Scottish Independence (the sequel)

I read part of it in relation to the fiscal union and it breaks down to the fact that if Scotland and the remainder of the UK can't agree on currency matters and division of assets etc. that Scotland will simply default on it's debts (calculated different ways is said to be between 56 and 92 Billion pounds) on day one of independence and start off life bankrupt.

'Great plan B Salmond!'.

That sound like a great plan if Scotland wants to immediately be a non-creditable country (the lowest possible) that even the imf emergency fund won't lend to and let her for ever more be known as the country that was 'born in default'.

If your thinking of voting 'Yes' take a look at the list of countries who are on the unrated list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cou...#Not_rated) and ponder as to whether or not you want your new nation to stand alongside the trustworthyness of the likes of North Korea, Syria, Iraq, Iran or Libya, to name but a few.

(27-11-2013 08:22 )dizzy_davidh Wrote:  I read part of it in relation to the fiscal union and it breaks down to the fact that if Scotland and the remainder of the UK can't agree on currency matters and division of assets etc. that Scotland will simply default on it's debts (calculated different ways is said to be between 56 and 92 Billion pounds) on day one of independence and start off life bankrupt.

According to Eck and Swinney we'd be entitled to a share in the UK's assets as described in 2001/2007's asset reports, as we had contributed to the country's taxes for so long. I've seen this figure quoted as apprx £119 billion, although how that translates to transferable assets I have no bloody clue!

There's still too many questions unanswered, too many opinions which differ wildly and that just leaves the country in a state of confusion. I know I'm simplifying matters, but surely it's not difficult to ask questions and get definitive answers?

NATO? In, out, or re-apply?
If 'in', is it conditional upon retaining Trident?

EU? In, out, or re-apply?
If 'in,' will we also be given a YES/NO referendum?

Currency?
Cameron says 'Fuck off' to using GBP sterling, so what next?

Share of UK assets?
How much and how is the value attributed to Scotland?

Debt?
What's our share of current deficit its affect on independence?

Tax?
Will it remain the same or will we need to pay more?

If these can be answered categorically, definitively and without hyperbole, then we can talk seriously about independence. Right now it just seems like Salmond's wet dream! Anyone who says no is accused of scaremongering, but I'm not hearing anything concrete from the Nats!!

Thank you very much for my nomination in
Best Cap or Cap Set Of The Year 2013
for Dannii Harwood Posts 781 & 782

someone made a good point yesterday about being abroad and the foriegn office would scottish embassys start popping up all over the world or would they rely on the UK to rescue them out in a crisis

Interesting that there are numerous comedic posts about claymores, cutting them loose, etc. There seems to be a general feeling of contempt from some, who don't see Scotland as a contributor to the UK and regard it as a financial burden of some kind. Let's look Scotland's place in the UK from a fiscal perspective:

* Public Finance Summary: Scotland and UK 2011-12
Public Spending
Scotland: £64.5 billion (42.7% of UK GDP)
UK: £693.6 billion (45.5% of UK GDP)
LESS PUBLIC SECTOR SPENDING ON SCOTLAND

Tax Receipts
Scotland: £56.9 (%GDP 37.7)
UK: £572.6 (%GDP 37.5%)
MORE TAX PAID BY SCOTLAND

'Total Scottish tax receipts in 2011-12 were equivalent to £10,700 per person. This compares to a figure of £9,000 per person in the UK as a whole. On a per capita basis, total tax receipts in Scotland have been higher than in the UK in each of the past five years.'

Please don't assume that because we are a small country and part of a larger nation, that Westminster is somehow propping up our economy at the expense of English tax payers. It is in fact, the exact opposite and I'm getting really bored hearing this crap every time I come here or elsewhere when an independence debate starts.

We don't hate you as much as you'd like to think we do. I imagine it's easier to make stupid comments such as I've seen, when you convince yourself that the hatred which once existed still exists. We might not support your football teams in Europe or the World Cup, but we do fight along side you in wars against evil regimes and terrorists. I'd like to think that's a bit more important than 90 minutes on a football pitch.

By the way, I am a NO voter!

* Full data is available via the link below which takes you to a PDF on the Scottish Government website. PLEASE NOTE, it is not an SNP or YES CAMPAIGN website!
SOURCE

Thank you very much for my nomination in
Best Cap or Cap Set Of The Year 2013
for Dannii Harwood Posts 781 & 782

(30-11-2013 23:28 )Shady Wrote:  We don't hate you as much as you'd like to think we do.

Back at you, babe

However, Moses Salmond seems to act as though we're secretly hiding this side of Hadrian's Wall, ready to pillage your stuff when your backs are turned

And a lot of you keep voting for the raving nutcase

This makes sensible discussion difficult

(01-12-2013 08:11 )Doddle Wrote:  However, Moses Salmond seems to act as though we're secretly hiding this side of Hadrian's Wall, ready to pillage your stuff when your backs are turned

I'm not an advocate of 'Wee Eck' and never have been as you can see from my previous posts. My comments weren't actually about the independence vote per se, but more abut how we are perceived south of the border. We are, in every sense your equals, not some poor relation to be dismissed as a burden.

(01-12-2013 08:11 )Doddle Wrote:  And a lot of you keep voting for the raving nutcase

A bit like the raving nutcase a lot of you voted for

(01-12-2013 08:11 )Doddle Wrote:  This makes sensible discussion difficult

We've noticed, but we'll bear with you

Thank you very much for my nomination in
Best Cap or Cap Set Of The Year 2013
for Dannii Harwood Posts 781 & 782

The problem in general with Scotland paying her way in the UK as it stands is that in many ways Scots cost the union more per head than citizens of the other member nations.

As far as public expenditure goes (2011/2012), English citizens cost £10,900 where as Scots cost £12,100 so any excess that Scotland had left from what it would otherwise pay into the UK's treasury would I've no doubt be very quickly swallowed up in all the re-balancing that would have to go on in an independent Scotland. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24866266.

On a losely related note, did you see/hear N.Sturgeon on the national news praising the efforts of the National emergency services in relation to the helicopter crash? When it came to and the local news report to the same report on the local news 2 minutes later she was praising the 'Scottish emergency services', having put her nationalist numpty hat back on. Both her and AS are such massive two-faced suck-ups!

(28-11-2013 20:00 )HannahsPet Wrote:  someone made a good point yesterday about being abroad and the foriegn office would scottish embassys start popping up all over the world or would they rely on the UK to rescue them out in a crisis

Ireland doesn't rely on the UK, so why would Scotland? Ireland has 55 foreign embassies, with a smaller population than Scotland.

I am not even interested in the debate anymore. If they vote yes I would make it happen asap!

(01-12-2013 11:52 )Scots Napoleon Wrote:  

(28-11-2013 20:00 )HannahsPet Wrote:  someone made a good point yesterday about being abroad and the foriegn office would scottish embassys start popping up all over the world or would they rely on the UK to rescue them out in a crisis

Ireland doesn't rely on the UK, so why would Scotland? Ireland has 55 foreign embassies, with a smaller population than Scotland.

thats where your wrong Ireland has a deal with the UK called Common Travel area so that any irish national can access all of UK services including the FO and we have a reciprocal deal where Uk citizens can do the same. In fact would be as easy for me to move amd live in ireland as it would be to move to scotland now this is on top of the EU rights they have so guessing any scottish goverment would do the same