Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007 How can a country so small cope on its own with a government that barely copes on its own.
I hardly think that's fair. The Government itself would be far more different if Scotland were independent. Everyone who 'thinks the Scottish Exec is a joke' would find themselves with a new dilemma: The Scottish Exec wouldn't exist, it'd actually be
the Government of their nation. Sure, some of the talent might flee to England, but I'd similarly expect some of the talent that's embedded in Wesminster to return to Holyrood.
For instance: Alex Salmond, like it or not, is a fairly competent politician- he certainly looks set to win the election.
But he hasn't been a member of the Scottish Parliment before this election, so many would regard Salmond himself as being more competent than many of the candidates we've seen bandied around as potential 'Politicians' in Scotland.
Similarly I think there'd be a fair few more hidden gems like that that would if you'll excuse the mixing of metaphors, crawl out of the woodwork. That is: The devolved government we have just now (IMO) isn't displaying the full talent that is actually available to an independent Scottish Government.
Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007 Fair enough, maybe we could eventually - but I think it would take a very long time to do so, and do so well.
That is quite a valid concern. Indeed: There isn't a guaruntee that it
won't go horribly wrong. I mean, an Independent Scotland could and, IMO,
should work (given X amount of time), but it might also go utterly balls up
if the wrong decisions are made.
But that can be said for any country, indeed: GB itself stands at that risk. Some may say it is already loosing that risk! Note: That wasn't supposed to be a loaded comment, some people will say that. Others won't.
Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007What about all the trade in Scotland that is basically controlled by England.
What about all the trade in Britain that is basically controlled from abroad? I see no problem with that. So long as an Independent Scotland offered a viable backdrop for business, there's no particularly obvious (to me) reason that English business wouldn't invest (or maintain investment) in said Scotland.
Of course: There is argument that Scotland
cannot or will not be a viable place in that regard, but frankly I'm not convinced. (Though in fairness, I'm not exactly overwhelmed by convincement for the alternative either: In the Independence matter I am sortof sitting on the fence)
Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007 For example, the MOD nuclear base on the west coast. Do you think the hundreds of thousands of people that work there would still have their jobs if we became independent?
Well, I'm not sure it is hundreds of thousands, but essentially:
I don't see why not.
Provided that Scotland isn't a rampaging Anti England country on England's backdoor, they've nothing to worry about. It's still the same people afterall! I can easily see an Independent Scotland having fairly excellent relations with England/the rest of the GB/etc. I mean: Why wouldn't it?
Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007 There is no way that England would keep the nuclear base in Scotland if we were to "break away".
But that's the crux of it: I don't see why they'd
need to move. Providing an Independent Scotland was still (or rather: more than it has been) a well run and attractive country then I don't see why it wouldn't get better.
Quoting theflirt from 23:01, 11th Apr 2007Maybe I am looking at this in completely the wrong perspective - but I think we are better as a Great Britain.
Perhaps. It's certainly a thought that has passed my own mind: What if it all goes wrong, for instance? How would the militaries work? Would Scotland and England still get to be best pals? Would it
really be viewed as a divorce?
Personally, if it does happen (and again I should reiterate I'm still not one way or the other on the matter), I don't see why it'd have to happen on 'bad terms'. I don't see why it could be good for all of Britain to spit up. Once we're all running ourselves, Scotland'd be in a position to chime in with "Actually, we agree with England's siding on America this time!", but similarly, like Ireland, it'd be in a position to act as both a 'united front', and a front that is allowed to disagree.
There's plenty of scope for discussion and consideration on the matter. As it stands currently, I'm unable to see any succesful arguments for the 'Keep things as they are [or abolish devolution]' side of the debate. None of them have convinced me that they hold merit. For instance, I don't see (in a relatively clear or vague) manner why "We're stronger as Britain!" would be better "Than with four/five voices we could agree and disagree as we like"
Certainly, as a purely qualitative and subjective view of it: If we all disagreed- there's nothing wrong there. We'd've disagreed anyway, but some would've been forced to go along with it. But if we all agreed? That'd be an impressive show of solidarity.
But that is something, IMO, I think the Britain as it stands lacks: It is assumed we all agree on policy (in a very general manner of speaking), indeed it is assumed that there aren't those who see themselves as a distinct element! But if, say, we were a distinct element, we could still do things together afterall: We share the same islands!
Apologies for the somewhat rambling nature of that response. I simply don't feel that it is 'justified' (in a loose manner of speaking) to adopt the opinion of 'it won't work'. I'm not trying to say the opinion is
wrong, just that I can't see very many convincing arguments that support it.
That in turn makes me wonder if:
- There just aren't very many convincing arguments
- I simply haven't seen them
- I'm being pig-headed, stubborn, ignorant and/or idiotic about the matter
- something I haven't considered.
Then again, I have faith that The Sinner will help me find my feet in this regard! Nothing like a hung vote inside your own head, politically speaking!
[hr]
"There is only ever one truth. Things are always black or white, there's no such thing as a shade of grey. If you think that something is a shade of grey it simply means that you don't fully understand the situation. The truth is narrow and the path of the pursuit of truth is similarly narrow."
