h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You forgot to diss the doubling of unemployment
Wonderful Sweden. What's the level of income tax there? How much does a pint cost?

Socialism has a habit of not working. The only time it approaches success is where it moves to the centre and combines more right wing policies. But Scotland is resoundingly socialist, so there wouldn't be any electoral pressure to prevent it moving further and further to the left.

The SNP only started to gain some kind of acceptance when they managed to ditch the "Tartan Tories" tag.

At the last count 56% of Scots opposed independence, thank the wee man.

The Scandiwegian countries are usually in the UN's top 5 places in the world to live. And the US doesn't, despite (because of) having right-wing policies.

Which socialism are you on about anyway?

I'm not going to labour the point. IMO an independent Scotland would be very left wing which, again in my opinion, is not a "good thing". Modern democracies are successful when they gravitate to the centre, not when they swing too much to either side.

couldn't we at least come on this thing from a fresh angle, other than socialism? And no, we can't bring Islam in either.

What about the rumour that Jade Goody wants to be the first new Scottish Queen. She's going to turn Glasgow into East Anglia and force everyone to eat poppadams

I think "Colin & Justin" have got first claim on being Scottish Queen.

The UK is a successful country and a major player on the world stage. Why would you want to break that up?

If the UK had united football/rugby/etc. teams I bet we wouldn't even be considering this question.

Ste

Imaginning the all time losing records combined teams would achieve.

For those still interested in the subject, the Grauniad seems to be doing a bit of a thing on England/Scotland and the union.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/0,,178327,00.html

number of articles ranging from fluff to quite interesting.

I think I'd have to say that I have SWL's concerns, but the other way.

England would be an overwhelmingly Tory run country and would become increasingly right-wing until we reached the position when someone like Nick Griffin would appear a reasonable bet for control of government and not a laughing stock as he is now.

And combined sports teams be damned. Who the hell would be able to beat in rugby if we didn't play the Scots?

The United Kingdom of England and Romania?

>>England would be an overwhelmingly Tory run country and would become increasingly right-wing<< Blues

Yes I'd thought of that too. I kind of hope that once we'd ditched the reliance on Scotland for the left vote, there might be a kind of natural balancing process occuring, to prevent an excessive rightist England. And we'll still have the Welsh remember....

I got sort of excited last weekend when we won the rugby. And then I rembered it was only Scotland.

I thought this news story was worth reviving the thread for:

"London mayor Ken Livingstone has said Scotland is subsidising the rest of the UK through its oil revenues.

Red Ken's view that the buoyant London economy and Scotland are together bankrolling the English regions and Northern Ireland will come as an unwelcome intrusion into the Holyrood debate for Labour.

Mr Livingstone said: "Having read all the stuff the SNP is putting out, it's most probably true that Scotland subsidises the rest of Britain if you take into account a classic international law interpretation of who the oil belongs to."

http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/westminster/display.var.1292820.0.0.php?act=complaint&cid=165490

Who would have thunk it?

so he's saying that Scotland and London should divorce the rest of the UK...?

I vote we establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Latvia. How else are we ever going to stand a chance at the Winter Olympics?

I don't want complete independence. I do want devolution for England- Scots voting on issues that only affect England is not right. Complete independence - why split up this teeny tiny island into even smaller nations? If Britons, Saxons, Celts, Vikings, Normans and Angles can all be English, why can't the English and the Scottish function as a unit?

(By the way - why is it always 'independence for Scotland' and not 'independence for England'? James was your king first, remember!)

>>it's most probably true that Scotland subsidises the rest of Britain<<

Unfortunately, Red Ken's never very sure exactly when it's April Fool's Day.....

"I vote we establish the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Latvia. How else are we ever going to stand a chance at the Winter Olympics?"

Right concept, wrong country. What England should do is apply to join Canada. If they'd have us that is. Although quite what Quebec would make of that is anyone's guess

Interesting article in today's Grauniad

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2054109,00.html