this seems to be a step backwards.

[PatrickLondon]

Ah well, a fair bit of the debate has been about just how independent Scotland could be within a continuing currency union with the "rump UK", as the SNP proposes. Or indeed, how easy or not it would be for them to be/become an independent member state of the EU with the same opt-outs from various elements as the UK currently has.

Or whether, in effect, the outcome would be the sort of extra devolution of powers that's on offer anyway.

Not to mention whether that leaves knock-on constitutional effects that the remaining UK would have to stop avoiding (and we won't even mention Northern Ireland).

[Bookworm]

I do feel we're on the brink of something massive and turnout is predicted to be at over 80% so its a historic time.

I totally agree, and like yourself, I've not fully made up my mind either. We are running out of time to decide though. In my heart I'd like to vote Yes, but I have a lot of concerns about how it will all pan out. I'm not convinced by any Politicians in either camp if I'm honest, I wouldn't trust any of them as far as I could throw them! I did vote for the SNP in the last General Election but it was more of a protest vote as I'm completely disillusioned with mainstream Politics, they all bang the same drum these days.

I just don't know. I just feel a Yes vote might spell economic ruin and chaos for Scotland, but maybe I'm just buying into the hype and the fear porn from the No campaign. I've been listening to all this for months now and I'm still no clearer on how I'm going to vote

My friends and family are all split over this too. I'm leaning towards more devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament with Scotland remaining in the UK, which would mean voting No as the UK Government has 'promised' this, but I'm not sure I believe them :biggrin: