Referendum on Scottish Independence

[Alassius]

Which brings me back to my original thesis that everything is about as likely to fine whether run from London or [is Edinburgh the capital?] since they both have dumb politicians and mismanagement and so the economic question basically doesn't matter so let's go back to discussing different philosophies of identity formation and how they relate to theories of sovereignty.

Ok, we really need to qualify 'dumb' politicians. The Westminster bunch may seem dumb, but they certainly are not. Every politician looks dumb. That doesn't mean they are as dumb as each other. I think, for example, the SNP is dumber than Westminster as far as economics are concerned.

So, if Scotland stays in the UK, they'll have dumb politicians and no extra costs.

If they leave, they'll have dumber politicians, and lots of extra costs.

 

[bhsup]

To be honest, while I have no issue with being called that, I think I would more properly be called a true federalist. As opposed to so-called federalists who think "federalism means federal govt always trumps everything" which seems to be what most think today.

Anyhoo, anxiously awaiting midnight here (6am Scotland), which is when that lady in charge of the election in Edinburgh said they would release the results. I know it's been hard on some, trying to decide how to vote. Just remember, vote your conscience and you can always look yourself in the mirror.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Indeed, a less diversified and ballasted rump UK might find itself more willing to engage in real cession of independence to the Euroleviathan.

And if not, Scots can do it on their own.

It actually could well be. Big enough to be diversed. Small enough to be politically efficient, unlike the EU.

So are you guys doing anything about your population growth problem? Since the UK has today reached the optimal size of a nationstate, surely positive population growth must be alarming you.

 

[Arwon]

Ok, we really need to qualify 'dumb' politicians. The Westminster bunch may seem dumb, but they certainly are not. Every politician looks dumb. That doesn't mean they are as dumb as each other. I think, for example, the SNP is dumber than Westminster as far as economics are concerned.

So, if Scotland stays in the UK, they'll have dumb politicians and no extra costs.

If they leave, they'll have dumber politicians, and lots of extra costs.

Who came up with austerity and all those welfare policies again? They seemed pretty silly. And they hurt a hell of a lot of people.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Ok, we really need to qualify 'dumb' politicians. The Westminster bunch may seem dumb, but they certainly are not. Every politician looks dumb. That doesn't mean they are as dumb as each other. I think, for example, the SNP is dumber than Westminster as far as economics are concerned.

So, if Scotland stays in the UK, they'll have dumb politicians and no extra costs.

If they leave, they'll have dumber politicians, and lots of extra costs.

@Alassius, did you know A. Salmond is a former RBS oil economist? Westminster's leaders don't have such credibility as individuals. One of the reason Salmond can destroy most hostile journalists & politicians on economic matters, & it is amusing when he does so (as recently):


Link to video.

 

[ParkCungHee]

I just want to clarify, is the argument here that the current batch of Scottish Politicians aren't as good as the current batch of English Politicians, or is the argument that Scottish People are chronically incompetent?

 

[bhsup]

I was very interested to read, by the way, that there will be no recount based on closeness of the vote. If one or the other wins by one vote, for example, no recount. Recounts will only occur locally if there is an identified issue with the "process" of the vote, whatever that means.

EDIT: Dur... source

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29238890

Elections Scotland said recounts would only be allowed at a local level on the basis of concerns about process, not the closeness of a result.

Also, election result release time is from same article...

Once the polls have closed, ballot papers will be counted in each of Scotland's 32 local authority areas.

These will include votes cast from the 789,024 postal vote applications, which was the largest volume of registration for postal votes ever in Scotland.

After votes have been tallied, the counting officer in each area will communicate the result to the chief counting officer Mary Pitcaithly in Edinburgh.

With her approval they will then make a declaration of the result.

Once the results from all 32 local authority areas are known, Ms Pitcaithly will declare the result of the referendum at the Royal Highland Centre outside Edinburgh.

Ms Pitcaithly has said she will announce the result at "breakfast time" on Friday.

 

[Borachio]

I think that means they've dropped the ballot box. Or a window's blown open. Or someone has a fit while counting.

If they'd use an electronic count, they could have the result bang on 10 pm. (or whenever the polling stations shut)

 

[Antilogic]

Whelp, it's the middle of polling day.

Anyone want to hazard a prediction?

 

[Borachio]

I predict that either the Yes vote will have it, or the No vote.

I'm quietly confident that a straight 50:50 split is very unlikely.

I don't think the voters themselves know how it will turn out.

 

[ParkCungHee]

I predict that either the Yes vote will have it, or the No vote.

I'm quietly confident that a straight 50:50 split is very unlikely.

It's a good thing this is Scotland and not Northern Ireland, where we really only have to worry about these three possibilities.

 

[Arwon]

Whelp, it's the middle of polling day.

Anyone want to hazard a prediction?

54% no.

 

[ParkCungHee]

I'll take 52% yes.

 

[Flying Pig]

Narrow win by 'no, but less narrow than we've been led to believe. 55% to 60%, I think.

 

[Arwon]

Narrow win by 'no, but less narrow than we've been led to believe. 55% to 60%, I think.

You can't have that wide a range it's cheating

 

[Mise]

EDIT: Bold prediction, 67/33. Not saying who to yet.

Which in itself is a good argument for Independence.

In what way is EU federalism a good argument for Scottish independence?

 

[Borachio]

Oh right? We're going with actual predictions of percentages?

I'll go with 50.5% no.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Simply put, the UK has been a break on EU integration, and may not even be in the EU in a few years.

And as Bhsup pointed out, even if EU entry is blocked, Scotland has many better options for risk sharing to persue beyond the British Isles.

 

[Gucumatz]

I'll go 53% no. The higher the no, the better for GB, but for the sake of depressing the English I counter-intuitively wish this vote would be as close as possible.

 

[Flying Pig]

You can't have that wide a range it's cheating

Give me 56%, then.