[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Adam.

Nuclear weapons are important though.

When Scotland get attacked they will have nobody

Oh come off it! If Scotland gets attacked by nuclear weapons it will be during the end of the world. We are all going to die.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Adam.

Not necessarily because only a few countries will attack with one and they will most likely only have time to attack one countries before they are wiped out.

They are there to protect the world

No, if a Nuclear War was to happen it would mean the end of us. The dropping of the first nuke would lead to a series of events that would end up destroying everything. Nukes aren't for defense, they're, at best, a deterrent by threatening mutually assured destruction.

The fact you seem so cavalier about wiping out countries and how enthused you seem about the prospect of a Nuclear War is quite frankly worrying.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Adam.

Not necessarily because only a few countries will attack with one and they will most likely only have time to attack one countries before they are wiped out.

They are there to protect the world

They are there as a deterrent but once one goes off, they will all go off.

Edited to add: I should sit back and read the entire thread before responding!

[Denver]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

No, if a Nuclear War was to happen it would mean the end of us. The dropping of the first nuke would lead to a series of events that would end up destroying everything. Nukes aren't for defense, they're, at best, a deterrent by threatening mutually assured destruction.

The fact you seem so cavalier about wiping out countries and how enthused you seem about the prospect of a Nuclear War is quite frankly worrying.

It is a reality that t will mist likely happen so people need to get used to it.

There are many leaders who will risk anything to kill enemies

[Denver]

A war is on the way it is just a waiting game.

The world are already getting ready for it

[Cherie]

It's interesting to see out of all the respondents on the council tax thread only the TS's council tax hasn't gone up, you don't have any uni fees, no prescription charges and propbably plenty other freebies as well all propped up by taxation from the UK yet some of you think you are " forgotten" by Westminster, I wouldn't mind bring forgotten if I got all those perks

[Greg!]

Yawn. If England wants a decent government that provides free uni, free prescriptions etc like Scotland then all they have to do is vote for them instead of being pressed and jealous!

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Greg!

Yawn. If England wants a decent government that provides free uni, free prescriptions etc like Scotland then all they have to do is vote for them instead of being pressed and jealous!

Too right I'm jealous no government has offered to sort this, well the Lib Dems did with Tuition fees but reneged on it, so you agree you have a lot of perks but you want to walk away to be in charge of your own destiny, so hopefully Scotland can provide all this for themselves, I'm all for you going in all honesty more in the pot for the rest of us

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Greg!

Also there isn't a "queue" to get in. Some countries like Turkey have been trying for decades but many countries took a year or less to meet the requirements and get in

Indeed. There seems to be a major misconception that it's a "first come first served" basis and Scotland will have to wait until all of the other current applicants are accepted before even being considered . The truth is that the "queue" is more accurately the applicant country itself being able to fulfil certain criteria set out in negotiations. As mentioned in this thread, Scotland already has an automatic head start there, as Scottish law and court systems, various other systems of government, trade set-ups, etc. are already EU-compatible. There are no changes or updates required to the day to day running of things to be EU members, as Scotland has been operating within EU criteria for decades.

Originally Posted by jaxie

What you think that they will just take you on, deficit and all, and do better than the Barnett formula? Nice fantasy. What's in it for the EU exactly?

As stated already the deficit is not a barrier to EU membership. It can be a barrier to joining the Euro because the deficit (and any potential bankruptcy) would then directly affect the value of the Euro itself. Bringing the Barnett formula into it is more or less a completely moot point as it is pretty clear (and agreed by most high profile economists) that it is quite clear that the Conservative government, and Theresa May especially, is angling towards dismantling any extra support that Scotland gets from the UK with regards to the Barnett formula. The "support" is going to evaporate, in or out. So the question becomes, for Scotland, what is more important? Access to the single market, or easy trading within the UK? But the UK is already trying to negotiate for easy-as-possible trade with EU member states anyway . So for a smaller nation like Scotland, single market membership with a single market that will be trading with England anyway, and despite the pie-in-the-sky hopes of Brexiteers, almost certainly on favorable terms. It's a no-brainer.

You also (deliberately or not? I'm not sure...) over emphasize how heavily Scotland leans on UK support. Scotland has a GDP of around 215 Billion and, when you take what bounces back to London out of the equation, the benefit of the formula is something like 9 billion, so 4% of GDP. To state that "England pays the bills!" is frankly ridiculous. Also let's remember why the formula exists; which is that Scotland has contributed countless billions in Natural Resources to the UK's coffers over the last hundred years. And in fact that only reason that it is currently a "subsidy" at all is because of record low oil prices, up until very recent years, Scotland was a massive net contributer. On top of that, oil prices will 100% certainly rebound dramatically, eventually, which is one of the main reasons that Westminster is so keen to maintain the union. If Scotland was a "no questions asked" drain on England, then why wouldn't they want to shed the "dead weight"? Hmmm.

Oh and to be fair... by England, I mean London & The South, because most regions of England get an even more disproportionate slice of the tax-pie than Scotland while contributing even less.

Originally Posted by Adam.

A war is on the way it is just a waiting game.

The world are already getting ready for it

Err if you're right about that then none of this matters. Having nukes won't make us "safe" in a Nuclear War, it'll just ensure that we're one of the first to go when the buttons get pressed . Nuclear war is GAME OVER, for everyone, I'm afraid. I think you need to come to terms with that .

BUT it does bring me nicely onto my final point, regarding what England "gives" to Scotland and "how would we cope" without it;

I consider it VERY VERY LIKELY that for at least a decade at least after potential independence, England would simply continue to pay to store and operate Trident out of Scotland. Setting up the infrastructure south of the border would take time and (a lot of) money. The simple solution would be for Westminster to simply "rent" the Trident bases from Scotland.

[Greg!]

What Toy Soldier said!

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Too right I'm jealous no government has offered to sort this, well the Lib Dems did with Tuition fees but reneged on it, so you agree you have a lot of perks but you want to walk away to be in charge of your own destiny, so hopefully Scotland can provide all this for themselves, I'm all for you going in all honesty more in the pot for the rest of us

To reiterate; over-exaggerating how much England "gives" to Scotland. It's in the region of 9 billion (net) out of 215 billion "Scottish funds", or less than 4% of GDP. Not insignificant but also... well... it's 4%.

England has roughly 10x the population of Scotland and roughly 10x the GDP. Which means that that Ł9 billion represents 0.4% to England. I mean I guess every little counts but... ... I don't think you're going to notice it. Maybe Queen Liz will get a new bathroom or summat.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

To reiterate; over-exaggerating how much England "gives" to Scotland. It's in the region of 9 billion (net) out of 215 billion "Scottish funds", or less than 4% of GDP. Not insignificant but also... well... it's 4%.

England has roughly 10x the population of Scotland and roughly 10x the GDP. Which means that that Ł9 billion represents 0.4% to England. I mean I guess every little counts but... ... I don't think you're going to notice it. Maybe Queen Liz will get a new bathroom or summat.

More valuable than any cash is not having to listen to Nicola et al whining about how hard done by the Scots are ..utter bliss, lobby your MP to extend the vote to the rest of the UK, we'll send you off before you know it

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Adam.

It is a reality that t will mist likely happen so people need to get used to it.

There are many leaders who will risk anything to kill enemies

I love fiction.

There's nothing to gain for any countries that have nuclear capabilities to actually use them, you've been watching too much Game of Thrones if you think that World Leaders go for the nuclear option at the drop of a hat.

[AnnieK]

I honestly don't understand why English residents are getting all worked up over it. I watched the last ref with interest but had no problem if they stay or go. I don't think it would impact on my daily life either way and if the people of Scotland want independence then surely they should be entitled to vote to have it. We've just voted for the same independence and got it so

[ebandit]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I honestly don't understand why English residents are getting all worked up over it.

i'm excited that the scots could leave the uk.................at last

...the wall would not be that far from where i live...........think of the
tourist possibilities.....................

post independence hope their 'moonshine' will be outlawed...

Mark L

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by jaxie

That isn't what I said. What I said was what can you offer the EU, defence being one suggestion.

So how do you pay into the EU? All money from the UK has stopped. What money is this you are paying in? Where does it come from? And how do you do that and sustain your current level of welfare?

Ireland is a similar sized and populated country and manage so why wouldnt Scotland? Scotland is actually a bit bigger

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

It wouldn't matter who was nukes or not, if a 'nuclear war' were to happen then we'd all be dead by the end of it.

True fact

[ebandit]

...............how true? most nuclear weapons are 'tactical' and not designed for
complete mass destruction

post chernobyl and that japanese reactor melt down...............we're not all dead

Mark L

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Adam.

It is a reality that t will mist likely happen so people need to get used to it.

There are many leaders who will risk anything to kill enemies

And those with the nukes are likely to target others with nukes first

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

I honestly don't understand why English residents are getting all worked up over it. I watched the last ref with interest but had no problem if they stay or go. I don't think it would impact on my daily life either way and if the people of Scotland want independence then surely they should be entitled to vote to have it. We've just voted for the same independence and got it so

They did vote! They can't whine every time something doesn't go their way when they voted in. Also the can have their 2nd of a once a generation referendum, but they should bear the cost themselves I really don't see why the UK should foot the bill, its only pennies in the grand scheme of things but in principal they need to fund however many reruns there will be until the SNP get the right answer themselves

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Ireland is a similar sized and populated country and manage so why wouldnt Scotland? Scotland is actually a bit bigger

I don't doubt they would manage but many of the freebies they take for granted would need to go to pay for managing, its 50 euros a time to go to the GP in Ireland isn't it, you pay for prescriptions, private healthcare, Uni, I think your your taxes are higher and it is an expensive country to live in

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Cherie

I don't doubt they would manage but many of the freebies they take for granted would need to go to pay for managing, its 50 euros a time to go to the GP in Ireland isn't it, you pay for prescriptions, private healthcare, Uni, I think your your taxes are higher and it is an expensive country to live in

There's public healthcare here but you do have to pay for the doctor alright unless you have a medical card. Also, I've been to England loads of times, I even lived in London for a couple of years and the cost of living there is high too

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by Greg!

No offence, but I'll vote for what I think is best for my country and it's future, not to please your great granny.
Quite rich for you to tell me to "learn facts" when I have told you various facts about the EU and scotlands entry into it which you clearly didn't know before.
I didn't agree with Brexit but I would never insult the intelligence of someone who voted for it or claim they didn't know what they were voting for, they clearly thought hard about it and considered what the consequences would be.

But you haven't given any facts. Hey my great granny needs her UK pension!

All everyone has done since Brexit is suggest people didn't know what they were voting for.

[jaxie]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

Oh come off it! If Scotland gets attacked by nuclear weapons it will be during the end of the world. We are all going to die.

I hope there are zombies.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

There's public healthcare here but you do have to pay for the doctor alright unless you have a medical card. Also, I've been to England loads of times, I even lived in London for a couple of years and the cost of living there is high too

Going independent will come at a price, you compared Ireland to Scotland, they don't pay for half the stuff you guys do currently is the point I am making.