If part of the US, the UK would be 2nd poorest state

Guess again

 

It could be worse. If not for Sara Palin there would be death squads.

 

The shortage of deep-fried Mars Bars in England skews PPP calculations.

 

I remember my first death panel. I went in for an operation on a squint when I was five, and they killed me because it was cheaper. I wish I'd been in a country with FREEDOM instead.

 

An explanation by example then:
A favored country with no taxes has a population of two. Person A has economic activity of one billion dollars. He hires Person B and pays him 1 dollar a year. Both are proud to live in a country where the per capita GDP is a cool 500 million a year.

You might be thinking "That is not America. We pay taxes!" Fair enough, let me summarize America:
Two families. Family 'A' has economic activity of one billion dollars a year, and pays 50 million in taxes. Family 'B' works for Family 'A' and is paid one dollar a year and does not pay taxes (the gall.) Family 'A' needs petrol for their cars, so 60% of taxes are spent for a military to protect the country's way of life and the remainder on roads. Family 'B' provides the soldiers. In this lucky country not only is there 100% employment, it has cheap petrol AND a wonderful per family GDP of 500 million. BOOYAH!

 

It's tight:

 

At the instant the split occurs (if it does) this may be true, but only in the extremely short term. There are some strong advantages. The biggest is that smaller countries are able to hold their politicians more accountable. There is a big payoff there in the long term.

What is strange (viewing the issue from far away) is voting to leave one big ruling bureaucracy (the UK) to enter an even bigger ruling bureaucracy (the EU).

 

The split is looking unlikely: recent polls give the "No" vote a clear (but shrinking) majority, in spite of David Cameron's best efforts to mess things up.

The Yes side - and the SNP in particular - sees Norway as a model: similar population, similar (horrible) weather, similar oil and gas resources, and similar leftiness. And Norway is very rich. And Scotland has the advantage of what's left of its banking and insurance sector too. I think Scotland does have the potential to be a little bit richer in the medium term if it escapes from the yoke of Sassenach colonialism. But I'm still not sure it's the best thing.

As for your second point, I think there is a distinction. With Scotland as part of the UK, London has a lot of influence over every aspect of life in Scotland. With Scotland as part of the EU, Brussels has a far smaller influence over Scottish life than London does. So you'd be part of a bigger bureaucracy, but a far less far-reaching one.

 

Scotland won't do it. They should if they're the proud people they always make out to be. The Irish fought for freedom and we still trade with them (60% of all UK trade in the EU I believe) and they they trade with us. The Scots like to blame the Brits for everything, we 'tricked' them into the Union (though it was a Scot who was instrumental) etc. In the World Cup it's always "anyone but England" for the supporters. Fine guys, stand on your own two feet and be independent. Go for it.

If they vote No next month then they'll just be like the petulant teenager living at home and moaning it's not fair that they have to do some chores or pay for food or household repairs.

It shouldn't be about whether they're better off but that they can be free to do as they wish; like Ireland. When a young adult leaves home they leave the security of that established household, the nice property, the nice area maybe, but you don't wait until you're better off before leaving home for the first time, you go to stand on your own two feet, to take responsibility for yourself, make your own way good or bad.

But it's always nice to have someone to blame I guess. The Scots need to grow a pair and vote Yes. Not because it's the easy thing, but because it's right. England, Ireland and Scotland could all be independent nations and still trade nicely with each other, still have freedom of movement like we do now (in or out of Europe). It works for Norway, Sweden and Denmark.

So Scotland, grow a pair and vote YES next month.

 

I can't agree with Grumpy more! We fought for our freedom (26 counties, i.e. the South from GB) and got it in 1916 (100 yr anniversary coming up soon) and we're fine. (Don't mention the North though, they're still trying to resolve their differences, but it's come a long way in recent years)

We trade a huge amount with Britain and it benefits both sides. The Scots probably can't afford to stand on their own, unless they seriously change the way they think. They should stop bitching about it and do something if they feel strong enough.

 

Freedom of choice? Yes. It is preferable to monopoly. I know a British citizen who tried to get some healthcare for the flu (which eventually developed into pneumonia), but the British government monopoly refused to treat him. He got stuck on a waiting list. He eventually flew to the US for a business trip, and while here he finally saw a doctor. He walked in & paid cash (an option not available in his home country).

When you have a one-payer system, you have a monopoly, and you lose freedom of choice. Kinda like how Amtrak runs all interstate passenger rail.

ALSO: I look at how the U.S. government runs things...... poorly..... and I wonder if I want them running my healthcare too? Do I want a hospital that runs as inefficiently as the DMV? No. Perhaps the UK and other nations (but not Canada) can run an efficient health system, however the US government absolutely cannot. (The U.S.G. couldn't even create a working website to sign-up for the Affordable Care Act..... plus it was hacked and identities stolen.)

 

Loads of what you've said there is complete BS. If this person you know can afford to be on business trips to the US, they can afford to pop into their local GP, pay the fee and get treated.

We don't have the same healthcare system as the US, and there really is no comparison. We have free healthcare here in Irekand which works pretty well and everyone has access to. If you want slightly better service you pay for it

 

lol Total and utter BS. Totally. Either you're up to mischief or you really don't know what you're talking about, or perhaps both

Treatment is never refused. Even a tramp will get treatment.

The only waiting lists you get are for non urgent operations such as hip operations or cateracts where a 6 month wait is the maximum. If there were medical reasons for those operations to be done earlier they would be. If one prefers to pay to use a private hospital (most towns have those in addition to the free hospitals) and have the operation sooner you can and if you have insurance they would pay. Most private hospitals have fixed price deals as they realise most people will be paying themselves as few have insurance.

I had pneumonia in January this year and there was no delay in treatment at all other than limited prescription charges of £9/$15 per item. A few years ago I had a medical emergency where I was rushed from the local hospital to the nearest city hospital, had an MRI at 2am on a Sunday and had a 5 day stay. It cost me nothing. The ambulances cost nothing too.

Carry on your propaganda but everyone in the civilised world outside the USA enjoy free healthcare and will continue to do so.

 

Where to start with this?

1, Scotland is a massive country with a population of about 5.2 million. The county I live in has the same population at 5.2 million.

Scotland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Yorkshire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2, The Royal Navy subs are kept there. The Scots say because of English imperialism, the English say it's for political reasons to give employment to Scotland. Portsmouth (in England) is our biggest naval port and recently lost jobs to Scotland.

Shipbuilding to stop at Portsmouth but jobs could be saved if Scotland votes for independence - Telegraph

3, Scottish industry died away (like it has in traditional industry in England too) and many jobs in Scotland are government workers (public sector) paid for by the combined taxes of the UK. It runs at about 1/4 of all jobs. A percentage envied by those in England.

Economy of Scotland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Being 'flash' isn't just restricted to London and the South East. There is a super car showroom near me in a small provincial town of 70,000 people. People have money outside of London but don't like to advertise it in the same opulent way.

4, Healthcare really should be free for all. It's a small price to pay in the scheme of things. Does one need such a massive army? Why not cut it and pay the money saved on providing more 'free' healthcare?

5, America does consume more than perhaps is needed. You could easily carry on your way and quality of life but using more efficient systems. It could be so beneficial for exports if you did. American cars barely sell outside America because they're so fuel inefficient. That leaves Toyota and Honda to fill in the gap.

6, Scotland is probably better off IN the UK (note higher percentage of Government jobs to pacify them). But if they're not happy they should go even if it means being worse off in the short term. You don't stay in a loveless marriage just because you have a nice house. Tony D was right too, Ireland fought for independence and what would they have given to have had a vote instead? But if Scotland vote No, will they put up and shut up? I think people in England will respect them more if they vote Yes instead of being seen as a whinging parasite. I think a No vote will cause animosity down the line; south of the border. I always hated having to accept Scottish money. Nobody else would accept it back as change and there are high amounts of forgeries that my bank wouldn't pay me for. Some English banks even refuse to accept Scottish notes even if they're not forgeries. They're not legal tender here. I can see the English totally refusing to accept them in future.

Banknotes of the pound sterling - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Note that Scottish notes are not legal, yet we are expected to accept them. I know that will stop if they vote Yes)

If there is a No vote I can see the Yes supporters blaming England and becoming more violent. Northern Ireland all over again?

'Call off your yobs': Egg attack MP suspends his campaign against Scottish independence | Mail Online
How will the yes and no camps be reconciled after Scotland's vote? | Madeleine Bunting | Comment is free | theguardian.com

It's not long to the vote now. Time will tell. Just hope it doesn't become the way of Northern Ireland.

Sectarianism in Glasgow - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sectarian violence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

At least with a Vote which only Scottish residents have, they are the only ones who are ultimately responsible.

 

I had forgotten to mention the Government jobs! Northern Ireland is the exact same, every second job is state funded. (slight exaggeration)

If NI was completely independent, it would collapse as it depends so much on England for so much support

They will need to have a good look at their economy before they make any hasty decisions

 

But should that really matter Tony? If your great grandparents generation had decided to stay with Britain because they a had a cushy job at the Post Office or on the railways things would be different. It's no accident that NI and Scotland have lots of State jobs. Is freedom worth the short term sacrifice?

Ireland has had its economic issues in the past but would you change your independence? Of course not. The UK and Ireland still trade massively, we still come and go between the borders as if they were barely there, I bet you have lots of friends or family in Britain and a number of my friends are from Ireland. If Scotland becomes independent they'll be responsible for their own destiny good and bad but with the price that there is no body to blame but themselves.

I personally think our peoples (UK & Ireland) would be stronger if Scotland were independent. Why? Because the English Government would then have to treat them with respect, an equal. An independent Scotland would also be good for Northern cities too. Edinburgh is 200 miles away from me, just as London is (and Dublin ). Maybe that's why London is so anti independence?

Or is it the Yorkshire Nationalist in me Why mighty Yorkshire is another country in waiting | Simon Jenkins | Comment is free | The Guardian

I remember being in a very Welsh pub in West Wales a few years ago. Someone asked me if I was from England, but I responded "No, I'm from Yorkshire" which went down rather well.