Referendum on Scottish Independence

[Kyriakos]

Are you referencing Braveheart?

Does one need to know more?

 

[Antilogic]

Heh, you edited in the picture after I posted.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

Are you referencing Braveheart?

On one of the documentaries that come with the Braveheart Blu-ray, they try to imply that the film is the main reason why the Scottish parliament was created.

 

[Traitorfish]

So what horrendous tyranny has Westminster forced on the poor Scots?

Is "horrendous tyranny" the necessary condition of secession?

 

[Phrossack]

Is "horrendous tyranny" the necessary condition of secession?

What are your reasons for independence, and your grievances?

 

[Antilogic]

Is "horrendous tyranny" the necessary condition of secession?

Maybe not necessary but strongly recommended. I can't count the number of times I've seen some random rural county wants to secede the state because it doesn't always get it's way in the state legislature. Same thing with cities and towns on the local level.

Or otherwise--you have to be the oppressor to secede.

(Freely admitting the American experience with this is not exactly typical and it's probably coloring my judgment.)

 

[Traitorfish]

What about, for example, the Slovak secession from Czechoslovakia? That didn't involve any "horrendous tyranny", but was generally accepted as a reasonable move.

 

[Antilogic]

In that case, I'd point towards my parenthetical comment.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

If i'm reading this correctly you need to fullfull all of these points to vote. Unless you have a sneaky commonwealth/EU/British citizenship; you cannot vote?

http://www.yesscotland.net/answers/who-can-vote-referendum-scottish-independence

The list of those who are eligible to vote is almost the same as the list of those who can vote in Scottish Parliament and local authority elections, with the addition of 16 and 17 year olds who have not previously been able to vote.

This means that the following groups of people will be entitled to register to vote:

British citizens resident in Scotland.
Qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in Scotland. This means Commonwealth citizens who either have leave to remain in the UK or do not require such leave, and are resident in Scotland.
Citizens of the Republic of Ireland and other EU countries resident in Scotland.
Members of the House of Lords resident in Scotland.
Service/Crown personnel serving in the UK or overseas in the Armed Forces or with Her Majesty’s Government who are registered to vote in Scotland.

Apparently the professor speaking forgot that there were some non-EU, non-commonwealth members of the audience present.

 

[Camikaze]

Well, I guess that's what you yanks get for ditching the royals.

Has anyone in England mooted the idea of supporting Scottish independence, then invading and treating the Scots as a conquered people? Would give the English a better deal than the union.

 

[Ajidica]

While I would prefer it if the United Kingdom remained united, if the Scots want to leave I wish them the best of luck.

 

[Benefactor]

I'd like the Scots to stay, but if they do leave then best of luck to them I suppose.

If it all goes wrong I'm sure the rUK will have them back .

 

[Mouthwash]

I'll be voting for independence in September if I'm still here.

You're a citizen of Scotland/the UK? I thought you were just studying abroad.

 

[Traitorfish]

While I would prefer it if the United Kingdom remained united,

I find it interesting that a lot of Americans are saying this, because- why? America has no ideological investment in the union, hangs no part of its identity on its continuation, and doesn't look to be seriously impacted by its continuation or dissolution, so what explains this enthusiasm for it?

 

[Tahuti]

If I lived in Scotland and Britain would leave the EU, I'd vote for independence to keep Scotland in the EU. If Britain would stay in the EU, I wouldn't care.

 

[Mouthwash]

I find it interesting that a lot of Americans are saying this, because- why? America has no ideological investment in the union, hangs no part of its identity on its continuation, and doesn't look to be seriously impacted by its continuation or dissolution, so what explains this enthusiasm for it?

I'd imagine it would be harder to deal with such an entity, rather than with a single government representing the whole of the British Isles.

Now, it would be amusing if you gain independence and British unionists start referring to it as the "Scottish entity."

 

[Tahuti]

I find it interesting that a lot of Americans are saying this, because- why? America has no ideological investment in the union, hangs no part of its identity on its continuation, and doesn't look to be seriously impacted by its continuation or dissolution, so what explains this enthusiasm for it?

America wants to hold on the UK as a trophy.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

You're a citizen of Scotland/the UK? I thought you were just studying abroad.

You don't have to be a citizen of Scotland in order to vote. Nonetheless, I was mistaken. EU and Commonwealth citizens present may vote, but not other visitors, including Americans.

There was a slim chance I would still be here in September anyway, so...

 

[ParkCungHee]

I'd imagine it would be harder to deal with such an entity, rather than with a single government representing the whole of the British Isles.

There are two sovereign governments representing the British Isles.

 

[Masada]

I oppose whatever the Tories support. So there's your answer.