Should Scotland become independent from the UK?
Poll: Should Scotland become independent from the UK?
Total Members Polled: 140
Discussion
Following on from the recent Facebook poll and this article in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/2... .
I know this debate can get a bit heated so please try and stay calm! It would be good to see the consensus of people that use this site.
I know this debate can get a bit heated so please try and stay calm! It would be good to see the consensus of people that use this site.
I'm yet to be convinced that we can afford it. I don't know where the money is supposed to come from... North Sea O&G isn't the cash cow they seem to think it is.
We can't compare ourselves to Norway either as they don't have the benefit culture and hence the huge leeching of the county's resources. They have also been attacking their O&G reserves methodically and put all the profits in investments that are locked away. The UK Government allowed the O&G companies to come over and destroy our reservoirs and all the tax money gained has been spent.
It's a lovely thought to be independent but I just don't see how it's viable. I'm perfectly prepared to be talked round though by some facts. :-)
We can't compare ourselves to Norway either as they don't have the benefit culture and hence the huge leeching of the county's resources. They have also been attacking their O&G reserves methodically and put all the profits in investments that are locked away. The UK Government allowed the O&G companies to come over and destroy our reservoirs and all the tax money gained has been spent.
It's a lovely thought to be independent but I just don't see how it's viable. I'm perfectly prepared to be talked round though by some facts. :-)
Raffles said:
I'm yet to be convinced that we can afford it. I don't know where the money is supposed to come from... North Sea O&G isn't the cash cow they seem to think it is.
ViperPict will be along in a minute to debate, but FWIW, I agree.There is a similar thread in The Lounge and all the Northern O&G-based guys seem to think that when the actual resources are gone the knowledge will remain and serve us well...
However, I happen to think the people with the knowledge will simply move to where the work is - Africa, Northern Alberta, etc - and all that O&G knowledge will mean f00k all*.
-
Opinion, not fact...
No, theres simply not enough jobs to support the country, the taxes will have to be paid for somehow, and the basic running of the country will need to be paid.
O&G cant support that, banking cant really as RBS seem to have thier fingers in every f
ked up economy that there was/is and ever shall be.
Wind power is a joke, too expensive and doesnt work without huge subsidies and doesnt work when the wind doesnt blow or its cold. The coal plant in ayrshire is getting huge protests from the NIMBY's.
If we still had coal mining, steel making and ship building then maybe we could afford it, but that era is gone and a huge amount of people sit on the bru and do fk all otherwise as they cant/wont do anything else.
Oh and theres the worry that labour would have to run the show, and the 13 years they got have shown how useless they are at that, Browns economic miracle is to run up the biggest bill in years and claim that the best way to get out of debt, is to get into more debt.
O&G cant support that, banking cant really as RBS seem to have thier fingers in every f
ked up economy that there was/is and ever shall be.Wind power is a joke, too expensive and doesnt work without huge subsidies and doesnt work when the wind doesnt blow or its cold. The coal plant in ayrshire is getting huge protests from the NIMBY's.
If we still had coal mining, steel making and ship building then maybe we could afford it, but that era is gone and a huge amount of people sit on the bru and do f
k all otherwise as they cant/wont do anything else.Oh and theres the worry that labour would have to run the show, and the 13 years they got have shown how useless they are at that, Browns economic miracle is to run up the biggest bill in years and claim that the best way to get out of debt, is to get into more debt.
A.J.M said:
Wind power is a joke, too expensive and doesnt work without huge subsidies and doesnt work when the wind doesnt blow or its cold. The coal plant in ayrshire is getting huge protests from the NIMBY's.
Wind power is far more productive than it may appear at first, it certainly helped out through last winter during the very cold temperatures. Until I recently I wasn't keen at all on them, the time to recover costs is pretty minimal as well.Nope. All I hear is how we'd be better off due to us getting to keep all of the oil and gas revenue - basing the future economy of a country on a finite resource seems crazy to me, and we don't have much else by way of industry to fall back on.
I'm convinced Salmond just wants a nice statue of himself and to cement his place in history as the man that 'made it happen'.
I'm convinced Salmond just wants a nice statue of himself and to cement his place in history as the man that 'made it happen'.
Heartworm said:
A.J.M said:
Wind power is a joke, too expensive and doesnt work without huge subsidies and doesnt work when the wind doesnt blow or its cold. The coal plant in ayrshire is getting huge protests from the NIMBY's.
Wind power is far more productive than it may appear at first, it certainly helped out through last winter during the very cold temperatures. Until I recently I wasn't keen at all on them, the time to recover costs is pretty minimal as well.k all, and how our energy bills are rising to pay for the subsidies to keep the dam things going.Anyway, the coal plant in ayrshire if built is supposed ot be able to provide electricity for 3 million homes. Given the choice between the two, im going for the coal plant. Will be much cheaper in the long run and can run 24/7. Not when the weather decides.
Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff