Scottish Independance. Great Idea or No Go?

[Larban]

I personally think going it alone as an independent country would be a bad decision, because the UK is strong as it is and a better bargaining chip on the global scale.

[Laerod]

Probably not a good idea.

[Divair]

Probably not a good idea.

Aye, I agree. I don't personally support independence, but I do support the people's choice.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Scotland without the UK would be a european petrol state completely fucked in 20 years when the North Sea oil fields dry up.

Certainly not a good idea.

[Fnordgasm 5]

I don't know.. The part of me that is English says "meh.." but the part of me that is Scottish says "Och aye the meh..".

[Slembana]

I think it's a great idea.

[Salven]

Awful idea.

[Glasgia]

As half-English/half-Scots I think I have a decent idea of both sides of the argument. As an independent country, Scotland would gain North Sea oil and maintain a thriving electronic and agricultural economy. While the Uk is happy to keep London as its main trading centre, an independent Scotland would be able to focus on Edinburgh.

Leaving the UK would also allow Scotland to make its own choices on the EU, a possibility that may increase or decrease the SNP's chance in the independence referendum depending on the general UK-wide EU referendum. A Scottish Republic could also keep the pound, while possibly negotiating its way into a Nordic trade agreement and co-operating with the Scandinavian countries.

Unfortunately, Scotland would lose a lot of influence on the world stage as it gains decision-making power locally. It is also very hard to predict how well an indepedent Scottish economy would do.

I for one support the referendum and part of me hopes that Scotland will become independent, while the other half is wary of my personal situation if it does. Will I be able to claim citizenship?

[L Ron Cupboard]

Not unlike the UK and the EU, I think Scotland likes the idea of leaving more than actually leaving.

[Fnordgasm 5]

Not unlike the UK and the EU, I think Scotland likes the idea of leaving more than actually leaving.

Yeah? Well we're tired of your yapping! All you ever do is make vague, if mostly correct assertions about the motives and intentions of the UK, you never try to make things better. Well, we're running away from this dead-end political union! I know there's a organisation out there for countries like us with new ideas. There has to be!

[Vitaphone Racing]

Anyway, I may as well explain to everyone why Scottish independance is a terrible idea and why Scotland could not remain financially independant for long.

In 2010/2011, the UK had an overall deficit as percentage of GDP of 9.5. For those who aren't economically minded or don't understand what I've said; the budget deficit of the UK represented 9.5% of their gross domestic product. The Scottish GDP deficit varies on their share of oil. If they have no North Sea oil (an unlikely scenario) the deficit accounts for 15.6% of the total GDP. If they have their geographical share of the oil, it gives them a deficit of 7.6%. Given the geographic share is a far more likely outcome than England retaining the oil, it actually puts Scotland in a better financial position than the rest of Britian.

Temporarily.

North Sea oil production is dropping fast just as oil prices are beginning to decline. Britain was self-sufficient on oil just a decade ago yet now it is a net importer. Scotland's would-be heavy reliance on oil comes at a time when most countries are trying to wean themselves off oil before the inevitable sharp decline in production which could happen sooner than thought teamed with ever increasing environmental concerns. Currently, Britain's oil production is still providing massive benefits to the economy as last year oil production was valued at some 13 billion pounds which coincidentally is the largest amount of revenue generated per year on record.

Oil revenue over the next year is predicted by many to halve ^[1][2] which obviously will have an impact on the british economy.

But what if this were the Scottish economy?

Without oil, Scottish revenue stands at 42.5 billion pounds. With their geographical share of the North Sea (2011 FY), revenue increases to 53.1 billion pounds or a near 25% jump. When the oil dries up, and not if but when, Scotland will be forced to take on debt or massively cut public spending as 25% of it's revenue disappears. The rest of Britain does not have an issue of this magnitude as less than 10% of their total revenue will be lost when Scotland becomes independant and their remaining oil fields dry up.

Thus, Scotland does not have the ability to remain financially stable and indpendant for long.

Although, it does highlight the British addiction on North Sea oil profits and their refusal to plan for the future Decades of prosperity pissed away by poor management and future planning.

[Souseiseki]

I personally think going it alone as an independent country would be a bad decision, because the EU is strong as it is and a better bargaining chip on the global scale.

[Auzkhia]

No, there is no good reason to divide Great Britain.

[Calorax]

I support the referendum, but I definitely don't support Scotland becoming independent.

P-please don't go, we love you ;_;

[Wind in the Willows]

Alex Salmond is an idiot.

[Call to power]

Nay. Can't say I see a good reason for it.

I don't think such a referendum will pass or if that ever was the intention. It seems to be a move towards Scotland blackmailing the UK for more independence under the threat of leaving much like we are currently doing with the EU.

It would also look silly on the map - tempting as it is for England to get its own hat.

the UK is strong as it is and a better bargaining chip on the global scale.

Scotland is planning on selling out the UK?! (bargaining chip may not mean what you think it means)

Either way the argument is silly, the UK does not necessarily represent Scotland's interests in negotiations but the UK as a whole i.e. Posh Southern cunts.

While the Uk is happy to keep London as its main trading centre, an independent Scotland would be able to focus on Edinburgh.

Why would this be the case? Scotland is a small nation with an economy bound to the South. Far too small to have its own stock-market or really be a global leader in a particular industry.

[Souseiseki]

Scotland's would-be heavy reliance on oil comes at a time when most countries are trying to wean themselves off oil before the inevitable sharp decline in production which could happen sooner than thought teamed with ever increasing environmental concerns.

scotland is already a heavy investor in and under independence would be even more so in renewable energy, renewable energy making up 35% of scotlands energy and 40% of the uk as a wholes renewable energy production. this is probably because despite popular belief the plan is not to coast on oil then when the oil runs out we will run around on fire screaming OH NO THE OIL WE FORGOT TO DEVELOP OUR ECONOMY AT ALL and then we all die.

[Souseiseki]

Why would this be the case? Scotland is a small nation with an economy bound to the South. Far too small to have its own stock-market or really be a global leader in a particular industry.

i suppose you could say that "Edinburgh is the UK's second financial centre after London and Europe's fourth by equity assets" but that'll all totally fall apart once the UK goes and how could scotland or edinburgh ever do anything of worth, they're fucking tiny? heh.

[Ifreann]

I give very few fucks about the dependence or independence of Scotland. In principle I'm all for people getting to have a country if there's enough support and if they could actually work as a country, but if Scotland has to stay in the UK, I won't lose any sleep.

[Call to power]

i suppose you could say that "Edinburgh is the UK's second financial centre after London and Europe's fourth by equity assets"

i.e. insignificant.

I may have the second biggest knob in the room but that doesn't mean anything when I am in a room with one bloke and a load of women.

[Serrland]

I'm scared it would fuck with the price of imported shortbread.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Scotland's would-be heavy reliance on oil comes at a time when most countries are trying to wean themselves off oil before the inevitable sharp decline in production which could happen sooner than thought teamed with ever increasing environmental concerns.

scotland is already a heavy investor in and under independence would be even more so in renewable energy, renewable energy making up 35% of scotlands energy and 40% of the uk as a wholes renewable energy production. this is probably because despite popular belief the plan is not to coast on oil then when the oil runs out we will run around on fire screaming OH NO THE OIL WE FORGOT TO DEVELOP OUR ECONOMY AT ALL and then we all die.

And how much does Scotland's renewable energy contribute to the economy in the present? In percentage?

Whether or not you're coasting on oil is irrelevant, the point of the matter is Britain and others have spent far too long fucking around with oil rather than saving and investing the money like Norway, that funny country who also drills in the North Sea. Britain's oil revenue will halve next year, you mean to tell me that economic growth in other areas will be 10% each year to cover the loss?

[Souseiseki]

i suppose you could say that "Edinburgh is the UK's second financial centre after London and Europe's fourth by equity assets"

i.e. insignificant.

I may have the second biggest knob in the room but that doesn't mean anything when I am in a room with one bloke and a load of women.

i don't really see how it's insignificant when your argument is that scotland is totally going to be bound to londons massive financial sector (its knob)

and what the fuck does that even mean, seriously

[Call to power]

I'm scared it would fuck with the price of imported shortbread.

I'm more scared by the thought of a perpetual Conservative government.

[Serrland]

I'm scared it would fuck with the price of imported shortbread.

I'm more scared by the thought of a perpetual Conservative government.

I'm American - you lot can sort that out on your own, I reckon. But shortbread? That's a whole different story.