Independence.

[H8OAG]

Noted Robin.

I think we should just follow the Offshore Banking Model and wait for the dirty money to come flooding in!

On another note, declaring an intent to stay in the EU after independence will surely lose votes in this current anti - EU climate?

[robin]

True - I believe there are some Russians looking to move some money out of Cyprus to somewhere it won't be in the public eye

Scotland could offer a Luxembourg/Ireland style haven for Google et al to come pay 5% corporation tax on euro profits. That would be nice (for us).

If I were campaigning I think I would say that Scotland will remain in the EU for so long as that's the right thing to do. Right now it makes sense to be in the EU economic zone - it makes sense to allow freedom of movement for people wanting to work - as benefit regulation goes, it isn't too hard to avoid a lot of benefit tourism, and we're not in the Euro - so actually quite a good deal - even better deal if you can turn a blind eye to all their crackpot rules and regulations and just get on with doing business - they can always kick us out if they don't like it

Cheers,
Robin

[PhilA]

alot of the issues are due to the fact we are Great Britain.
We are not Scotland and England (and Wales and NI) in some agreed contract.

It will take alot of discussion AFTER the independence vote for things to clear up.

IMHO, the Yes/No can only really be based on what idealogy you choose to follow - better together, or have the balls to go it alone (aka choice).

Me? I am Scottish and British.
I think devolution should progress further, with proper books put in place - that allows the "balls" approach yet also common Team GB effect.

As for if we went independent, what about military?
Scots seem to be well thought of in the SAS?
We should concentrate on special forces.
Norway has specialisms including those fancy missile boats to get in and about their fjords.
However, I would only vote for Independence if it was to be an ideal Green land, with <10,000 forces; no more policians; no nuclear fuel/weapons; no Trump towers; no Mr Bond (tax avoiding ass); reforestation; etc...

[robin]

It's like the SNP read our forum. This morning on the Scottish news we're told that the SNP "sees no reason why the deposit guarantee scheme shouldn't continue" - not clear whether they mean "and backed by Scottish tax payer" or "and backed by whoever backs it now" . Why can they not just put a stake in the ground on issues like this?

Whether or not you want the vote to be idealogical, a lot of people will be looking for financial stability and sustainability post independence, otherwise they won't be able to vote in favour no matter what they believe to be right. Even in if there is a relatively short period of instability in regulation of the country's financial services, that will create a huge opportunity for the less scrupulous to exploit that position - it's why we have regulation of the financial services industry - and even then there are many many crooks!

Cheers,
Robin

[j2 lot]

The financial aspect is always going to be the main stumbling block. In the unlikely event that the 'Yes' vote wins, the politicians in England are going to get the best dealt they can for themselves by passing as much debt on to us as they possibly can. Then Alex and his cronies are going to spend the rest of their political careers blaming England for saddling us with debt that they didn't expect that spoilt the independence dream

[rossybee]

My big concern is too many will vote with their hearts, a bit of the "FREEDOM!!!" Vote, which will be made worse by the fact 16yrs are getting their say

A bit like this perhaps

Watch on YouTube

[Mikie711]

Just had a read through this.. Be interesting to get others take on it.

[j2 lot]

Lost the will to live after 13 psges

[Dark]

Then Alex and his cronies are going to spend the rest of their political careers blaming England for saddling us with debt that they didn't expect that spoilt the independence dream

Wasn't it Scottish debt that lost them independence in the first place???

[BiggestNizzy]

Then Alex and his cronies are going to spend the rest of their political careers blaming England for saddling us with debt that they didn't expect that spoilt the independence dream

Wasn't it Scottish debt that lost them independence in the first place???

If I remember correctly a Scottish colony was destroyed leaving the political classes out of pocket and England agreed to cover it. The bit I have never got is if we are such a drain why would they want to keep us ?

[Kelvin]

When did 16 year olds get the vote? I've missed that! How very cynical. All they need to do now is introduce voting by SMS or BBM and the NATs are in.

The issue for me is that the only way to know if independence will work is to try it and then after 30 years or so you might be able to start to answer the question. The chances of getting the honest truth from either side is remote making it very tough to make a decision based on the arguments particularly given that Scotland won't really know what independence will look like until well after the vote. i.e. most of the negotiation between the Scottish Parliament and Westminster will happen afterwards. You might not like the outcome of that but it will be too late. It's a bit like getting divorced first then negotiating the settlement. Maybe there should be two votes. One on the principle and then a final are ye sure yer sure vote once you know what you're getting into. (:

I think for many, it will ultimately be a vote with the heart.

[Kelvin]

Then Alex and his cronies are going to spend the rest of their political careers blaming England for saddling us with debt that they didn't expect that spoilt the independence dream

Wasn't it Scottish debt that lost them independence in the first place???

If I remember correctly a Scottish colony was destroyed leaving the political classes out of pocket and England agreed to cover it. The bit I have never got is if we are such a drain why would they want to keep us ?

Influence (however meagre it might be now) will be reduced if it's no longer a United Kingdom.

If the English were given the vote Scotland would be independent before you could say Oh ye'll tak the high road and ah'll tak the low road...

[Titanium S1 111S (gla)]

I think for many, it will ultimately be a vote with the heart.

I suspect that you are correct, but would say that a vote with the heart rather than the head on such a critical issue is nothing short of stupid.

I offer the following analogy in support of my fairly extreme view.

If you had a good job, not brilliantly paid but comfortable, reasonable healthcare arrangements, reasonable pension arrangements etc, not the most interesting but adequately so and above all secure, would you give it up because you were offered a new job as an “independent”? What is an independent you would probably ask? Along with what will I be doing? What will I be paid? How secure will it be? The answer comes back that they don’t / can’t really know the answer any of your questions with certainty until quite a while after you will have given up your exsisting job but that it will be brilliant and that you can tell all of your friends that you are an “independent”.

So would you take the job and gamble your livelihood and that of your family on a new job title?

[robin]

That's a fair summary of my career to date ... so yes I would, it appears!

[j2 lot]

'stuff'

An excellent analogy

[If the English were given the vote Scotland would be independent before you could say Oh ye'll tak the high road and ah'll tak the low road...

I think the general sentiment is apathy and 'if you think you'll be better off go for it, its no skin off our nose'

If it happens England will carry on as before, and it is perceived, rightly or wrongly, I don't know, there will be no change for them.