Is Scottish independence a 'good or bad' thing?

A general point. I think the SNP should have removal of the monarchy fairly high on their list-it cannot profess to have a fair society with the ultimate symbol of elitism still at the top.


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Not just English, but RUK citizens-however I would disagree. This is a referendum on whether Scotland wants to leave, not whether the UK wants to keep it.


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Kl, I thought that was the point you were making just making sure I didn't misinterpret you.

My answer is, I simply do not know whether England would be worse off because of separation from Scotland. I am not an economist. I try to focus on other aspects of the debate but I do think the economic side of things will be the main factor in how most people vote on the issue.

What I do think, and without trying to judge people who are English who oppose Scottish Independence is that some of them believe Scottish people believe English people are "idiots". While it is true you will get a few of the braveheart brigade, the vast majority of people who support Scottish independence support it for different reasons and challenge the braveheart brigade for spouting their "England are oppressing us" drivel.

Fair enough. I thought it was a general point (was just checking to make sure) and one that I fully agree with as a staunch Republican.

I have lived in Scotland for coming on 5 years and have always felt a bit like the pantomime villain for being English. Whilst lunatic Wallace impersonators are generally rare, there is an unpleasant habit Scots have of stereotyping English folk as arrogant/Conservative/less socially aware and so on.

Such comments have reared their heads on this thread more than once which is why I can't help but think there is an Anglophobic edge to the Yes campaign. RUK is equated to England, and frequently London, far too often than would be the case otherwise.


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If the SNP put removal of the monarchy in their white paper I would be very tempted to vote Yes. As it is, they seem to be making promises across the board to garner votes, and it weakens their cause to do so.


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I study in Dundee with a lot of English people on my course and at my uni and the other university in the city and have never seen any of it. A few of them are very good friends of mine and have never said anything to me about it.

I have no doubt there are some Scottish people with unhealthy attitudes about English people but the vast majority of them don't from what I can see,

There is definitely an illiberal and sometimes insulting edge based on negativity for the union rather than being positive for independence being peddled by the SNP which is wrong. That I agree with. The SNP do not represent the views of everyone who supports the Yes campaign.

Independent currency would be my first choice

Euro would be my second choice

Keeping the pound is crazy so would be third on that list.

True,

I think I read a while ago that the Scottish Liberal Democrats are in favor of Federalism but I could be wrong.

It does make me wonder what exactly devo max would be as I interpret it as being something like Scotland being a member of a wider Federal state. So I'm not 100% what the difference between them would be.

...though Dundee does have a friendly reputation

But how are any of those options better than the current situation?

The Children's comic produced there - The Beano - does seem to go in for homophobia (walter the softie is given a very hard time which i think is quite bad for children to read).

I never got that impression from it. I've been making trips to Dundee for years with no trouble-behind Inverness it's one of my favourite places in Scotland.


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Depends how you define 'better'.

If it being 'ours' makes an independent currency 'better' then there is your answer :P

But how are any of those options better than the current situation?

Self determination

An economy more evenly spread (throughout Scotland) I hope rather than an economy based on the city of London

I feel being a smaller country would mean less intervention in foreign wars

That's three quick reasons which I think would be an advantage to Scotland

The Children's comic produced there - The Beano - does seem to go in for homophobia (walter the softie is given a very hard time which i think is quite bad for children to read).

Except it wouldn't be more evenly spread. Wealth is concentrated primarily in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow and Scotland's sparse geography means it will be hard to redress the balance regardless of government.


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Self determination

An economy more evenly spread (throughout Scotland) I hope rather than an economy based on the city of London

I feel being a smaller country would mean less intervention in foreign wars

That's three quick reasons which I think would be an advantage to Scotland