Is Scottish independence a &#x27;good or bad&#x27; thing?

I'm voting yes, and I don't think I need to give any reasons for it.

I'm Scottish, I don't feel British, in fact when I go down to England people hear my accent and just stare at me like I shouldn't be there, that's why I feel we should be our own independent country without having to answer to Westminster.

That's just my opinion though, anyone can disagree!

Reply 4545

Original post by JayStudent

I'm voting yes, and I don't think I need to give any reasons for it.

I'm Scottish, I don't feel British, in fact when I go down to England people hear my accent and just stare at me like I shouldn't be there, that's why I feel we should be our own independent country without having to answer to Westminster.

That's just my opinion though, anyone can disagree!

So you feel like a Scouse in Somerset?

Or a Gaelic speaker in Motherwell.

You don't need any reasons for your vote. But which year do you think Scotland would be out of transition and be an independent country? (ie not using rUK infrastructure)

Reply 4546

Original post by Quady

So you feel like a Scouse in Somerset?

Or a Gaelic speaker in Motherwell.

You don't need any reasons for your vote. But which year do you think Scotland would be out of transition and be an independent country? (ie not using rUK infrastructure)

Well I'm not sure about how divided areas are in England, but I don't personally think that in Scotland many areas are divided! In terms of accent, I don't think anyone pays much attention to where you are from; of course they notice as Edinburgh and Glasgow are far different yet only 45 minutes apart, but no one cares. The only time there's a divide is if it's the typical neds/chavs that everywhere in the world has.

Well in the vote next year, I hope there is a majority yes vote and the plan set out in the white paper on us being fully independent by.. 2016 I think it was? Definitely happens. I know there will probably be SOME sacrifices we have to make financially to be able to thrive on our own, but I don't think it is as bad as some scaremongers are preaching. (At least, I don't think we will be the next Greece anyway..)

Reply 4547

Original post by JayStudent

Well I'm not sure about how divided areas are in England, but I don't personally think that in Scotland many areas are divided! In terms of accent, I don't think anyone pays much attention to where you are from; of course they notice as Edinburgh and Glasgow are far different yet only 45 minutes apart, but no one cares. The only time there's a divide is if it's the typical neds/chavs that everywhere in the world has.

Well in the vote next year, I hope there is a majority yes vote and the plan set out in the white paper on us being fully independent by.. 2016 I think it was? Definitely happens. I know there will probably be SOME sacrifices we have to make financially to be able to thrive on our own, but I don't think it is as bad as some scaremongers are preaching. (At least, I don't think we will be the next Greece anyway..)

Yeah but not everyone in Scotland understands Glesga patter, meh.

So you think in 18 months from the vote Scotland will have setup its Passport Service, DVLA, systems to collect tax and distribute benefits? Where would Scotland get the money from in those 18 months to pay for those projects?

2016 Scotland will elect a government, but I'd be somewhat suprised if it could independently pay Mrs Miggins of Cumnock her pension.

Reply 4548

Original post by Quady

Yeah but not everyone in Scotland understands Glesga patter, meh.

So you think in 18 months from the vote Scotland will have setup its Passport Service, DVLA, systems to collect tax and distribute benefits? Where would Scotland get the money from in those 18 months to pay for those projects?

2016 Scotland will elect a government, but I'd be somewhat suprised if it could independently pay Mrs Miggins of Cumnock her pension.

Yeh I know but that's kinda what I meant by the neds/chavs, the only time a Glaswegian accent is hard to understand by most people is if it's ridiculously rough which USUALLY only happens if they are a ned. I have a few Glaswegian friends and it is quite funny sometimes to listen to how they say things, take the mick out of them :biggrin:

And of course not, but I mean from the point we have our own government in 2016, if it happens, I agree we will have to find a way to make money, but I'm just saying I don't think we are going to be as bad as people say. Of course we will have enough to pay people their pensions, it's not like anyone these days is getting them before their near their death bed anyway! :eek:

Reply 4549

Original post by JayStudent

And of course not, but I mean from the point we have our own government in 2016, if it happens, I agree we will have to find a way to make money, but I'm just saying I don't think we are going to be as bad as people say. Of course we will have enough to pay people their pensions, it's not like anyone these days is getting them before their near their death bed anyway! :eek:

I didn't say there wasn't enough money to pay the pension. Just there won't be Scottish owned/run system to pay it in 2016.

Reply 4550

Original post by JayStudent

it's not like anyone these days is getting them before their near their death bed anyway! :eek:

The truth is that people are living far longer and receiving pensions for longer, and this is set to get worse (if that is the right word). What is more, Scotland's pension problem is going to be significantly worse than England's.

Government figures show the life expectancy of a 65-year old male is now 22 years. In 1951 it was only 12 years and it is expected to be almost 26 years by 2053.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223190/life_expectancy.pdf

Reply 4551

Original post by Good bloke

The truth is that people are living far longer and receiving pensions for longer, and this is set to get worse (if that is the right word). What is more, Scotland's pension problem is going to be significantly worse than England's.

Government figures show the life expectancy of a 65-year old male is now 22 years. In 1951 it was only 12 years and it is expected to be almost 26 years by 2053.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223190/life_expectancy.pdf

Ohh my bad, misread what you were trying to say! I have no clue if it will be Scottish run or not, like I said, I want it purely for the national identity, I don't care much for the economics or anything behind it!

Isn't the life expectancy of many places in Scotland not only like 60-70 years old now anyway, much shorter than England?

Reply 4552

Original post by JayStudent

Isn't the life expectancy of many places in Scotland not only like 60-70 years old now anyway, much shorter than England?

Life expectancy in Scotland is little different from that in the rest of the UK, though marginally lower. Anyway, that isn't the problem:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/comment/columnists/pensions-puzzle-for-an-independent-scotland-131964n.21741033

Reply 4553

StormXibalba

12

The problem with this is that the SNP dont seem to actually want independence.

They want to have their cake and eat it.

i.e keeping the pound. In what world are you independent if you keep the currency of your former country and therefore have no control of youre interest rates. If the UK government dont allow them to keep the pound. And why should they? They would need their own currency which would create a whole host of problems.

Reply 4554

Original post by Good bloke

Life expectancy in Scotland is little different from that in the rest of the UK, though marginally lower. Anyway, that isn't the problem:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/comment/columnists/pensions-puzzle-for-an-independent-scotland-131964n.21741033

I'd be looking to have my own private pension anyway, I wouldn't care much for the state pension. It's already quite a tiny amount, people surely couldn't live off it alone?

Reply 4555

Original post by JayStudent

I'd be looking to have my own private pension anyway, I wouldn't care much for the state pension. It's already quite a tiny amount, people surely couldn't live off it alone?

What is of more significance is that you will be contributing to the state pensions of an aging population.

Reply 4556

Original post by JayStudent

Ohh my bad, misread what you were trying to say! I have no clue if it will be Scottish run or not, like I said, I want it purely for the national identity, I don't care much for the economics or anything behind it!

Isn't the life expectancy of many places in Scotland not only like 60-70 years old now anyway, much shorter than England?

You said you wanted it so you would be independent of Westminister.
I'm just pointing out you won't be. Even at the basic level of reciving income you'll need Westminister to collect tax on your behalf for a decade after 'independence'.

Its a bit shorter, more like 75-80 though.

Reply 4557

Original post by JayStudent

I'd be looking to have my own private pension anyway, I wouldn't care much for the state pension. It's already quite a tiny amount, people surely couldn't live off it alone?

Fair enough, but you'll still be paying Westminister set National Insurance levels until Scotland gets its own system.

£7,280 isn't to be sniffed at though, not that thats the point...

Reply 4558

cowsforsale

15

Original post by Good bloke

Life expectancy in Scotland is little different from that in the rest of the UK, though marginally lower. Anyway, that isn't the problem:

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/comment/columnists/pensions-puzzle-for-an-independent-scotland-131964n.21741033

An article written by Ruth Davidson?

Come on, you're not even trying...

Reply 4559