O Flower of Scotland!
INDEPENDENCE for my persecuted people!

The problem with Scottish independence that I have is this: all the best jobs are in the south of England, more specifically, London. Ordinary people from all walks of life who are suitably educated, trained or just generally hard-working and ambitious will come south to get them.

It's the affluent south and cities that prop up the rest of the UK. But the south needs its well trained workforce and *that* can come from anywhere. When I meet people in Cambridge or London I hear northern, midland, Welsh, Nor'n Irish and Scottish accents. It's easy to quantify "Central UK government gives £Xm to Scottish parliament" but it's a lot harder to quantify "Y thousand workers who were educated fully in Scotland have now come south to pay tax". As one such individual I think full Scots independence would be a dangerous thing as workers would still come south but we wouldn't be propped up by London anymore. I'd be guilt-tripped into returning home lest Scotland might become really poor like some kind of massive Yorkshire.

Ultimately, we've got a parliament, an anthem, a flag, a football team (even if it's pish) and our own culture. What the hell else do you need to be a country? What else would independence give us?
( djtrialprice, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:51, 3 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

I would think you less of a fraud.

(Bazongaloid, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:53, Reply)

I'd also be going back home
to get away from your frightful bullying
( djtrialprice, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 11:07, Reply)

Very true
there will always be more money (and opportunities) in London and we just have that culture where the best people will flock there. We'll be left with SIMPLETONS.

You get the impression that the whole independence argument is a kind of super-paranoid selfishness about money. What!? Some of our oil money goes to London!?! That is absurd!! - This must stop!!!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:56, Reply)

^This
Except that we don't actually have an official anthem. 'Flower of Scotland' may well be the one which is sung at the rugby, but it's not technically the national anthem.

Personally, I think Burns's "A Man's a Man for A' That"* would be better. It's a nicer tune, you don't have a problem with playing it on the pipes (except the top B, but that's not as bad as the lack of a C natural in FoS) and the words aren't all about kicking the shit out of the English.


*Yes, I know that's not its actual title, but if I said "Is There for Honest Poverty" most folk wouldn't have a clue what I was on about.
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 10:59, Reply)

I hate the sod-the-english mentality
but I do love Flower of Scotland, I think it's a cracking tune and sing it loudly when drunk.

Wish I'd been in the pub to watch the rugby last weekend :(
( djtrialprice, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 11:06, Reply)

Scotland the Brave
is it not, officially?

I think the only reason this isn't used is that too many people would be likely to sing the "Highland Granny" version
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 11:19, Reply)

I can't take that song seriously
since Fletcher sang a parody of it in Porridge.
( djtrialprice, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 11:45, Reply)

That is a fine song
But I don't mind Flower of Scotland at all...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 11:19, Reply)

Flower of Scotland always makes me cry
probably because I'm as true a Scot as Al is a Geordie.

If the BNP had their way I'd be packed off back to Glasgow or Stirling.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 25 Nov 2009, 12:56, Reply)