Posted on 08/23/2020 10:08:43 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The argument for Scottish independence has historic overtones. On April 6, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath was proclaimed. Written in Latin, it was really not a declaration, but a private letter, perhaps the most famous letter in Scottish history, by 39 Scottish barons addressed to Pope John XXII, who had excommunicated Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, who had murdered a rival to the throne in a church. The context was that England under King Edward II had attempted to conquer Scotland in 1296, an invasion that continued in spite of the victory of William Wallace at Stirling Bridge in 1297.
The barons were asking the pope, who had clashed with Bruce, to recognize Scottish independence and for him to recognize Bruce as the lawful king of Scots. Bruce, who had seized the throne in 1306, in June 1314 won the Battle of Bannockburn over the army of King Edward II in what can be regarded as the first war for Scottish independence.
The declaration stated, "For so long as a hundred of us remain alive, we will never in any degree be subject to the dominion of the English[.] ... Not for glory, nor riches, nor honors, that we are fighting, but for freedom, for that alone which no honest man gives up but with life itself." The declaration led to the pope rescinding the excommunication of Bruce, but it did not lead to any decision that the independence of Scotland was the prerogative of the Scottish people.
The Declaration of Arbroath was not translated into English until the late 17th century. It is unlikely that it influenced the U.S. Declaration of Independence, as some commentators have suggested, but it was awarded in 2016 the UNESCO Memory of the World status for its international importance. Its rhetoric still flourishes.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
In a first referendum on independence in 2014, the result was negative; 44.7% voted for independence and 55.3% against it in a turnout of 85%. But public opinion polls and voting in elections now show the opposite result, roughly 54% to 45%.
The Scottish National Party, the SNP, the supporter of independence within the E.U., has been increasing in popularity. In 2011, it won power in Holyrood as the majority party. In 2015, SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats up for election. In 2016, SNP again became the largest single party, but with a few short of a majority, in Holyrood, winning 59 of the 73 constituencies up for election, resulting in SNP having 63 of the 129 seats, while the Conservatives declined to 31 and Labor to 24. The SNP is favored to win a majority in the devolved parliament at Holyrood in May 2021.
Scotland has 59 seats in Westminster. The SNP become the third largest party in Westminster in 2019, winning 48 seats, and was second in 11 others. In the referendum on Brexit on June 23, 2016, Scotland, contrary to the U.K. as a whole, voted 62% to remain and 38% to leave the E.U. All of the 32 council areas in the country voted to remain. The argument is that the people of Scotland do not want to turn their back on Europe, but rather want to play a larger role in the E.U.
Indications in recent public opinion polls show that support for independence is increasing. Most show that between 50 and 55% favor leaving the U.K., and about 45% prefer to remain. There is no one overriding factor, but various issues are mentioned.
Why in the world would Scotland declare independence from Britain and then turn around and hitch its wagon to the EU. Scottish citizens are being lured to their destruction.
One of the best lines from Capaldi as Dr Who was right at the beginning when, realizing he’s gone Scottish, he says he can complain.
No.
Something very uncharacteristic of Scots people has occurred in today’s Scotland with the large number of folks on the dole. Traditionally, Scots have had a good solid work ethic. So long as So much of Scotland wants to remain on welfare, independence would not work out very well.
If Scotland gets independence it will be the EU’s next welfare state! It will manage itself like Venezuela which mean it will very quickly mortgage what it has of the North Sea oil to German bankers. It will be the EUs newest member of the PIIGS club adding another “S” to the acronym - PIIGSS !
Scotland would go to the EU with both hands out
Scotland has 5 million people, it has industry and services. Norway and Denmark have five million people as we6, and thrive. Estonia has 1 million and thrives.
Scotland too can thrive outside the British union
Because in the EU, small countries like Denmark,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc thrive and have far more independence as independent countries in the EU. More than Scotland has as a nation in the English union.
Scotland is a poor part of the UK and costs more in welfare than they contribute. To be honest the UK would be better off without them, let them go and pay their own way for a change.
The simple act of having to maintain it’s own infrastructure without money from England would be economically crushing. Social services, state run hospital no longer funded by the NHS, police, even a small military and state security would see taxes through the roof. Tourism would be good for some money but would that sustain an independent Scotland without high taxes. Eventually there would be a brain drain as people and business relocate to England. Ireland is decades ahead of Scotland in becoming a knowledge based economy. Scotland would have to find a way to compete with them. The current oil glut will not end soon unless Biden is elected. So what besides, oil, whiskey and tourism does Scotland offer?
They are going to want a slow roll into independence to keep getting money from England or the Scottish government would collapse as the people became disillusioned. England is Scotlands primary trade partner. If I were England, I would say no more free ride! You can keep dual citizenship, but if you live and work in Scotland you do not rate English social services. All military equipment belonging to England be moved back to England including troops, unless Scotland builds and maintains bases and pays 50% of the cost to keep personnel there. That would be a huge savings to England as they could justifiably reduce their military. Require a Passport to enter England proper and they have to create a USMCA type trade agreement or Scottish goods cannot be imported to England without being taxed. At this late stage Independence would not be what it is cracked up to be. Scotland would become economically a third world country in very short order without England. Yet, somehow, England is the bad guy in all this.
Do you have any idea how well the former PIIGS are doing, either the exception of Italy?
Ireland git out of the slump quickly and has been booming since 2015.
Portugal got out in 2017
Spain in 2018
Greece has been slowly improving and will be out in 2022.
That varies in different years
I am glad they have improved. I haven’t been to Europe in almost 10 years. So the exact analogy is false but it wasn’t that long ago they were in bad shape. I stand corrected, but not on what will happen if Scotland goes independent. The main immediate beneficiary of Scottish independence will be England.
If I was Britain I would kick them out.
The Scotts had their chance and they voted to stay with Great Britain. All this blue face crap that we’ve been fed for years is nothing but crap. I’ve been to Scotland and basically back in the day they were a wild unruly and fun to be with the group today forget about it.
The average Englishman would much prefer that the Scots be cut free. The Scots are subsidized to the extent of £2,500 per annum. This not to mention free university for Scottish student while the English students must pay. If the Scots had to pay for everything that it took to maintain their own country they would soon shut up. Truth is their a loudmouthed burdensome lot.
LOL.
Scotland survives on subsidies from the South.
England would be well rid of the parasitic Scottish economy.
Let the Germans pay for all the Scottish welfare.
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