Poll: Let us vote in an OCuk Referendum:

[Tunney]

I'm not Scottish. It's not my decision to make.

Would be sad to see them leave the union though.

 

[BarBrawllin]

Umm,the English dont have a say in the vote in real life so why do they get a say about it here?lol. Just sayin. I also think you should have had another couple of options to vote for in the poll like "Are you a Celtic supporter/Rangers supporter" LOL Also,i seriously dont beleive the results when it comes to the scottish,i mean seriously how many english have went and said their scottish and against it just to be a d*ck(maybe im paranoid but i doubt it lol) im on facebook so the majority of my friends on there are scottish and i have rangers and celtic supporters on the friends list,and all i see from the majority of them is nothing but support for scotland to be free to find its own way and have its independence,apart from a few hardcore sectarian rangers fans who would feel stupid at the "orange walk" waving their British flags around whilst swigging buckfast if Scotland was independent. Oh the joys of Glasgow.

 

[Muffin`]

Very ill informed here. For a starter the general public opinion of Salmond (aka Dear Leader) isn’t that great among most Scots from my experience. Assuming a majority of people will vote based on sound bites is just plain silly, although some will but the same can be said for any type of vote.

People do vote on sound bites, there's a person saying 'evil Tories, lol' on this very page. People have beliefs on political alignment from their parents and peer's and fail to actually understand what the political parties stand for. This isn't a shortcoming specifically attributed to Scotland, it happens all over the Western world. The Conservative led coalition have been critisied for cutting (saving?) 'too fast, too deep' but Labour say they wouldn't reverse these changes, but I will bet that a Labour voter will still bash the 'evil Tories' drum for being nothing other than not flying the red flag.

And just like any vote this one will be no different, but unfortunately referendums are held when it's deemed to be of such a serious matter that the people must have a say. But the critical difference with this is that it will have permanent consequences. So I still say that people should look very closely at what's planned.

 

[semi-pro waster]

If Scotland goes, then the UK should move the headquarters of the two largest Scottish banks, owned by the UK taxpayer. Those banks should be renamed and relocated to England, Wales or NI.

That surely depends on what the companies want doesn't it? It may be economically beneficial for them to stay in an independent Scotland. Then again there's the issue of if Scotland gets a proportion of the UK national debt (and it's only fair that it does, how much is the question) then they've still got a share in the banks until and unless they are bought out.

The Student Loans Company's HQ should also be relocated from Glasgow. Why should Scotland administer the fees for students who are not Scottish? The list can go on for ever.

Do Scottish students not get loans? Your question could equally be asked "why do we outsource anything ever?" and the answer should be "because it provides the best combination of quality and cost.".

how petty.

Are you assuming that they don't speak because of the voting preferences? I don't think that's quite the implication there, I read it as they don't now speak and the uncle voted Conservative rather than they don't now speak because the uncle voted Conservative.

It is misconstrued to think the rest of the union would want anything to do with you after the split too.

You say the above is petty and then suggest the rest of the Union wouldn't want anything to do with Scotland because of independence? Whether we individually like it or not there are very close economic ties between the whole of the UK and while that may require some restructuring the idea that all ties could or would be severed is extremely unlikely.

 

[JBod]

I voted Yes - English. But only if...

* We no longer give them ANY money
* They can no longer vote in our elections
* We don't get any more scottish prime ministers (Blair and Brown were enough)

 

[BarBrawllin]

I voted Yes - English. But only if...

* We no longer give them ANY money
* They can no longer vote in our elections
* We don't get any more scottish prime ministers (Blair and Brown were enough)

Always wondered about this,Brown sold half the UK's gold for cheap now look at the price of it! Wonder what he was getting in return? The chance of independence as long as the bankers got a fat payment out of it? hmm lol

BTW,i sick of seeing these uninformed comments about England "giving" us money as if we are some greedy kid taking pocket money,we've NOT had the benefits of our own natural resources and have had any chance of independence thwarted by the likes of thatcher and her ilk because ALL THEY CARED ABOUT WAS THE OIL,its even officialy on record what she said about it from now declassifed documents from the 70's,my god get over yourselves. We have a tiny population and you've not given us enough money to develop ourselves over the centuries and despite this we've still managed to come up with some great inventions and still do today! Look at how our population has basicly stagnated compared to englands explosion in growth since the Treaty of Union or w/e it was called.Now look at Cameron squirming and trying to interfere with the vote that he previously said was up to us,untill it dawned on him we might actualy have a chance of getting out of the UK system.

"Off all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind. " - Winston Churchill

 

[Muffin`]

That surely depends on what the companies want doesn't it? It may be economically beneficial for them to stay in an independent Scotland. Then again there's the issue of if Scotland gets a proportion of the UK national debt (and it's only fair that it does, how much is the question) then they've still got a share in the banks until and unless they are bought out.

That will be the biggest interest to watch for me personally of what will big business do. Will they up sticks to a low tax haven (if Scotland can afford to) or will they choose to stay in a more influential position and country.

Do Scottish students not get loans? Your question could equally be asked "why do we outsource anything ever?" and the answer should be "because it provides the best combination of quality and cost.".

I'm not arguing the specific point about student loans but there's a question of will it be worth the hassle to employ people in a different country?

If it's cheaper for a business to keep employing a 1000 people in Glasgow instead of moving it all to Teesside then they'll keep doing it. But the government agencys are under the influence of politics so investment and spending close to home will nearly always win out.

He (Dear Leader) will want to keep as much in Scotland and then spin it to his advantage when they're closed down. I can see the Defense being a real sticky one, BAE building ships on the Clyde would be a massive benefit to Scotland but a loss to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

 

[JBod]

Always wondered about this,Brown sold half the UK's gold for cheap now look at the price of it! Wonder what he was getting in return? The chance of independence as long as the bankers got a fat payment out of it? hmm lol

BTW,i sick of seeing these uninformed comments about England "giving" us money as if we are some greedy kid taking pocket money,we've NOT had the benefits of our own natural resources and have had any chance of independence thwarted by the likes of thatcher and her ilk because ALL THEY CARED ABOUT WAS THE OIL,its even officialy on record what she said about it from now declassifed documents from the 70's,my god get over yourselves. We have a tiny population and you've not given us enough money to develop ourselves over the centuries and despite this we've still managed to come up with some great inventions and still do today! Look at how our population has basicly stagnated compared to englands explosion in growth since the Treaty of Union or w/e it was called.Now look at Cameron squirming and trying to interfere with the vote that he previously said was up to us,untill it dawned on him we might actualy have a chance of getting out of the UK system.

"Off all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind. " - Winston Churchill

I believe the stat is something like £1200 for each man woman and child in Scotland.

 

[Judgeneo]

I'm pro democratic unions. So Pro-UK, anti Euro. Keep them!

 

[Tefal]

Are you assuming that they don't speak because of the voting preferences? I don't think that's quite the implication there, I read it as they don't now speak and the uncle voted Conservative rather than they don't now speak because the uncle voted Conservative.

really?

My Uncle used to vote conservative. We don't speak to that part of the family now.

clearly implies that's the reason.

i.e "my brother married a Muslim girl. We don't speak to him now.

what would you take from that?

You say the above is petty and then suggest the rest of the Union wouldn't want anything to do with Scotland because of independence? Whether we individually like it or not there are very close economic ties between the whole of the UK and while that may require some restructuring the idea that all ties could or would be severed is extremely unlikely.

not talking to your family members because they vote for a different party is petty. a country maybe not choosing to expose it's self to risk from the decisions of a foreign government is not.

In fact I'm pretty sure that was one of our main reasons for not joining the euro.

 

[James J]

Scotland would be mental to want independence, they wouldn't last 2 weeks in the global economy, bye bye all your free prescription and uni education.

The UK is in a mess we need each other. Cant Stand the way Scotland bang on about being high and mighty.

My reasoning for voted "im english and vote no" also. London heavily funds scottish education and healthcare so both of them wouldn't last more than a month if scotland became independant.

 

[BarBrawllin]

I'm pro democratic unions. So Pro-UK, anti Euro. Keep them!

How can a union be democratic when the native population didn't have a say in its creation in the first place?

Always wondered why the Welsh didn't vote more passionately about controll of its own destiny compared to the scottish? Higher percentages of the Welsh speak their own language than the Scots do so i would have imagined they'd be more likely to want independence than the Scots! ......i dont know if the English banned their language and culture like they did up here with us,hardly a "democratic union" when you commit acts like that against another smaller nation "get that kilt off and stop making those funny noises you smelly Scotsman! *stabs Scotsman in the heart with fancy sword*" LOL

 

[semi-pro waster]

I'm not arguing the specific point about student loans but there's a question of will it be worth the hassle to employ people in a different country?
Snipped for space

It is a fair point but it's also one that is quite difficult to answer because it's still an unknown as to how it will work in practice in a general sense. I suspect it will be different from the more normal process of outsourcing to a different country, the lengthy ties between the nations mean a completely clean break seems unlikely - it's also unlike many other outsourcing contracts in that there's demonstrable expertise (or at least a certain amount of experience and the benefit of speaking the language natively) in Scotland for many companies so if there is a reasonably attractive set of incentives then it should be perfectly possible to continue.

However I do take the point that political exigencies may override the more practical questions and to a degree that's fair enough but there is the risk of cutting off the nose to spite the face as it were.

For what it's worth I have for a long time leant towards keeping the Union as I suspect we are stronger together but equally it's worth exploring the options as otherwise we'd be making decisions based on inadequate information which is rarely a good idea.

really?

clearly implies that's the reason.

i.e "my brother married a Muslim girl. We don't speak to him now.

what would you take from that?

I'd take it for what it is - a non-sequitur without further information. The statements may be linked, they may not be but I have my distinct doubts that someone voting for a political party would be a sufficient reason to break all contact.

not talking to your family members because they vote for a different party is petty. a country maybe not choosing to expose it's self to risk from the decisions of a foreign government is not.

In fact I'm pretty sure that was one of our main reasons for not joining the euro.

You seriously think it's likely that all parts of the present Union will sever all ties with an independent Scotland?

 

[BarBrawllin]

My reasoning for voted "im english and vote no" also. London heavily funds scottish education and healthcare so both of them wouldn't last more than a month if scotland became independant.

Your forgetting about those oil assets aren't you Oh,and the much smaller population we have too,thanks to being held back for centuries.

 

[Craig1981]

I think the biggest reason to vote no is that we wont know how it turns out until its been done. It could be the greatest thing that ever happened to Scotland. Or it could utterly destroy us. Or anything in between.

And once it IS done it'll probably be nigh on impossible to undo again should it all go pear shaped.

Better the devil you know n all that, eh?

 

[c@tbyte]

Voted yes.

Give it to them if they want it.
But tell them they can't come back for at least 20 years.
(Would be strange having a 3rd world country so near).

 

[Judgeneo]

How can a union be democratic when the native population didn't have a say in its creation in the first place?

Always wondered why the Welsh didn't vote more passionately about controll of its own destiny compared to the scottish? Higher percentages of the Welsh speak their own language than the Scots do so i would have imagined they'd be more likely to want independence than the Scots! ......i dont know if the English banned their language and culture like they did up here with us,hardly a "democratic union" when you commit acts like that against another smaller nation "get that kilt off and stop making those funny noises you smelly Scotsman! *stabs Scotsman in the heart with fancy sword*" LOL

Democratic in the sense that you can elect leaders of the whole union, have a proportional say in law and legislation, and have another parliament to control matters closer to home (Unlike the English I might add).
Compared to the EU where lots of the decisions are made by an unelected group.

I don't really understand the rest of your post

 

[BarBrawllin]

I think instead of a referendum that David Cameron and Alex Salmond(using Mel Gibson as his stunt double of course) should fight to the death over it wearing the appropriate traditional battle uniforms from centuries ago,i mean its the only fair way to settle this thing once and for all.

 

[BarBrawllin]

I don't really understand the rest of your post

My accent must have somehow got transfered through the keyboard and down the broadband connection Seriously,England banned by law our culture our language and even our traditional clothing as a way of beating the fight out of us and trying to make us forget who we are so i dont know what it is you dont understand,the last part was just a wee joke.

I understand what your saying about it being democratic now,after the fact,i was refering to what happened in the past,and yes it was a long time ago but its had long lasting detrimental effects on this nation and its culture that cant be denied.

 

[Destination]

Amusing that so far all regions have favoured yes as a response, except for the Scots themselves.