The differences between Norway and Scotland

[scooterscot]

I heard quite a bit this week about Norway this week, and how the scots could have had a sovereign fund of x billion quid if the English hadnt nicked it all from them.
But would the Scots want to be like the Norwegians ?

I was there a couple of years ago and it cost eight quid for a pint and every other bugger was on strike because they wanted more of that loot. The tourist industry was dead, hotels were closing and there was a run on trolls in the local open air market.
There was an air of despondancy and everyone was sad. As we drove up the country , the sat nav kept telling us to turn right into Sweden

the sat nav wasn't far wrong

It rains just as much in Norway as it does in Scotland. Of course people are going to be slightly miserable in either country.

If you drink out at the pub you're going to pay an arm and a leg. Only the tourists drink in pubs. Everyone else buys cheap beer or wine in the government alcohol store to consume wherever.

[EternalOptimist]

Can't comment on current conditions BUT in theory, stashing some of the short term bounty from oil in a sovereign fund to benefit future generations is a masterstroke.
Compounded up over the years, this will make the whole country immune from the financial vagaries of the global economy.
Takes a lot of discipline though, always people with their hands out and eventually they will vote in whoever says they will tap it and give it out...

I always thought that too. but the strikes...

there was a very clear message - 'you have our dosh and we want some of it right now' all the public sector were at it. it made me rethink