Scottish Independence Referendum

[Todd]

Perhaps a pro-independence person can explain the logic behind withdrawing from the UK while maintaining the pound as the national currency.  Surely people understand that is a really bad idea.  As is futzing with the UK's nuclear fleet.

[Ken B]

Perhaps a pro-independence person can explain the logic behind withdrawing from the UK while maintaining the pound as the national currency.  Surely people understand that is a really bad idea.  As is futzing with the UK's nuclear fleet.

I don't really think anyone on the yes side gives much thought to stuff like that. I know more about Quebec separatism, which is clearly even more irrational economically, and there it is about culture and resentment. Frankly I think the separatists have a legitimate complaint on culture, and that English Canada has reneged on the historical bargain, but that's beside the point.
Owing debts in someone else's currency, meh, what could go wrong ...

[Ken B]

I broadly agree with this take. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/09/10/assessing-the-possibility-of-scottish-secession/

[Karl Henning]

Thanks;  a good piece.

[Ken B]

Thanks;  a good piece.

I cannot tell you how much time I have spent/wasted online arguing against those who think the south's scession was good and right. 

[Wanderer]

David Cameron can't help the No campaign – he's less popular in Scotland than Windows 8

[Florestan]

Mark my words: in case yes wins, there will be at least one EU country that would oppose Scotland's admission into the EU: Spain, for the obvious reason of Catalonian and Basque separatism. And since unanimity is required, Scotland will never join the EU. 

[Ken B]

Mark my words: in case yes wins, there will be at least one EU country that would oppose Scotland's admission into the EU: Spain, for the obvious reason of Catalonian and Basque separatism. And since unanimity is required, Scotland will never join the EU. until after it splits in pieces too

[Todd]

Scotland will never join the EU.

But will it join NATO?  As an American, that's the more pertinent question for me.

[Florestan]

But will it join NATO? 

If the unanimity rule applies there as well, they won't. 

Besides, what use? Do they have, or will they have any time soon, an army / fleet / air force of their own? 

[Todd]

Besides, what use? Do they have, or will they have any time soon, an army / fleet / air force of their own?

Scotland is home to the UK's nuclear submarine fleet, among other Royal Navy ships and other UK military assets, making it part of UK deterrence.  I don't care if Scotland is independent or not, but I do care about security issues that affect the US, and this does.  Perhaps the US can apply good old fashioned pressure along with financial enticements to keep Scotland playing nice.

[Florestan]

Scotland is home to the UK's nuclear submarine fleet, among other Royal Navy ships and other UK military assets, making it part of UK deterrence.

Sort of an English Crimeea, right? 

I don't care if Scotland is independent or not, but I do care about security issues that affect the US, and this does.  Perhaps the US can apply good old fashioned pressure along with financial enticements to keep Scotland playing nice.

The only way they could play nice is to come to their senses and make No prevail. Otherwise they'll open a huge can of worms that can even lead to the disappearance of the EU. And that is not in USA's interest either.

[Todd]

Sort of an English Crimea, right?

If Yes prevails.

Otherwise they'll open a huge can of worms that can even lead to the disappearance of the EU. And that is not in USA's interest either.

That is true.  The EU is needed to suppress the latent savagery of Europeans.  I'm not convinced that Scottish independence would lead to a break-up of the EU, and I'm less worried about that than the inability of European leaders to address the ongoing Euro issues leading to the same result.

[Florestan]

I'm not convinced that Scottish independence would lead to a break-up of the EU

It will set up a dangerous precedent. I'm convinced Catalonia and The Basque Country would immediately push for a similar referendum, and it would hugely encourage the less-known but no-less-dangerous Hungarian separatism in Romania as well.

EDIT: time concordance.

[Todd]

It will set up a dangerous precedent.

I think that's true, but EU bureaucrats are a crafty bunch.  The EU survived the French and Dutch referendums a decade ago.  It could probably survive Scottish and Basque and Catalan and Hungarian separatism. 

[snyprrr]

The Royal Bank of Scotland is "threatening" to more it's base to the 'mainland' if Independence Day goes down- trying to scare the poor people.

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOUR ASS ON THE WAY OUT!!

So=- this is about debt again, huh? Bankers CAN'T STAND Independence... from them.

SCOTTIES- don't let the banks scare you- vote out the debt

VOTE OUT THE DEBT!!

PUT THE BANKERS IN JAIL!!

JUST LIKE ICELAND!!




Oh, so sorry- no easy credit for you

GO F*** YOUR EASY CREDIT DEBT SCAM!!



Will the common people cave by the shilling of the Big Banks, or will they SEE the Truth and say FU?

[Karl Henning]

How can they see the Truth without you to explain it to them, snypsss?

Separately:  Companies like certainty, and a newly independent Scotland could change how the energy firms have long done business in the region.

[snyprrr]

How can they see the Truth without you to explain it to them, snypsss?

Separately:  Companies like certainty, and a newly independent Scotland could change how the energy firms have long done business in the region.

i'M JUST CONCERNED FOR THE COMMON PEOPLE (aye these caps!!) who tend to believe what he-who-has-the-most-money says. NEVER GIVE IN!!

NEVER SURRENDER!!

FREEEEEEEEDOM!!


hOW DO i KNOW IF THE sCOTTISH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DUMBED DOWN AS MUCH AS THEY ARE HERE? (aaaye where did those caps come from---- IT'S YOU DOING THIS KARL!!!!)

[Karl Henning]

Well, the journalist might have said business prefers certainty.  This is true of small businesses, too.

We don't know the details, but we just want to break away isn't what any businessman likes the future to look like.

[snyprrr]

BREAKING:

Scottish Independence May Ruin Spain!