EQ, firstly my sincere congratulations on becoming a junior mod of NES-IoT. Sadly I think this announcement is too late to bring anyone back, but I'm sure you'll help ease the atmosphere here.
I have to take offence at this, unless you meant it in a light-hearted way. Do I have to point out that there wouldn't have been a USA without the British? And for all their faults in colonial management circa late 18th century, you probably would not have wanted to live under French or Spanish colonial rule, for example? Do I have to point out that the USA is running a financial world empire right now that could be argued to be just as exploitative, if not more so?
Having said that, I was in favour of Scottish independence. I think it would've been great to shake things up. I think the USA and UK are similar, in being in the grip of an elitist financial-political culture that is ramping up inequality and destroying real wages, perhaps suicidally so. I think Scotland going independent would at least have made people think twice about a whole range of issues here in Britain, and it would be good to have some competition with London financial interests.
Yes, it was meant in a light-hearted way. I was fully in support of Scottish independence, but not for that reason.