is it time we broke up the united kingdom?

Question

given that scotland under the S.N.P. is gently nudging its self toward independance theres been a huge amount of controversy regarding whether or not we should split from the uk and become a seperate nation again

oh flower of scotland... (sorry but that was necessary)

whats your thoughts

im particularily interested on hearing from those in america and other western countries

Answer 1

I'm Australian, and I think Britain should actually learn from the experiment it started right here in Oz.

I think they should federate Britain and move to a proper constitutional monarchy. At a national level change the house of Lords to be a proper senate following the Australian Model in all but name. Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Island (if its still part of britain then) should have equal number of members each in the Lords, so that no part of the country can make laws detrimental to other parts interests. Not sure how the house of commons is now, but it should have proportional representation across the nation.

The national Parliament should only deal with national issues much like the Australian and Canadian Federal Parliaments do. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should all have their own bicameral parliaments to deal with issues within their own borders - basically to take on the role of state governments with in each of their zones of control. Note that in the Australian system counties and shires answer only to the the state parliament. The feds have no control there. The Scottish parliament should take on everything to do with scotland as a region - education, hospitals, roads, the lot. The British federal parliament would control national Health, National Pensions, foreign affairs, the military, anything on a national scale. They can make grants to the "state governments" for specific infrastructure projects as they see fit.

Keep the queen if you want (or not - it doesnt really matter).

The aussie system by the way used a mix of the best of westminster and the best of the American system without the power issues of a president. Its that or everyone go their separate ways - least until the United states of europe .. er European Union takes over all of you and makes the idea of a sovereign british state redundant anyhow/

postscript:

In the Australian system, Counties and Shires have their own local government councils where all the members are voted in during local elections held every few years (usually all councils do their elections across the state at the same time). It is just a local version of the state and federal system.

Answer 2

Why stop there?

Why not break up the country into pieces on the county level?

I can see the need for localized government. Scotland is a long way from the palace of Westminster. Local people should be running and coordinating local matters. But what would an independent Scotland get you? So you have a population about the same as Denmark and probably slightly less resources.

Local interests should have local representation, yes. But I would say that you should be looking the other way, and trying to get the European Parliament into a workable form, that than the huge white elephant/gravy train that it is now.

Answer 3

Most Americans don't even know Scotland is in the UK.

Answer 4

... I was sure Scotland was a made up place along with Canada and Timbuck Too

Answer 5

Whatever trips your trigger man !

The above is not true, people here are not stupid