Should Scotland have its independence?

Question

In an age of globaisation, does it really matter to try and salvage an identity as we all grow towards a glodal village? As far as I know the people of Britain are so alike compared to elsewhere it just seems unnecessary to go for independence.
I understand that the rule of Scotland could also be seemed as oppressive in the past, but is that still the case, is it that personal that Scotts dislike the English rule so much, or is it more a case of Scotland wanting to have the own politics and policies.
In my experience people whether English or Scottish are always going to be the same, identity doesnt really matter to me anymore, I just wonder if this is the case? Do you agree?

Ps I dont want to cause any offence to Scottish people here, I am just confused about the issue?

Answer 1

Well, in that case Jack Regan, all the English living in Scotland can get out as well, there are more of them than us down there, and you wonder why Scotland wants it's independance. WE feel oppressed under English rule, we want our own laws, we want the English government to leave our oil alone and stop robbing us blind, we are fed up being ginea pigs for every new law that comes out, we are unfairly treated and under our own Scottish rule, only then will we feel liberated.

Answer 2

I don't think it is down to globalisation at all. Globalisation is down to communications. There have been more states created since the second world war than in any other time in recent history.
It isn't down to hate either (well not from the Scots) A large number of English in Scotland want independence too. Self determination is the right of every nation.
As for the English posts here. You lot moan about scots ruling England - for what 10 years. We've had 300 years of English rule. Who are the whingers now? Us Scots will make a go of it and let you lot rot in the hell you've made of your own country. Remember who has the water, oil, gas and electricity.....and the whisky HaHA.

Answer 3

Scotland would prosper in independence. A lot of myths have been covered in these replies covering oil, water, Scots voting on English matters, Scotland in Europe etc. Some are partially true and some are far from it. Maybe if people done research before accepting myths as facts a lot of tension would be lifted in Britain.

If independence was achieved Scotland would not fall into massive debt or lose all control of a stable government. People think that Scotland leeches off of England. This is not true. One - if it were leeching it would be from the British government as a whole not England. Two - it was found that Scotland infact provides considerable income for the Kingdom. Much more than it requires (or is given).

Some think Scotland would be too poor to survive as an independent country even with money generated from oil, water and tourism but this is not the case. It's income is much more than people expect.

It was first revealed by Gavin McCrone, the government’s own top economist, at the start of the North Sea oil boom. He showed how an independent Scotland would thrive as an oil-rich nation. And so his report was suppressed by successive Labour and Tory governments until it was uncovered under freedom of information laws in 2006. In the interim Scotland sent more than £125 billion to the British Treasury in London in oil revenues – and almost all of it stayed there, bankrolling such adventures as the Iraq war and Clyde-based nuclear weapons which are an affront to popular Scottish opinion. But oil is just part of the argument. Even without oil, an independent Scotland would thrive, just like most small nations inside or outside the European Union.

Onto water which is fast becoming a good income for Scotland. After independence Scotland could within their rights charge England for water they provide every year down south.

Contrary to popular belief the currency in Scotland would not have to change. It has the right to retain the Pound Sterling (considering it was created by a Scot among other reasons) or create a new currency. Even Europe has indicated that it would welcome Scotland as the latest nation to convert to the Euro if it wanted. This would likely not be the case as nearly all Scots wish to stay with the Pound as was found the last time a poll was run throughout Britain on joining the Euro. It could even be said it's because of the Scots the Euro hasn't appeared in Britain yet as this may encourage them to look for independence. Maybe after the split of the Union England would join the Euro.

A split would possibly cause concern in the military. Currently over 50% of the British military is Scottish. Upon Independence a lot of this military may not be required and could result in job losses. For England the military would be much lower than required to protect its country population wise.

Energy wise Scotland provides more than enough electricity to support is population. Even renewable energy could currently provide enough for half of the population. That's not including the plans for renewable energy in the near future.

Scotlands population at the moment is the perfect size for a young independent country. Back in the 1800's England and Wales together had a population of 6 million and by 1900 it had grown to 33 million. This number is highly unlikely to be reached for Scotland due to its geography but it certainly has the means and space to grow without overcrowding or even ruining the landscape. Scotland's population is evenly distributed except below the age of 4 and above 75. This may not look good health wise and for the future but it means initially more money could be saved on the elderly and on youth until population would begin to grow that is.

Scotlands education system is already separate from the rest of Britain and is seen as one of the best in the world. It's even older than most of the other systems around the world. Education is the key to the future so this would be very important if Scotland were to split.

I hope of covered all the main worries over Scottish Independence from Great Britain. Great Britain would still stand after Scotland leaves but would this spark Wales to split aswell? If I missed anything important please tell me.

In relation to whats been said about English - Scots rivalries. They've always been around. Both sides have their reasons for hating each other. With Scotland being the smaller country it is always seen as the under dog and everyone knows that people cheer for the under dog. They always will. The recent tensions with the Scottish Parliament's elections coming up and a chance that a split of The Union could occur. The chance is quite small but it's still there. So who knows if rivalries will be better within or without Great Britain... Nowadays a lot of the Scottish population is made up of English, people from Middle Eastern nations and Eastern European countries and other minorities which actually add up to a majority over the Scots. Is this bad for the heritage? Will his be the one thing that stops Scotland voting for independence? Or does this give Scotland an even better reason to strive for independence as a large collection of several differing cultures. This new country would not be the Scotland we once knew it would be a new born nation full of older principles and heritage... time will tell.

Answer 4

Yes. I'm Scottish & want to be free of all the sort of Xenophobic type comments i've been reading here from English people pissed off that they don't have their own parliament. Instead of putting Scots down, you should get off your butts & do something about it to obtain your own parliament. End of.

Twats like blink_rul don't help matters much though. I've a feeling this troll isn't Scottish.

Answer 5

It skill freedom from English Thatcherism that has dragged Scotland, against the will of the Scottish human beings, down the yank highway to hell and into the criminals' highway industry that those grime have grew to become the so-called uk into at present. So, bugger what the English think of. we wish not extra English politics of yank beginning and much less English so-called economics of yank beginning. And we will welcome English and Welsh and Irish socialists who prefer to come again and help us build a rustic in good shape for its human beings, not in basic terms its wealthy parasites, to stay in as quickly as returned. Alba gu bragh, and carry the scarlet prevalent intense!

Answer 6

Hi There!

Im English and for me i really dont care :)

I think the Scottish should decide what they want for their country ie a vote - im not very knowledgeable on this subject either lol sorry.

Answer 7

Maybe it's not whether Scotland should have its independence but whether they can afford to be independent. At the moment Scotland as a country generates less money than it receives as part of the UK.

Answer 8

If Scotland and Wales want their independance, fine but they should give up everything English - the subsidies and even the language. Let's see how they do trading in gaelic.

Answer 9

im english and yes they should we have moved on why should it be english governed scotland its every countrys right to be free

Answer 10

If the people of scotland want it, they should ask for it. but I don't think the rest of the UK is going to like it. Doesn't Scotland provide ALOT of tax revenue from whiskey and something else?