Now this group are jumping on the bandwagon. If this carries on, the whole world will have a thousand independent piddling little countries that can't manage themselves. High time to put a stop to the lot of it.

Yeah, maybe all the European countries could get together and form some sort of Union. What could go wrong?

These are complicated questions, and will require complicated answers. I think the long term answer will include layers of governments, with each layer covering different regions and different areas of concern. In Canada and Belgium and Switzerland (and probably others) local governments deal with local and cultural issues, but unite at a higher level for topics where the various regions have common interests. I think this is the way of the future, and it will be very much worked out little region by little region. It will be messy, but the alternatives (as seen in Iraq and Syria, for example) are even worse.

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Er, you mean something like County Councils for rural matters and Central Government for National interests? Welcome to the United Kingdom.

That is a good start. But what do you do when you have an issue (like Scottish nationalism) that covers more than one county, but doesn't concern the whole nation? Another layer of government may be the answer. (In Canada we call this layer provinces.) Similarly, what about issues that transcend the national interests, but may not be of global interest (like trade and immigration within Europe)? Another layer of government may be the answer.

Guy is correct, all these governments will be more or less effective depending on the involvement of the citizenry, and all will be subject to manipulation by "special interest groups". (You Brits invented those, and called the first one the Ruling Class.) Anything run by humans will be less than perfect. But still, I personally prefer a lot of mostly useless talking to car bombs.

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Starting to turn nasty?

"The agency cited an anonymous source in the office of Mr Cameron as the basis of its report."

"Any suggestion the UK government have asked President Putin to help win hearts and minds in the referendum is ­ridiculous."

"Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said, if the news agency's report was accurate, then: "Westminster has been caught red-handed trying to stir up hostility to Scotland instead of representing Scotland's interests"."

Somebody better tell fish-head that Westminster represents the UK's interest while he himself is out to weaken that interest with his independence chatter.

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If English government is structured somewhat like the United States then as I see it Scotland and Wales already have a degree of independence similar to states in the USA. Local matters are determined by local government while larger issues are regulated by first the state and finally the national government. If we were all perfect, honest, non violent citizens we wouldn't need government beyond the local level but we are not. Often we tend to take matter of local heritage too seriously and let it distract us from the larger issues.

If Scotland became an independent country would they close their borders with England? Would people still be able to travel freely throughout the island. If Scotland raised it's taxes would some or most of it's citizens travel into England to make their purchases or worse yet move to where the taxes are less.

But I don't live there and none of the issues have any direct impact on my life. My ancestors on my mother's side were from Scotland but that was a long time ago and does not have any influence on my viewpoint.

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Bob DeWoody

My motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow as it may not be required. This no longer applies in light of current events.

...
If Scotland became an independent country would they close their borders with England? Would people still be able to travel freely throughout the island. If Scotland raised it's taxes would some or most of it's citizens travel into England to make their purchases or worse yet move to where the taxes are less.
...

If Scotland has to apply for EU membership after a yes vote the the Scottish borders would have to be closed. Because any new member of the EU has to become a member of the Schengen Agreement, which the UK is not signed up to.

I don't really see where this Scottish independence is going.

They seem to assume membership of the EU and NATO will be automatic, and there seems to be some confusion about what currency they will use and what it will be tied to.

But even others outside the UK say Scotland will have to apply for EU membership which could take years, and the Schengen agreement on border controls, is mandatory for new members.

Their membership of NATO means they have to accept nuclear weapons but the Scottish Nationalist are absolutely opposed to this idea.

Businesses in Scotland have said they will have to review there position there if these problems are not solved.

We could end up with an independent Scotland, using the pound controlled from London. Outside the EU and not a member of NATO. With border controls, and with some businesses having moved out.

Plus there is the, as yet undecided, decision of the Northern Isles, who have most of the oil in their waters, of whether to stay with Scotland. Certainly from my own experience Shetland and Orkney are more Viking than Celt and prefer Westminster over Edinburgh.

The other point about Scotland becoming an independent member of the EU is that they will have to allow free university places to all EU countries including the rest of the UK.
How many English medical students will apply to Edinburgh if that happens?

We could end up with an independent Scotland, using the pound controlled from London.

The treasury has made clear that is unlikely.

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

We could end up with an independent Scotland, using the pound controlled from London.

The treasury has made clear that is unlikely.

The problem then is what are they going to use, because they probably will not get into the EU in the time frame between the referendum and Independence starting.

We could end up with an independent Scotland, using the pound controlled from London.

The treasury has made clear that is unlikely.

The problem then is what are they going to use, because they probably will not get into the EU in the time frame between the referendum and Independence starting.

Groats? Haggis? Irn Bru? Loads of options! :)

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.

It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the f*cking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY

Scene from Trainspotting

Divide and conquer, first the Scots, next would be the Welsh. Then what, Cornwall, North Umbria ? Let's take the U.K. back to where it was prior to the Roman invasion (i.e. Many warring minor kingdoms), thus it's influence as a world power is gone and Europe achieves something it hasn't been able to accomplish since 1066

T.A.

Apologies to the Goddess of Propriety.....

Wow; in the civilized world no one knows where the land of 007 is.

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Does tiny kangaroo show Portuguese got to Australia first?

An illustrated manuscript offered for sale in New York may support the theory that Portuguese explorers reached Australia ahead of the Dutch.

The processional, containing texts and music for use in worship, was copied in Portugal between 1580 and 1620, and contains an image of an animal that looks like a kangaroo or wallaby.

The first Dutch ship is believed to have reached Australia in 1606.

thus it's influence as a world power is gone and Europe achieves something it hasn't been able to accomplish since 1066

Excuse me? The first known landing in Australia by Europeans was by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606. We had been going as a worthwhile country for 600 years before we even knew your part of the world existed. Some of us are not sure that actually benefited us anyway. Never mind should Scotland go independent, a lot of us look forward to the day when you lot become a Republic. Sorry to keep you waiting.

And the point of this post is ??? It has nothing to do with my post at all. How do you link the discovery and colonisation of Australia with Scotland ?

For your edification. The quote above is from a film called "Trainspotting" (which was in the link provided). The plot of which revolves around the misadventures of a group of junkies living in Glasgow. ie. The line is spoken by a Scotsman living in Scotland......

I am sure a person as erudite as yourself would recognise the year 1066 as the year of the Norman invasion of Britain. ie. The last successful European invasion of the British Isles.

Now that you have all the facts, you can now reread my post and formulate a reply that is pertinent to both the post and the subject of the thread.

T.A.

....a lot of us look forward to the day when you lot become a Republic....

You would be interested to know that the majority of Australians are in favour of retaining the monarchy. We see a big advantage in having an apolitical, titular head of state.

In the main, the only people in favour of a republic are burnt out politicians who see themselves as possible future presidents, none of whom the electorate at large would vote for as a dog catcher.

We also look at the brou-ha-ha the US goes through with its presidential campaigns, where the campaign for the next election seems to start with the inauguration of the incumbent and think, Nah, No-way, Never. The average 10 week campaign we have for most elections is already too long.

So, Me Old Pommy Mate, looks like your stuck with us for a while yet :P

T.A.

So, Me Old Pommy Mate, looks like your stuck with us for a while yet :P

Certainly does! Wouldn't be so bad if you'd stop beating us at cricket :-) But of course the worlds press seem to portray you guys as champing at the bit for full independence, but then again who owns half of it? Yup!

Now Chris you should know that if we didn't beat ya's at cricket we would never of had the "Ashes Test Series" to start with (don't we just love our friendly rivalry?) and by now you really should be aware of "media beat up" just so they can sell news (whether it's correct or not doesn't matter to them so long as they make a buck or 2). ;-)

Cheers.

You tell 'em Mark, dozy jocks want their bread buttered both sides it seems......

Scots currency plan may lead to power loss

Will they get their revenge by switching off the lights? :)

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You tell 'em Mark, dozy jocks want their bread buttered both sides it seems......

Scots currency plan may lead to power loss

Will they get their revenge by switching off the lights? :)

I liked the quote on the right hand side by Robert Preston

So whether he intended to do so or not, Governor Carney has just lobbed a very large stink bomb into the centre of Edinburgh

.

Out of the mouth of babes.....

""My surname goes back to the West Highlands and by the way, I am as proud of my Scottish heritage as I am of my English heritage".

"The name Cameron might mean 'crooked nose""

...and that ain't all that's crooked!

Seven months to save UK

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Personally, I wish Cameron would go head to head with Salmond. What has he got to lose? Judging by the way that he sees off pipsqueak Millipede every at every weeks PMQ, that little Scottish upstart has got no chance. One of the most famous products of Scotland is their well known Salmon, but add a D on the end and you have tainted goods past their sell by date.

That would be good. He may be a little smug at times but he's a canny debater.

How long before Salmond cracks and picks up his claymore bellowing "ye cn taeke ar lyves bt ye'll n'vr taeke ar freedom!"

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Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.