[arista]

Originally Posted by Angelika

I'm on the fence......thank heavens I don't have to vote!
There hasn't been enough discussion on the important issues for me to make a decision.

I'm hoping for a good outcome all round and praying I don't need a visa to visit family.

No border problems will happen if they go solo

[LeatherTrumpet]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Crap debate, neither said anything new and just repeated the same rubbish we've been hearing for months

what new things would you have liked to hear?

[arista]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

what new things would you have liked to hear?

The Death of Labour MP's in Scotland

[joeysteele]

Keeping this serious I have always said I hope the Scots vote no to independence and I do still believe more prefer to stay in the UK than leave.

However, I could well understand the Scots voting to go independent,it must be sick of voting for non Conservative Govts and getting thrown at it all the time, rotten policies from a Govt. that in the main is elected from only the far South of England.
The same issue as to Wales too.

What will decide this referendum and the thing I fear as to the vote itself is how will the 2 sides actually vote.
I have little doubt that just about all those who favour independence will, through rain,hail and snow ensure they cast their votes in the referendum.
What worries me is that those against independence may not get out there and cast their votes in the strength they likely really are.

The undecided too, have had a real mess as to information thrown at them by both sides and I doubt if most of the undecided will even bother to vote anyway now.
It will be an exciting but anxious day of voting.
It would not now surprise me if the yes vote just carries the day,it is really down to the no voters making sure they make their voice heard.

I say again, if the Scots vote no however, then Govts. no matter the party leading any Govt. need to really change their attitude to Scotland as a whole.
Finally I do commend Alex Salmond, he for me has looked the real statesman in all this and he has delivered a referendum as to independence too against all the odds.

He looks a far better bet for a Prime Minister of a Nation than the procrastinating,incompetent incumbent the UK has right now for sure.

[Toy Soldier]

I've just figured out where I've seen the Better Together campaign rhetoric before!!

Youtube video

...this could essentially BE Alistair Darling.

[lostalex]

from 3hat i'm reading this might be closer than i thought. but i still think most people don't want to upset the status quo. most people don't like change.

[arista]

Yes



http://news.sky.com/story/1331427/sc...ign-takes-lead


http://www.theguardian.com/politics/...save-the-union

[Cherie]

This is going to be a close one

[LeatherTrumpet]

Freedom

[arista]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Freedom

[andybigbro]

NOOOOOOOO


vote no! #bettertogether

[Black Dagger]

No thanks!

The only good thing to come from it is the hope of CHVRCHES representing Scotland in Eurovision

[King Gizzard]

all it will do is scare more people into voting no, the people who didn't vote in these polls

[Lee.]

The tide is turning! I'm feeling fairly sure we're going to do it!

[LeatherTrumpet]

Odious osbourne on A Marr this morning with the "more powers to Scotchland if we stay together" honey laden carrot

yawn

[Kizzy]

People voting yes only due to that terrible no campaign video with the stupid woman in say 'och aye'

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

People voting yes only due to that terrible no campaign video with the stupid woman in say 'och aye'

It SHOULD prompt people to vote yes! The thing is, people dismiss it as just a bad video, not well thought out, etc... But the truth is, her smug, patronising attitude in the video and the really obvious implication that voters are politically unengaged / clueless / just simple people with their simple little lives... is a PERFECT reflection of how Westminster politicians see all of us. Not women, not Scottish people, but every single member of the public who isn't "one of them".

I genuinely believe that being given the opportunity to get away from that and not grabbing it with both hands and dry humping it manically, would be a completely bonkers decision. Like Brand said in a recent video - the further away from one large government ruling over a huge number of people you get, the more chance each individual has of being heard. And that can only ever be a good thing for a "normal" citizen. And bad for the elite, of course.

[Kizzy]

But it is how we are... and we are very happy with the 1p of a pint of beer and the reduction in tax on bingo too.
They know us so well...

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

But it is how we are... and we are very happy with the 1p of a pint of beer and the reduction in tax on bingo too.
They know us so well...

Reduction on alcohol and bingo tax hand in hand with an increase in other gambling taxes... So they are both pro and anti gambling, but consider roulette machine addiction to be a bigger problem than alcoholism! Although in reality it's all bluster, and the truth is that it's a balancing act between squeezing as much profit as possible out of various vices whilst not making them too unattractive, to keep a nice chunk of the population distracted by them.

Except that whoever is advising them on these matters last left his Castle back in the 50's, because no one even goes to bingo any more! There's one bingo hall in this town and it's literally falling apart because no one ever goes. And those who do still go will mostly be dead within the next 5 years.

They need to keep up with the times and legalise (and tax!) proper vices like hookers and crack.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Reduction on alcohol and bingo tax hand in hand with an increase in other gambling taxes... So they are both pro and anti gambling, but consider roulette machine addiction to be a bigger problem than alcoholism! Although in reality it's all bluster, and the truth is that it's a balancing act between squeezing as much profit as possible out of various vices whilst not making them too unattractive, to keep a nice chunk of the population distracted by them.

Except that whoever is advising them on these matters last left his Castle back in the 50's, because no one even goes to bingo any more! There's one bingo hall in this town and it's literally falling apart because no one ever goes. And those who do still go will mostly be dead within the next 5 years.

They need to keep up with the times and legalise (and tax!) proper vices like hookers and crack.

There is online bingo and poker, that has people addicted Like you say it's to keep people dumbed down, distracted, poor and in debt.

[MTVN]

Thing is even if Yes win with somewhere between 51-55% (which is the most they can hope for really) I doubt that Scotland will become independent. In reality the referendum won't be absolutely binding and for them to leave the UK won't just be like the flick of a switch, it'd be such a radical change and require so many months of negotiations that it's likely that anything less than 60% would be considered not strong enough a mandate to make such a massive step

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Thing is even if Yes win with somewhere between 51-55% (which is the most they can hope for really) I doubt that Scotland will become independent. In reality the referendum won't be absolutely binding and for them to leave the UK won't just be like the flick of a switch, it'd be such a radical change and require so many months of negotiations that it's likely that anything less than 60% would be considered not strong enough a mandate to make such a massive step

It is a binding referendum MTVN, that was another thing that I felt bad about the referendum being held, there could have been conditions such as to turnout or even a minimum result either way for this to be put to bed completely.

As it is it has been set up whereby any majority either way decides the future of Scotland and indeed the UK.

If there is a vote for instance of only 50.3% for independence and a vote of 49.7% against,that result will have to stand.
As it would stand vice versa too.
No way will the SNP allow any further discussion on the matter,a majority will be a majority and that is the way this referendum has been allowed to come into play.

It is expected there will be an 18 month transition to full independence after the resut if there is a yes vote.
That is it really.
Scotland votes yes, it will have to be given independence,no further negotiations a to that whatsoever.

That is the way Alex Salmond wanted it and he got it,for me he has been able to run rings round this PM we have at present.
Win or lose this referendum Alex Salmond has done all he promised he would as to getting a referendum, the way it would be held, the wording as to it and more importantly he got it to be a binding referendum, no matter how close the result.
With the rest of the UK having no voice at all as to this possible break up of the UK.

Alex Salmond, for me, has demonstrated very ably, the formidable politician he is.
This has to be a worrying time for the PM, he could go down in history as the PM who presided over the break up of the UK because of his short sightedness.

[Northern Monkey]

I honestly could'nt care less if Scotland goes independant or not along with evey other English person i know.It does seem strange that Scots would vote yes when Salmond can't even say what currency he would use if he did get a yes vote.Seems like the blind leading the blind as nobody actually knows what would happen to Scotland practically.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by EyeballPaul

I honestly could'nt care less if Scotland goes independant or not along with evey other English person i know.It does seem strange that Scots would vote yes when Salmond can't even say what currency he would use if he did get a yes vote.Seems like the blind leading the blind as nobody actually knows what would happen to Scotland practically.

Alex Salmond however does know that if Scotland votes yes, the UK govt will find a way to accommodate them keeping them the pound, it is as much in Englands Wales and N Irelands interest for Scotland to do so.

The aim of Alex Salmond in time will be likely to adopt the euro and I also believe the EU after a yes vote would bend over backwards to fasttrack Scotland as an EU member.
Another reason for the present UK govt to stop the weak and idle threats and work constructively and amiably with the Scottish parliament if independence is voted for.

Oddly enough,in a yes result the momentum would certainly be with Alex Salmond and really the remaining bits of what was the UK could end up being the ones finding problems internationally.

[lostalex]

1 year ago i would say there's no ****ing way this could happen, but now i'm wondering...