Would an independent Scotland go same way as Ireland and Iceland?

[inkyfingers]

No one's saying whether Scotland can afford to be out of the Union. I know those 2 countries have had huge ££ problems already, but the UK gov owns RBS and Scots would have to buy it back? Is North Sea oil going to be a big enough wealth creator? Most small EU countries are struggling ATM.

lol

I don't think it's irrelevant to consider how an independent Scotland would have fared during the recent economic downturn (when considering how it might respond to such events in the future), and I don't think I have stated any facts that are inaccurate.

I do accept that I quoted you incorrectly, in that I assumed that you were using the term 'celtic tiger' as a euphemism for the wider political and economic policies that the term embodies.

thanks for your apology, there, re the persistent mis-quoting, much appreciated.

I'm going to give you the last word Aitch...because it is sunny, because I am in a good mood and because - thanks to this thread - I now, for the first time, very very much want Scotland to be independent (preferably tomorrow, preferably with a big giant wall around it)

wowsers, prettybird, i just read that piece on switzerland. i have a pal living there at the moment, she says that the lifestyle is unbelievable etc etc etc, not a peep about a financial crisis.

I want someone to read this (really terrific) article in the Irish TImes
then I want them to tell me that NO Scottish politician is as dumb, conflicted, disloyal and outright wicked as the ones running Ireland till recently.

Then, IF you REALLY REALLY think there is a better class of politician in Scotland than in Ireland, I will then happily say "no" to the OP's question.

what does that have to with anything, other than scottish politicians can take an object lesson from irish ones in hownot to behave?

the world is a different place now, we didn't get independence during that boom time (had we done so, no doubt we'd be going off a cliff too, Salmond certainly mentioned both ireland and iceland often enough as examples to emulate). but if independence comes now, it will be in a very different climate, one where credit is harder to come by (which might in itself lead to issues), but certainly one where a bubble of celtic tiger hubris will not be available.

all in all, if salmond can prove himself in the next year, this could be a perfect time to go it alone. tough break for ireland in particular, but their experience does provide a handy roadmap of pitfalls.

OK, so which individuals are good enough to run a country? would they be a Scottish version of the Irish second raters?

after A Salmond....who else is there?

there's some mighty big sharks out there

who's going to be Scotland's big friend - the US? the EU? the UK?
go it alone like Iceland?

(don't know the answers by the way, just not seeing these answers bubbling into the mainstream yet now that independence is now a possibility)

i've enjoyed reading this thread.
was hoping to have learned something but am all a bit confused about the tiger shit. i know nothing about politics and economics so can't contribute.
not sure i could cope with the free reign it would give all the anti-english twats for more anti-english behaviour/culture.
i'm scottish but for that reason i find it difficult to feel proud.
i ticked british on the census.
bite me

Interesting statistics

Oil, whisky, agriculture, tourism, export of energy all bring in a hefty income.

I think if we did gain independence, we would be self supporting relatively quickly.

The Times article referred to in your link paints a slightly more realistic picture here GentleOtter.

[attempts to contribute usefully]

well, i went to uni with nicola sturgeon and can confirm that she is a bright cookie, as is my old boss, who just got voted in. my other mate, who just left, is one of the sharpest women i have ever met.
don't know about a big mate, don't know how genuinely second rate the irish were, or whether the irish people are just pissed off with the lot of them because of the two who really fucked this bank arrangement. i do know that it wasn't the scottish parly getting torn to pieces in the telegraph for screwing their expenses, but no-one's asking if the UK as a whole is fucked for having shit pollies.

i think the OP asks 'will scotland go the same way as ireland and iceland?' and the answer is no, because the circumstances wouldn't be the same.

bottom line is, if we lived in a fairer society imo jocks would tolerate paying more tax to make up the deficit. we don't necessarily have the same motivations as the south of england.

The brightest MSPs are now in the SNP camp, def. When Wendy Alexander stood down, that was about 20% of labour MSPs' intelligence down the swanee.

If it means 'fucking up' the Tories then I plead with you Scots- please vote for Independence. Please fuck up those smug Tory twats.

i think the tories would benefit hugely, tbh. but they are suuuuuch a sentimental bunch...

I think the Tories are pro the Union come what may, even if it means that they lose general elections. It was Labour who started the devolution process.

If England was independent then I think the English people would vote the Tories in, unlike the Scottish people who don't like the Tories. If the union does remain and there is devolved government in Scotland, maybe there needs to be devolved government in England too - in order to reflect the wishes of the large English population who generally prefer Tory governments.

Come Independence, I would be rid of aristos and corrupt councils. That would save a bob or two.

I'm not sure that is it true that the English generally prefer Tory govts. It might be true that FPTP tends to give a majority to Tories in England, I'm not sure. But in any case, the north of England certainly doesn't vote tory.

I don't know, but we'll have to wait and see. The best selling newspapers are right wing papers and there are only two Labour MPs in the whole of the East of England. I guess Labour would have to form an alliance with ethe LibDems to stand a chance if Scotland leaves the Union. But Nick Clegg and Co are in a Coalition with the Tories. Where can Labour go? Maybe they can fight it out with the SNP in a future possible independent Scotland, but without the help of England, Labour will probably lose that too. Then what will become of the progressive future?

Will the Scots carry on paying for the BBC if Scotland goes independent? Will the English have to pay for it? Will there be a TV media revolution and will right wing TV dominate just as right wing newspapers do, if people are free to choose their media rather than being taxed to pay for it?

We live in interesting times. Things are changing. What will become of the Labour party if right wing media predominates?

it will be really interesting on the media front, i think. afaia though, right wing media does not dominate in jockoland...

Yes you're probably right about Scotland. But what will happen to the media in England? It could have huge ramifications. Without the liberal media intelligentsia supporting left wing causes, what will the people vote for?

What if a Fox News type channel enters the market and blows the lid on global warming and the progressives etc.?

Then there'll be backtracking and denial, mumbling and bumbling and the progressives will receive a humbling. It will definitely be interesting and exciting; they'll swallow more words than a fish swallows water.