So - look - even the NY times and all sorts of non UK economic opinions are voicing that it doesnt stack up economically. Further, a lot of well reasoned voices here and elsewhere have all said it doesnt stack up. But lets face facts. The vast majority of the yes people are not voting because of this they are voting for non-rational, ideological or vague non distinct reasons (fairness, etc). So we can bang on time and time again - it wont matter. Fingers were in ears and eyes glazed over.
There is a very rational clear economic case for the union and when tested on each and every single point AS and NS have dodged the issue - because it doesnt fit in the narrative. Look at the manifesto, the language is deliberately vague in terms of linguistics it allows the reader to put their own definition on it. Lets take a single word "fair" - the manifest says scotland will be a fairer society. Define fair? You see it is a word chose to resonate emotionally with the reader. Everyone wants a "fair" society. To argue against it is to demonstantly want an unfair society. Of course to demand - how will fairness be measured, and how will it be specifically be improved is naturally "negative" - not believing in Scotland - etc.
You see you put your own definitions on "fair". To someone in Glasgow who wants to work in shipbuilding - it might mean heavily subsidised metal bashing, steel making, shipbuilding, coal mining. To someone who is passionate about renewables, it might mean, getting rid of all that polluting stuff and taxing people to put up windfarms. To the student, it might mean taxing anyone earning over 50k a year 90% and giving it to the poor. To the man running his own business it means letting him pay no tax at all.
The linguistics were chosen very carefully and they refuse to go further and delineate exactly what it means as it will burst the bubble. They havent hoodwinked you, you have done it yourself and really - you should be ashamed at your own gullibility.
Still, moving on - lets imagine yes wins. Now comes negotiations.
Day 1 - a gurning AS ponies up to London - and starts the demands. However, now DC has to only care about how it will play out domestically - as in with the English and Welsh and NI voters. He will be punished severely for giving in to any demands. rUK is has promised to pay the debt anyway, so that card is no use anymore. So what do Scotland have that rUK want? Bearing in mind the industry that will be moving south because of the law. Not a long list - AS has already said the oil is Scotlands in its entirety. What cards does he have? London will have the biggies and you have just told em to fuck off.
How will that play out?
Day 2 - A slightly strained AS ponies up to Brussels. We want in he demands to the club he is realised he is exiting by leaving the UK. Every single head of state will think "how will this play out domestically" Spain - don't want to wind up Catalonia and the Basque. France, Brittany and Western Pyrenees, Italy - have their own domestic agenda. Germany - Merkel will want to know how it plays with the good burghers of Munich. Answer - again - you have nothing, nothing to bargain with. the answer will be - if you want in, get with the Euro - and anyway you have just stropped about your debt which is inconsistent with membership. Special terms? Non.
Day 3. A Nato conference - Scotland - can we be in? Answer. Sure- Leave trident where it is and accept Nuclear weapons on your land. Oh - you promised the electorate the opposite. dont let it slam on the way out.
You see - you will have precious few chips to play with - and AS argues them away to try an get the very thing that will devastate your economy, A currency union with out fiscal and political union.
ultiamtely - the UK has been one of the most successful unions in history. We have defeated fascism, defended the west against russia (and look at crimea to see how it would have played if it wasnt for NATO). We rebuilt Europe with the US after a World War.
Together we have dismantled an empire we built together and tried to build a better Britain and a better commonwealth. But sure- yee hates the tories - so break up a great country. A country that is respected as the mother of democracy - that is loved and respected as much as it is feared or hated.
Why? cos the snake oil salesman promised you what exactly? more freedom - how much more freedom exactly? more fairness - how much exactly.
i weep for this country - i really do. so instead of helping us all build a country for our children you are going to walk away. There will be no going back - you cant try it out. once it is done - its is gone. Over. You wont be British, you wont have much - I'm sorry. I weep for Britain.