Scottish independence
It all depends on who you listen to. If you believe Alex Salmond, then Scotland will be the richest country in the world because of all of 'our' oil revenues.

However, this is the same Mr Salmond who cited Iceland as a model for an independent Scotland, about a week before its economy collapsed almost entirely, due to the banking crisis*.

And he conveniently ignores the fact that the £10 billion a year or whatever which would come from North Sea oil, would be instead of, not in addition to, a similar sum currently allocated to Scotland by the Westminster government. A sum which is larger, per capita, than most of the UK. And a steady amount, not linked to oil prices, and oil supply.

So no. Scottish Independence wouldn't work, in my view. England might be better off if Scotland were a separate country, but we Scots would not. Especially if we were entirely governed by that bunch of eejits in Edinburgh.


*Thus spawning my favourite joke of the time - What is the capital of Iceland? About £3.57
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:00, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I like that joke

(Bazongaloid, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:04, Reply)

also
I'm no expert, but I'm assuming the North Sea reserves are rather finite, the running out of which would presumably leave an independent Scotland up shit creek, crazed on jellies and Buckfast?

NB I fucking love Scotland, this was meant to be affectionate mockery.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:10, Reply)

No offence taken,
the fact is that being crazed on jellies and buckie is a lifestyle that a fair percentage of the locals adhere to. They actually withdrew 'jellies' quite a long time ago, due to the amount of leg amputations having to be performed. This would occur when said junkie would inject the jelly part from the pill and it would solidify in their vein, causing it to go gangrenous. I usually see about 6 or seven monopeds every dinner time, not the same ones mind.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:15, Reply)

say what you like about the Scots,
they are FUCKING HARDCORE and no mistake.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:19, Reply)

If by "FUCKING HARDCORE" you mean "Whinging drunk transvestites", then yes, yes they are.

( stuj (^(^;;^)^) GO TEAM SPIDERS!(^(^;;^)^), Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:24, Reply)

This one time
just as they were withdrawing Jellies from circulation, i went to score some puff off of a shadowy character i worked with. He asked if i wanted any jellies and i declined. He wouldn't take no for an answer though, and ushered me into a bedroom were he produced a black bin bag half filled with them....he could barely lift it up. He had a 'friend' at the incinerator who was lovely enough to put some aside for him as opposed to burning them like he should have.

I wonder how many amputations were in that bag.
(Cancer Joy was short lived, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:26, Reply)

The idea is....
having all these technical minded, energy orientated experts in our country, we will be ideally placed to use the profits from the North Sea Oil to become a world leader in Renewable energies. Throw in the renewable potential of places like the Western Isles or the Pentland firth for Sea power, or the windy hills and glens we do actually have a fair bit of potential if this renewable idea ever really becomes huge.

Not too long ago we were also the trailblazers in Nuclear energy with (iirc) the worlds first functional Nuclear power plant and certainly the worlds first fast-reactor.

I believe an independent Scotland would work, but with the plebs like Salmond running things, we're likely to be a fair bit worse off than under plebs like Blair and Brown.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:32, Reply)

How would it work though?
would you have a closed border system? Would English people not be entitled to use your healthcare system? How Scottish would you have to be to qualify for the benefits of your own country? One parent? One grandfather?
(Bazongaloid, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:40, Reply)

There was a /links post
that had a great description/animation of how the Berlin Wall worked in its hey-day. But I DON'T search for LINKS for BULLIES!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:17, Reply)

I see. Makes sense I suppose
And yes, Salmond is a helmet. He doesn't do his country an favours that I can see.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:41, Reply)

what are jellies?
Never heard of them before.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 9:59, Reply)

Temazepan

(Bazongaloid, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:02, Reply)

I've tried it a few times, I just can't get away with that almondy taste though

(TheColonel, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:41, Reply)

ah
cheers!
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 12:02, Reply)