[lostalex]

I've always been confused about the UK system between "countries". Like for instance, do the "countries" of the UK have more or less independence and freedom than the individual States in the US? Do the "countries" in the UK have the ability to make their own laws and stuff like the individual US states? Make their own tax system? their judicial systems? their own gambling laws, drug laws, drinking laws, etc??

I know when the Lockerbie bomber was released, the Uk government said "Scotland made this decision, not the UK", so that said to me that Scotland already has some kind of judicial freedom atleast.

I'd really like to understand more about the Uk system before i make a judgement of whether Scotland is being reasonable or not.