Should Scotland be an independent country?

[Ticktock]

It's not a popularity contest.

Many living in Scotland will have utter contempt for such statements. When equality in the union becomes increasingly divided people will vote for change. It's a crass state of affairs and Scotland's society is looking at pulling away from being part of such inequality.

Since you're constantly boring us with tales of how Scotland is doing better than the rest of the UK, I presume the inequality you're talking about is that the Scottish don't want to support those less well off than themselves?

I thought the plans were for a more left wing country, not a capitalist, everyone for himself nation?

[scooterscot]

Clairvoyant?

There will be more work during the transition - Obvious.

Its a pity - Personal opinion I quite like having the Scots as part of the UK.

Personally I like Scotland being part of the UK. However I don't like what the UK has become in the eyes of the world. There was a day you could hold your head up high and say I'm British. It meant something.

[scooterscot]

That's because there are too many Scots in England, pushing up the rate of unemployment here

Well that happens when one can't find the skills in their own country.

Question is what happens to England if those skills leave?

[Ticktock]

Well that happens when one can't find the skills in their own country.

Question is what happens to England if those skills leave?

The doorways in town centres become less piss-ridden? Cardboard boxes aren't seen so often in alleyways?

[scooterscot]

1. The demise of UK manufacturing is much exaggerated. here are some figures aimed at job-seekers
Overview of the engineering and manufacturing sector in the UK | Prospects.ac.uk

Businesses are looking to become increasingly more efficient. Their just not recruiting the numbers at pre-recession levels.

We're not being inventive as we once used to be. Too much dependence on technologies of the past. Crippling out ability to be competitive is our reliance on attitudes "well we've done it this way before for 50 years why change it"

On top of that we're experiencing a brain drain. Top graduates are leaving in droves. Speaks volumes for those that don't or can't, eh SAS?

2. Britain's exports are about 1/3 those of Germany's by value. So could do better.

Yes, but to the rest of the world? I don't think so. In fact our exports to the rest of the world have just taken a big hit.

3. In all Western economies, including Germany, manufacturing as a share of GDP has been declining steadily over the years (UK: about 12%, Germany about 25%). This trend seems set to continue.

More smoke and mirrors from Mr spin. What has any of this got to do with creating a more fairer society in Scotland?

Explain how manufacturing companies producing high value high quality goods are seeing demand increase from one year to the next? Throughout the recession.

4. The Services esctor is the largest in all Western economies including Germany.

Well people need to eat. And if more keep coming more will need to eat.

5. UK is about the 6th largest exporter in the world.

Your reputation for false facts remains intact. All the money on a public education..


Rank Country Exports Date of
information
— World $17,779,000,000,000[2] 2011 est.
— European Union (minus internal trade) $ 2,170,000,000,000[3] 2011 est.
1 China $ 2,057,000,000,000 2012 est.
2 United States $ 1,564,000,000,000 2012 est.
3 Germany $ 1,460,000,000,000 2012 est.
4 Japan $ 773,900,000,000 2012 est.
5 France $ 567,100,000,000 2012 est.
6 South Korea $ 552,600,000,000 2012 est.
7 Netherlands $ 538,500,000,000 2012 est.
8 Russia $ 529,600,000,000 2012 est.
9 Italy $ 478,900,000,000 2012 est.
10 United Kingdom $ 474,600,000,000 2012 est.

List of countries by exports - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

6. UK exports per capita are larger than Japan.

And that's a UK without a plethora of natural disasters.

7. Germany is obviously one of the more successful countries at exporting, but the spiralling cost of its energy due to the new policy of exclusively wind/solar energy by 2050 is increasingly a problem. Germany energy costs are now 30% above the European norm.

My last quarterly electrical bill was €310 euro. What was yours?

8. Meanwhile the cost of energy in the US is falling due to fracking.

Whilst the cost to the environment is increasing & tap water catches fire.

9. 3-D printing will probably impact manufacturing in a significant way

Can't wait to drive my 3-D printed car!

[hyperD]

Whilst the cost to the environment is increasing & tap water catches fire.

Another Gasland video myth.

[amcdonald]

It seems self inflicted too. Flying into London on the rare occasion I honestly don't recognise the country. The accents, the languages, the sense of Britishness is only to be found in remote pockets these days.

All part of the plan from our EU loving establishment

[Mich the Tester]

Personally I like Scotland being part of the UK. However I don't like what the UK has become in the eyes of the world. There was a day you could hold your head up high and say I'm British. It meant something.

[Mich the Tester]

Ah, I see. In your mind the English should only speak with RP accents, and should kick out all those foreigners with their funny accents and languages. Sounds like a plan, once the referendum is done with.

It gives an insight into what life might be like in an independent Scotland. Catholics v. Protestants, whites v. blacks, people with an officially Scots accent v. people with another non People's Democratic Republic of Salmondia approved accent. Lovely.

[amcdonald]

people with an officially Scots accent v. people with another non People's Democratic Republic of Salmondia approved accent. Lovely.

So anyone who doesn't sound like a mong then, if they have to speak like Salmond