Independence - Yay or Nay

[Jossy99]

Yes from me 

[dave_min]

I would agree.  Plan B would surely see interest rates set by a foreign country and a lack of control over the currency.

 

They weren't in order, 'Plan B' could be any of those other 3 options.

[tom_widdows]

The same Ireland that went from one of the poorest nations in Europe after when it gained independence in the 20s to now being richer than the UK?

 

 

Enlighten me as to how Ireland is 'now' richer than the UK?

 

 

 

[Andrew]

Enlighten me as to how Ireland is 'now' richer than the UK?

 

Its GDP per capita is $45,950 while the UK's is $38,919. I was meaning proportionately rather than overall clearly it will never be richer overall.

[Kowalski]

They weren't in order, 'Plan B' could be any of those other 3 options.

 

So there's no Plan B then as I thought.

[dave_min]

So there's no Plan B then as I thought.

 

No. You've thought wrong.

 

There are 3 options for 'Plan B':

 

• Informal use of GBP
  
• The Euro
  
• A new Scottish Currency
  

 

I hope this clears up any confusion you still have.

[Kowalski]

No. You've thought wrong.

 

There are 3 options for 'Plan B':

 

• Informal use of GBP
  
• The Euro
  
• A new Scottish Currency
  

 

I hope this clears up any confusion you still have.

 

So which one are we getting?

[dave_min]

Plan A.

[tom_widdows]

Its GDP per capita is $45,950 while the UK's is $38,919. I was meaning proportionately rather than overall clearly it will never be richer overall.

 

 

I think if yer gonna use a country as an example for the pros of independence in terms of money I would stick well clear of Ireland.

 

[Andrew]

 

I think if yer gonna use a country as an example for the pros of independence in terms of money I would stick well clear of Ireland.

 

With the fact that the average person in Ireland and Iceland is still richer I think would be a good shout for independence. Smaller countries are able to specialise their economies in certain areas but this also means that they are more prone to economic cycles due to less diversification. Scotland has a lot of small niche industries that, as an independent country, we could focus on and increase our GDP. Would this make things worse during a downturn, yes, but it would also increase the amount taken in during the good times.

 

Of course we could also just lower corporation tax to what Ireland is and create jobs that way. Ireland takes in the same amount of tax, proportionately, as the average for the other EU countries but at the same time the tax there is well below the EU average so they have more industry and further secondary taxation.

[tom_widdows]

And yet they needed a 60billion euro bailout from the EU and additional funding from its apparently poorer neighbour?

 

Their Health Service is very similar to the USA

And their nationwide public transport and road network is essentially on par with the Scottish highlands once you skip out of Dublin.

 

I'm sticking my eyes firmly east to Scandinavia and opposed to South West and Northwest to Ireland and Iceland.

 

[Nellie The Don]

And their nationwide public transport and road network is essentially on par with the Scottish highlands once you skip out of Dublin.

 

Bullshit. The roads connecting Dublin to Galway, Cork and Limerick are motorways on a par with the M8. Tell me what roads in the highlands you consider that to be comparable to.

 

 

[Superstar Tradesman]

So which one are we getting?

 

The currency debate was done to death and more or less, by both sides, defunct as a scare tactic.

 

But it seems like you've made up your mind about which way you'll vote and you're sticking to it by using the currency fears as your reasoning.

 

 

[Kowalski]

The currency debate was done to death and more or less, by both sides, defunct as a scare tactic.

 

But it seems like you've made up your mind about which way you'll vote and you're sticking to it by using the currency fears as your reasoning.

 

I won't be the only one.

[Sandaldinho]

Yes yes and yes

 

[scunnered999]

No, no, no and no

[Dandy_Don]

Does anyone know if the Salmon v Darling debate will be shown outside of the UK?

 

I know it's on the STV player but I'm getting an error with the player (although the debate doesn't start until 8pm BST) - not sure if it's just the content now that's an issue or if it will be an issue with the debate as well?

[Andrew]

Does anyone know if the Salmon v Darling debate will be shown outside of the UK?

 

I know it's on the STV player but I'm getting an error with the player (although the debate doesn't start until 8pm BST) - not sure if it's just the content now that's an issue or if it will be an issue with the debate as well?

 

From the BBC...

 

Viewers in Scotland, from the rest of the UK, and across the world will be able to watch the debate online with a globally available livestream on the STV Player.

 

If it doesn't work just use Hola unblocker.

[Dandy_Don]

Thanks

[Dandy_Don]

Segment loading security violation. Video playback not possible.

 

 

Well that sucks.

[Kowalski]

I'm watching it about 20 minutes behind and Salmond has been utterly dreadful on the currency question. Anybody that thinks the currency isn't the big issue is out of touch with the debate. 

[Dandy_Don]

I'm watching it about 20 minutes behind and Salmond has been utterly dreadful on the currency question. Anybody that thinks the currency isn't the big issue is out of touch with the debate.

 

I missed the first 15-20 mins. My take so far is that Darling was better in the Cross Examinations (Mainly due to the Currency and Salmond going off about Driving on the wrong side of the road, Pandas and Aliens which wasn't a great move), but I think Salmond is coming on stronger in the second half...

 

I don't think this is going to sway Undecided either way in a significant number...

[Nellie The Don]

I'm watching it about 20 minutes behind and Salmond has been utterly dreadful on the currency question. Anybody that thinks the currency isn't the big issue is out of touch with the debate. 

 

Anyone who disagrees with your world view must be out of touch and ill informed? Gie yerself a shake.

 

I turned off after about 10 minutes, when the urge to throttle both of them became too much, and went to look for some other debate.

 

Robin McAlpine makes a better job than anyone else I've heard from of summing up what, for me, this is really all about.

 

 

 

[Kowalski]

I do agree the whole thing was very off putting, both sides unable to answer some key questions.  It probably succeeded in convincing many undecided voters not to bother voting at all.

 

[tlg1903]

But surprised AS didn't try and bring the warsi resignation into it, could have been a bit of a game changer