We'll be like Sweden, nwutral.

You're only neutral for as long as no one can be bothered to invade. How long do you suppose Sweden would have lasted as an independent country in WW2 if they'd denied their iron ore to Germany? 

Quote from: FierceKitty on 16 June 2014, 06:25:58 AM
Yoiur "recent" must be very recent indeed.

Back to South Ossetia in 2008...

Quote from: Techno on 10 June 2014, 07:13:56 AM
So....If I've understood correctly, if Scotland votes for independence this September, it becomes independent in March of 2016. (I think that's right.)

Now.....As there's an election scheduled for the 'whole of' the UK in 2015.....What happens to all the Scottish seats in Westminster ?
Are these 'voided' from the 2015 UK election ?...Or do the prospective Scottish MPs get to sit in Westminster until Scotland becomes independent, and then 'kicked out' as their seats no longer represent part of the UK.
Are there other options ?
Anyone know ?

Cheers - Phil

This cannot be far away now but it seems for a potentially major change to our constitution that the news seems strangely quiet. 

Have all of the contentious issues such as the pound and EU membership been settled?

I have no idea how to measure the cost of all of this to our economy but I would be surprised if there hasn't been some foreign investment put off or sent elsewhere because of the uncertainty. Would it be possible now its gone this far for the Northern Irish, Welsh and English to have a referendum on whether we think Scotland should be allowed to stay in the union or not?

Or, as a separate question could England seperate from the the rest of the union members?

You can tell I have a bit of time on my hands today  I have just though of another question.

If the Shetlands and Orkneys vote to stay in the union and the rest of Scotland votes to leave, can they stay, or do they have to follow the rest of Scotland?

Or, if the Shetlands and Orkneys vote to leave and the rest of Scotland votes to stay, can they leave and claim the oil and gas belong to them and deny any revenues to Scotland and the rest of the union?

It's Complicated (good film title)

Quote from: Rob on 04 August 2014, 03:20:00 PM
If the Shetlands and Orkneys vote to stay in the union and the rest of Scotland votes to leave, can they stay, or do they have to follow the rest of Scotland?

Or, if the Shetlands and Orkneys vote to leave and the rest of Scotland votes to stay, can they leave and claim the oil and gas belong to them and deny any revenues to Scotland and the rest of the union?

This is one of the major problems I see in breaking up a happy marriage. How can you deny the kids going it alone as well?

Just like the UK as a whole, Scotland is made up of many independently minded regions who traditionally square up to their immediate neighbour. My own feeling is that all the highlands, islands and lowlands of these isles (including Ireland) should come together in some form of unity and choose a new place to meet (say, the Isle of Man) to discuss how to cooperate in this baffling, crazy, increasingly technological new world. Our children would thank us for it.

USE ... United States of Europe ... only solution.

The Germans provide the engineers, the French provide the chefs, the British provide the police, the lovers are Italian, the artists are Spanish and the whole thing is run by the Swiss :-)

U! S! E! ... U! S! E! ... U! S! E!

So glad I am learning Italian.

I suppose people remember Charles V's comment on European languages?

Quote from: FierceKitty on 04 August 2014, 11:51:35 PM
I suppose people remember Charles V's comment on European languages?

If you wish to threaten someone do it in German - or words to that effect, as far as I recall.

I had a friend who used to say that if god hadn't wanted us to listen to Heavy Metal he wouldn't have invented German.

Even though I know only a smattering of words in it, and most of them military terms, I rather like the crunchy texture of spoken German.

Quote from: FierceKitty on 04 August 2014, 11:51:35 PM
I suppose people remember Charles V's comment on European languages?

'I speak Spanish to God, Italian to Women, French to Men, and German to my Horse.' Pretty much debunked these days as first published well after his death.

Quote from: Ithoriel on 04 August 2014, 05:20:31 PM
USE ... United States of Europe ... only solution.

The Germans provide the engineers, the French provide the chefs, the British provide the police, the lovers are Italian, the artists are Spanish and the whole thing is run by the Swiss :-)

U! S! E! ... U! S! E! ... U! S! E!

And have even more unelected "commissioners" laying down the law? No thanks.

Another approach might be to look at the way commissioners are appointed/elected and the way in which new laws are discussed. Living in a tiny country separated from the rest of the world seems absurd in this day and age.

Okay, we've missed the major point here, IF Scotland becomes independent, the English Government will be able to charge import duty on two items that make life bearable:
Tunnocks Teacakes and Irn Brew!!