Why the world should care about Scottish independence

[KamaAina]

http://news.yahoo.com/why-world-care-scottish-independence-105618840--finance.html

An opinion poll showing Scottish independence campaigners have a slim lead nine days before a crucial referendum has highlighted reasons for the wider world and investors to pay heed to the Sept. 18 vote, which could see Britain lose 5.3 million Scots.

Foreign governments and financial markets had long assumed Scots would view independence from the United Kingdom as too risky a leap but the sudden swing, confirmed by another survey showing the two camps neck-and-neck, has exploded such complacency....

What share of Britain's debt would Scotland take? Would it retain the pound? How much would Scotland get of oil revenues from the North Sea, estimates of which vary wildly? Would it follow a different fiscal policy? Can it join the EU?

Scottish secession would embolden Catalans and some Basques, as well as potentially Flemish nationalists in Belgium. That may be one reason why officials in Brussels have told the Scots that it would be difficult for them to join the EU. Newcomers have to be voted in unanimously by existing member states.

Wow. I had not realized that. So all those Eastern European countries were voted in unanimously?

[former9thward]

1. All significant EU actions have to be unanimous.

If Scotland wishes to be independent then more power to them. I am sure they will work through any difficulties.

[KamaAina]

2. But if the countries with their own separatists deny Scotland admission,

(Spain, Belgium, etc.), then Scotland can't join the eurozone and will have to set up its own currency.

[former9thward]

4. The UK has its own currency.

They do just fine. So will Scotland.

[KamaAina]

7. But they've told Scotland they won't let them use the pound.

The currency of a country of 5.3 million might not fare so well on the world markets.

[former9thward]

9. They told the colonies the same thing in 1776.

The British are like that. They think if you move from their control you will flounder in the world. They should worry more about themselves and less about people who want self determination.

[merrily]

11. But Hamilton figured it out.

[Art_from_Ark]

27. The currencies of Norway, Sweden and Denmark are doing just fine

as is the currency of New Zealand.

[QC]

3. For me, the most interesting thing about this issue,

and I have been following news coverage pretty closely, is that nostalgia for Scotland the Brave and dislike of the English have little to nothing to do with the desire for independence.

Most of the discussion I have seen has to do with escaping from Thatcherism and building a more equitable society. That's something they can't do at present for the same reasons we can't do it in this country, namely the finance sector's domination of government policy.

More power to the Scots. If nothing else, they might get the attention of Cameron and his crew.

[leftstreet]

8. Reagan, Thatcher, Mulroney (the real) Axis of Evil

+1 to your statements

[Starry Messenger]

10. +2

[Laelth]

14. Spot on.

The finance sector's control of government, both in the U.S. and in the U.K., is the major problem.

-Laelth

[QC]

15. Thank you! It's the cause of virtually every other problem.

The Scots are smart to see this. I wish more Americans would make the connection.

[Warpy]

28. I'm terribly afraid the "noes" will succeed, if only because a lot of Scots

get last minute cold feet. You know, "better the devil you know" and all that.

Still, it would give a boost to other nations within nations like the Basques, the Welsh, the Catalans, and even the Irish of Ulster.

If it's at all close, Scotland can expect expanded home rule and more of the North Sea oil revenues if only because the UK doesn't want to risk dissolution again.

[drray23]

5. its fascinating

If the scotts want independence, its their right. I do wonder how it is going to work in practice. Things like pensions, healthcare. Also what economic ressources will scotland rely upon ?

[KamaAina]

6. Oil and gas

They have a bunch of it in the North Sea. Most of the present UK's reserves, in fact.

[Gus Sutherland]

12. Free Little White Book on Scottish Independence

There's a lot of misunderstanding about the Scottish independence referendum. A free book of 20 pages, the Little White Book on Scottish Independence explains the dangers to ordinary Scots people, and how design of the referendum is that of Kill UK. Unfortunately, there's a trap set for Scots if they vote Yes.

[KamaAina]

19. Interesting first post

Kind of surprised you don't have a Union Jack avvie.

[Chan790]

24. The author of the book he cites...

appears to be a staunch Cameronite and vocally anti-immigration journalist engaged in some kind of long-term contretemps with the municipal government of Edinburgh over his assertion that the city is promoting brothels to intentionally and specifically harm his family.

(I'm not saying he's a quack but it looks like a duck, to me.)

[Laelth]

13. This is quite significant.

Scotland is very liberal, and an independent Scotland would likely mirror its neighbors--Iceland, Norway, and Denmark. It would be a liberal country, and I'd be thrilled to see that, but Scottish independence would also make the U.K. significantly more conservative.

Of the 650 MPs currently in the Westminster Parliament, 59 represent Scottish seats. If Scotland votes for independence, the presumption is that at some stage they will leave, bringing the number down to 591.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27129813

Of those 59 Scottish seats, as I understand it, 58 are Labour (or Labour-aligned) and 1 is a Tory. Losing 58 Labour seats in Parliament will affect UK politics. The U.K. already has a Tory government. The odds that Labour can regain the speaker's chair become longer if Scotland secedes. So, I'm torn. On the one hand, I'd love to see a liberal Scotland. On the other hand, I'd rather see a liberal U.K., and Scottish independence would make that goal harder to attain.

-Laelth

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Your figures aren't quite right

Current Scottish Representation in the Commons is :

Labour Party: 41
Liberal Democrats: 11
Scottish National Party: 6
Conservative and Unionist Party: 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Scotland#The_House_of_Commons

Lib Dems aren't 'Labour-aligned', being in the current coalition government with the Tories (though they could potentially form a coalition with Labour next time; but having been in this coalition, Labour politicians may regard them as 'soiled' - they might prefer to function as a minority government if that's the only way of doing it, rather than a formal coalition to form a majority). And SNP are left of centre, but not necessarily Labour-aligned - as the differing views on independence show.

[Laelth]

17. Thanks for the precision. n/t

-Laelth

[joeybee12]

18. So, does the Queen lose Balmoral if they leave?

Does her get-away go bye-bye?

[rusty fender]

20. And what happens to the kilt?

Will Brits have to pay royalties to Scotland every time they wear one?

[joeybee12]

21. I hope so!

[Arugula Latte]

22. If they have to pack up Balmoral, they're not allowed to use Scotch tape on the boxes.

*rim shot*

[joeybee12]

23. The horrors!

Only her billions left to console her!

[KamaAina]

29. Silly Arugula.

Scotch tape is made in Minnesota.

[Arugula Latte]

31. Well, if it's not Scottish, it's crap!

[Chan790]

25. No. With the unification of the crowns with James VI...

she's the Queen of Scotland whether they remain part of Great Britain or not.

The only way she would lose Balmoral is if the new Scottish government subsequently decides to strip her of the throne, either abandoning the monarchy entirely or restoring the heir to the Bonnie Prince's claim: Franz Bonaventura Adalbert Maria Herzog von Bayern, Duke of Bavaria.

Duke Franz is vocally not-interested in being the King of Scotland.

[joeybee12]

26. I vote for Duke Franz!

Great name...thanks for the info

[Travis_0004]

30. More importantly will it make my scotch more expensive

If they had a new currency it will take time to stabalize which could it more expensive to export.

[KamaAina]

33. Possibly less

The No side has been implying that the Scottish currency (Scottish pound? punt a la Ireland?) would be devalued, thereby giving you a price break on your wee dram.

[panader0]

32. will Scotland Yard move to Edinburgh?