Salmond "We can take Scotland in two weeks"

[DodgyAgent]

I'll give you Iceland has the resources but they aren't already EU citizens. You can't seriously think Albania and Turkey should get in ahead of Scotland?

Turkey certainly http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/op...rkey.html?_r=0

[mudskipper]

I'm a firm believe of making mistakes. "I've learnt so much from my mistakes I'm thinking of making a few more" as the saying goes.

Yes problems will exist, but I don't think an indy Scotland will invade other countries illegally, or consider it reasonable to engage mass surveillance of it's population. And of course you'll have politicians taking advantage of the system, but hopefully fewer of them.

Regardless of the outcome Scotland is certain to gain more powers. Even the Tory's have utter devolving control of income tax, which a few years ago they said not a chance in hell.

So you believe that the Scots (and Scottish politicians) are inherently 'better people' than their English counterparts?

:nazi:

[scooterscot]

So you believe that the Scots (and Scottish politicians) are inherently 'better people' than their English counterparts?

:nazi:

Where did I say that nonsense?

[mudskipper]

Where did I say that nonsense?

They won't do nasty stuff and are less likely to take advantage of the system.

What makes you think that is so? Genuine question - what makes you thing the power-crazed in Scotland will be different to the power-crazed in the rest of the UK?

[minestrone]

You produce a document of more than 670 pages long when you go on a stag night?

That white paper is so full of tulipe it means nothing. Scotland is going to go down to 3,500 people in the regular army? Fook that it there is ever civil disorder.

[SueEllen]

They won't do nasty stuff and are less likely to take advantage of the system.

What makes you think that is so? Genuine question - what makes you thing the power-crazed in Scotland will be different to the power-crazed in the rest of the UK?

Or to put it more bluntly how do you think Salmond differs from leaders of other UK political parties?

[scooterscot]

What makes you think that is so? Genuine question - what makes you thing the power-crazed in Scotland will be different to the power-crazed in the rest of the UK?

Because if the people of Scotland wanted to we could vote for a government that does what the majority of the country wants. And that is something centre left. Already it's clear since devolution the Scottish parliament has done much for people residing in the country. Most important of all it'll be a small country. Small is sexy and less likely to be involved with conflict.

[SueEllen]

That collaboration can still exist. It's nonsense to suggest otherwise.

It can still exist but in the post devolution world where organisations are working out where to give funding and what laws/regulations apply to Scotland, why bother giving it to Scotland when you can give it to other places in the UK?

The funding in the UK to science as a proportion to GDP is abysmal @ 1.7%

UK science spending to remain 'flat'


And the issue is more complex than many would think. The introduction to tuition fees has been far more destructive to science and engineering in England. Professor Cox discussing an alarming statistic the other day, of the few who did choose to study a science based degree, having taken on the debt of tuition fees, moved abroad. The debt hanging round their neck no longer applies.

We're sending our brightest and best away on a considerable scale all in the name of business. Very sad.

People were moving abroad long before tuition fees. The pay and prospects in UK academia are poor. Even in the companies that are allied to research you get far better pay abroad.

[DodgyAgent]

They won't do nasty stuff and are less likely to take advantage of the system.

What makes you think that is so? Genuine question - what makes you thing the power-crazed in Scotland will be different to the power-crazed in the rest of the UK?

To be fair the lines of accountability will be much shorter and the politicians will not be able to hide their own incompetencies and corruption behind the shield of Westminster (though they will no doubt try to blame any problems on the English)

[scooterscot]

We've got a socialist nirvana down here, boyo, it's absolutely less than average.

Run by oiks whose prime ambition should be to run a cockle stall in Swansea market.

Except they haven't the talent or the ambition.

Fortunately none of them appear as outwardly Stalinist as the scots clown.

Reading that reminds me of my time in Cardiff. I couldn't understand a word. I heard it was English but somehow it was out of phase. Uncontrollable giggles at the policeman did not go down well.

Shut that door open on the way out boyo.