What happens ?....Scottish Independence.

[Leman]

Rather go with the Tunnocks and a good peaty single malt.

[SV52]

........ Living in a tiny country separated from the rest of the world seems absurd in this day and age.

A bit like the UK you mean?

[Techno]

Tunnocks ?

Looks like another banned word to me. 
Cheers - Phil

[Leman]

Well no, because the UK is part of the EU, but should it vote to leave, then yes. I do worry that such a momentous  decision is to be put into the hands of, quite frankly, a pretty dopey public laced with a heavy dose of xenophobia if not outright racism.

[FierceKitty]

Remember Churchill's remark that five minutes' conversation with the average voter was the best argument against democracy?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Or Pratchett's quote that the IQ of a mob is the square root of it's mean?

[Luddite]

What exactly is it that King Alex wants independence from?

[Leman]

Not really sure. Could be to do with a feeling of remoteness or seclusion, but I've been aware of Scotland ever since I was tiny, thanks to the likes of Dr.Finlay's Casebook, Fife Robertson et al. I would suggest that Alex Salmond is careful about what he wishes for. He said in the debate last night that he believes Scotland would be better off being run by Scots (obviously Cameron and Blair are not  Scottish names, and Mr.Brown clearly came from Newcastle) but remember what happened to Britain when the Romans left it to gover itself.

[Hertsblue]

He said in the debate last night that he believes Scotland would be better off being run by Scots

A brief glance at Scottish history might raise some doubts about that. Anyway, I was under the impression that Scotland was effectively run by the Scots now. Would Salmon really want to take on the burden of defence and direct taxation? The oil's not going to last for ever.

[WeeWars]

The oil's not going to last for ever.

Aye, but we've got endless wind.

[Leman]

The point I was trying to make is that for the past three governments England has also been run by Scots!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Aye, but we've got endless wind.

That the Tunnoks and irn bru ?

ianS

[Ithoriel]

Politically, the Scottish electorate appears to be considerably more left wing, more pro-Europe, more anti-nuclear, more pro-nationalisation, etc., etc. than the electorate of the UK as a whole.

The mismatch between the policies of the UK government and the political aspirations of, at least, a sizeable portion of the population of Scotland has lead some to believe that Scotland would be happier running it's own affairs.

I'm sure there are a few Xenophobes who simply want nothing to do with "The Auld Enemy" but then there are oddballs in every population.

Does "Wee Eck" want responsibility for defence and direct taxation? Indeed he does and one of the first items on the defence agenda is the removal of nuclear weapons from Scotland. Which should reduce the burden of the defence budget and could reduce the levels of taxation required.

Personally, I'm still slightly inclined to vote No but it's finely balanced at the moment and my move from being staunchly in favour of the Union to that position has been entirely driven by the Better Together campaign.

There are plenty of countries round the world with smaller populations, worse infrastructure and fewer natural resources than Scotland who are doing perfectly well, thank you so there no reason Scotland couldn't do well enough too.

[Leman]

Burkina Faso?

[FierceKitty]

Would even the English choose to be run by the English if they had any choice, in all fairness?