[Vicky.]

I think they would be mad if they didnt vote yes

I would rather they didnt though, or agreed to take the north east with them when they go

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

My Dad's Mum,(my grandmother), was a Campbell,I have Campbell cousins,so in a way another coincidence.

By the way Sheriff,I do actually own a kilt and have worn it at New Years parties.

Oh Joey,pics please

[MTVN]

I think and want the referendum result to be a No. The rest of this year leading up to it is gonna be really interesting though, the battle lines are being a lot more clearly drawn and the onus will be on the SNP to show how viable independence is and give convincing rebuttals to the numerous arguments against it, something I don't think they'll be able to do.

[Josy]

No.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Oh Joey,pics please

I'll have to think about that one Kazanne.

I do however really hope they vote against independence, I agree with MTVN, the SNP have a job relaying the wholly positive message as to independence but since George Osborne waded in, I do know of some who are at least now thinking of voting yes that weren't before.
This is for sure going to be a long road down these next 7 months to the vote.

[Headie]

No because then we'll lose half of our Athletics stars and Andy Murray

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I'll have to think about that one Kazanne.

I do however really hope they vote against independence, I agree with MTVN, the SNP have a job relaying the wholly positive message as to independence but since George Osborne waded in, I do know of some who are at least now thinking of voting yes that weren't before.
This is for sure going to be a long road down these next 7 months to the vote.

yes,it will be interesting,I'de rather us stay united,but what will be,will be I guess.

[InOne]

Honestly couldn't care less. Being from West Yorkshire I know it's not going to affect my life whatsoever.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by InOne

Honestly couldn't care less. Being from West Yorkshire I know it's not going to affect my life whatsoever.

Will make you more likely to have a right wing government

[Lee.]

100% yes! I'm genuinely excited/nervous about it.

If we vote no though, I'm going to live with Niamh.. If my fellow countrymen don't grab this massive opportunity with both hands, I don't think I'd ever be able to look any of them in the eye again.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Will make you more likely to have a right wing government

Well then obviously that's when I'll stand up and make things change. I am waiting for the right time to bury the tories but hopefully it will come soon.

[smeagol]

i think its sad we should be the united kingdom. you might as well give liverpool independance , 2014 and it seems people want divides more than ever. we have progressed nowhere.

[the truth]

Originally Posted by smeagol

i think its sad we should be the united kingdom. you might as well give liverpool independance , 2014 and it seems people want divides more than ever. we have progressed nowhere.

the tories destroyed northern england , scotland and south wales.
the elite simply dont understand what damage was done. Im not a socialist but I abhorred the way the tory government behaved in the 1980s. they pretty much destroyed the next 1000 years of coal and steel , not to mention most other industries. leaving behind nothing but broken homes, broken dreams, broken communities all of which has lead to much of the social collapse we still see 30 years later

[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

the tories destroyed northern england , scotland and south wales.
the elite simply dont understand what damage was done. Im not a socialist but I abhorred the way the tory government behaved in the 1980s. they pretty much destroyed the next 1000 years of coal and steel , not to mention most other industries. leaving behind nothing but broken homes, broken dreams, broken communities all of which has lead to much of the social collapse we still see 30 years later

Yes, exactly! It drives me nuts that people see the social problems (gangs of directionless youths, pockets of poverty, alcoholism, drug addiction and benefit dependency), note that a lot of it came about during a Labour government, and blindly assume that it was therefore that government that created "broken Britain".

In reality, the trigger was pulled in the 80's under the Tories. These social shifts don't happen overnight, however, and it was convenient for them that by the time the post-boomer generations really started to feel the effects of that, they were out of office and could say "nothing to do with us! We'll fix it if you give us a chance!" And then blinkered voters believe their propaganda, vote them back in, only for those exact people to have more blame, shame, isolation and hopelessness piled on their doorsteps. Families ruined for generations in the 80's now branded "scroungers", for not managing to recover socially or economically. It's utterly sick. And the cycle will continue for as long as the UK continues to flip-flop in our two party political system. I honestly dread to think what, in 20 years, the children of the grey hopelessness that the Tories have fostered this time around will be like as adults. Of course... We'll have had a labour government in that time... So the Tories can just blame them. And people will actually believe it, again, because people are stupid and have short memories.

Independence or at least devolution of the entirety of spending is the only chance that Scotland has of breaking away from that endless cycle. Which is why I think it's worth a shot. People are scared of what it means, believing it might make things worse for everyone, that staying in the union is "safe" and that things will "stay the same". They fail to realise that the UK - and especially Scotland and the North of England - is on a downwards spiral as things stand. Things will not be "safe" or "the same" ... They will continue to deteriorate.

Look at any medium-sized Scottish or Northern town currently. They are a wreck. It's a disgrace. And it'll only get worse.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Shaun

can we keep Andy Murray please

I've began filling out the adoption papers

[MTVN]

And the team GB curling teams

[Crimson Dynamo]

Its a crazy situation being run by a government no one voted for. We have our own eejits who can do that. I say yes and all the obstacles will be overcome one by one.

I hate the "project fear" campaign, it is odious and I hate how people think that facing a problem or tricky situation is somehow meant to say to Scotland "ooh dont do it it will be difficult"

pish

[Niamh.]

I'm neither Scottish nor English so it doesn't effect me in anyway but as an Irish person I guess I could understand why some Scottish people would like to be their own country, I know If the Republic of Ireland hadn't gotten our independence back I would be on the side that wanted it

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Lee.

100% yes! I'm genuinely excited/nervous about it.

If we vote no though, I'm going to live with Niamh.. If my fellow countrymen don't grab this massive opportunity with both hands, I don't think I'd ever be able to look any of them in the eye again.

You're always welcome

[Nedusa]

Although I said in a post in an earlier thread that it will never happen, I for one would love to see Scotland become a fully independent Country standing (and falling) on its own two feet again after some 300 odd years.

I am half Scottish and spent half my life living in Glasgow and still have many friends and family up there. They all desparately want independence irrespective of the economic consequences.

I agree even though I live now in London and would possibly have to apply for a Scottish passport to go home, I feel Scotland needs to try and move forward as a separate nation and control its own borders,currency,military,defence,interest rates etc.. it needs to be able to make ALL it's own decisions and not just be told what to do by its bigger more powerful neighbour.

But as I said earlier I am fearful that it will never happen because the stakes are too high for the elites that run the UK. It would precipitate a complete break-up of the UK and our standing in the wider world would be diminished as a result.

Still, I will keep my fingers crossed............!!!!!

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

You're always welcome

Thank you Niamh.. I'm a very courteous houseguest.. I always bring lots of wine!

[GypsyGoth]

My view on an independent scotland.

Well I think it'd be great for scotland, the people would be in charge of their own destiny. they would be recognized as a country. They would be a wealthier place too.

Also I believe it would also be good for england long term. I don't think it'll be the end of the UK, that will just evolve into another form.

People generally don't like change, they're afraid of it. that is why it's so easy for english media and politicians to spread fear amongst the scottish voters.

If independence is achieved for scotland, nothing much will change, life will go on and for the most part it will seem like business as usual. Only major difference is that people in scotland will be holding their heads in a little higher.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Lee.

Thank you Niamh.. I'm a very courteous houseguest.. I always bring lots of wine!

Excellent

[Brother Leon]

Couldn't care. If anything if it stops us sucking off Andy Murray then I am Down.

[user104658]

GypsyGoth - I totally agree that it would be better for England, or at least Englands national identity, in the long run. My partner is English now living here in Scotland and has commented on how sad it is that England currently has very little national identity as an individual country, whereas Scotland, Ireland and even Wales all have quite strong identities as countries. "English" identity is firmly routed in British identity / the British Empire and now that that empire is dead, England finds itself floundering with very little solid identity of its own. There are great areas and regional micro-cultures buy even those are dying out to some degree. We lived in her hometown in Lancashire for 3 years and it always saddened me that the older generations had such a local identity - the accent, the attitudes, the sense of humour - were all so very "Lancashire" but the younger generations just have generic Manchester accents and no sense of local identity at all.

I think that's what some people living in England fail to understand: they talk about how Scotland will be so small with independence, and won't have that "global" place "on the world stage" that the UK as a whole "enjoys". They find it hard to comprehend that, maybe, we don't WANT a big place on the world stage or in global politics... That Scottish people might be happy to just roll with the punches and be Scottish, in Scotland.

It's the attitude of power and empire that's been handed down through the generations. People find it impossible to change that view that being a "major player" is the be all and end all when, in reality, in our day to day lives, it doesn't matter at all. It's just pride.