tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post3578235470017058091..comments2024-02-21T17:37:37.993+00:00Comments on Tairis: IndependenceSerenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15106896818087205418noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post-87134496050895895352012-03-13T06:17:04.451+00:002012-03-13T06:17:04.451+00:00Thank you for this overview, it's something th...Thank you for this overview, it's something that hasn't really been picked up by the media here but I'm very interested in the outcome.Kilmenynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post-5964318908541892202012-03-10T16:07:50.983+00:002012-03-10T16:07:50.983+00:00LOL! Best way to do it is coming here as a student...LOL! Best way to do it is coming here as a student, I think, if you want to study something that is considered to be valuable, like social work or medicine, that sort of thing. If you don't already have desirable skills that would qualify you to live here.<br /><br />Scottish politics are generally more left-wing than you'll find at Westminster, and UK politics are more left-wing than US politics certainly. I've been watching the controversy about contraception and abortion in the US with particular interest, recently. Across the UK we get free contraceptives - the pill, implants, IUDs, free condoms if you pick them up from family planning clinics (though most people pay for those)...It's just mind-boggling that some people (women, usually) in the US have to spend thousands of dollars each year on something that we consider to be par for the course and a totally uncontroversial non-issue. Let alone have the very discussion of the issue being dominated by fringe lunatic conservative types calling women sluts!Serenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15106896818087205418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post-66307103892297809302012-03-04T00:20:21.485+00:002012-03-04T00:20:21.485+00:00We get free prescriptions, free care of the elderl...<i>We get free prescriptions, free care of the elderly, no university fees etc. Paid for by the tax payer, of course, but that's as it should be, I think. </i><br /><br />As an American, can I just say...<br /><br />How do I emigrate to Scotland?Tlachtgahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16109263709778871061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post-82149939278692350582012-03-02T22:27:13.502+00:002012-03-02T22:27:13.502+00:00There's an awful lot that needs to be clarifie...There's an awful lot that needs to be clarified before anyone can make their minds up, but personally I'm tentatively in favour of a yes vote, provided a sensible independence package can be negotiated. Although there's the principle of the thing as a motivating factor, I genuinely think it would be the best move for Scotland. With the devolved powers we already have, we're already a little bit better off than those of you south of the border and we haven't been so badly affected by the economic downturn (yet, anyway). We get free prescriptions, free care of the elderly, no university fees etc. Paid for by the tax payer, of course, but that's as it should be, I think. No, it's not perfect, but with the way the Tories are trying to push a lot of things in England, I think we'd be better off without you lot :p <br /><br />Westminster has a terrible track record with Scotland. Historically, Scotland is the testing ground for controversial policies (see: Poll Tax, amongst others), and arguably under the Tories in particular, Westminster has no real incentive to treat Scotland fairly. It has no voter base to alienate here, so there's no real risk if it tries to screw us over. <br /><br />From an English perspective there are advantages and disadvantages to Scottish independence. On the one hand, Scottish MPs get to vote on matters of legislation that will only affect England, and that's a very sore point for some English voters. With Scotland gone, that won't be a problem anymore (although there has been an English Assembly mooted as an alternative).<br /><br />The political landscape in England will change massively without Scotland; you'll lose a huge base of Labour support and that will work to the advantage of the Tories. That's a good or bad thing depending on your point of view, of course...<br /><br />But also, depending on who you talk to, it works to your advantage or disadvantage financially as well. Some figures show that Scotland is a financial drain on the UK taxpayer, whereas others show that it puts in more than it gets out. It mostly depends on who you decide deserves the oil revenue. As part of the Scottish economy, we contribute more, but Westminster tends to count the oil as UK revenue, making Scotland a financial drain. Really, I don't think an argument can be made on that until it's officially decided who gets what.<br /><br />Ultimately I suspect devo max is going to be the most likely outcome and if it's an option then I will have to seriously consider whether it would be better to vote for it to make sure we get the best chance of change, or vote yes and risk the no vote edging the advantage. Devo max will certainly be less traumatic in terms of change, and it will keep the union together (albeit in name only). It will give Scottish voters something of a safety net; if things go wrong, then we're still part of the union at least, and can get bailed out. But if things go well, then we can at least put the referendum to the vote again in years to come.<br /><br />Having said that (last point, I promise!), devo max could work against Westminster in the long run because it risks mobilising Northern Ireland and Wales to make a serious bid for it as well. It's one thing to almost lose Scotland but keep the Union together. But it's another thing to almost lose one and then have the others follow suit.Serenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15106896818087205418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7758267616106239950.post-81472418350844740022012-03-02T21:31:24.813+00:002012-03-02T21:31:24.813+00:00I kept meaning to ask you about this, and which si...I kept meaning to ask you about this, and which side I should be on! You've been wonderfully neutral in the post, but perhaps in the comments you can tell me your opinion? Should we tear along the dotted line?Candleshoenoreply@blogger.com