The SNP's election success has made a lot of people write a lot of articles about Scottish Independence.

Scots claim that Britain (by which they mean England) steals their rightful money. In England, independence is mocked as being a whiskey-soaked dream of sectarian fools.

What do you guys think?

I don't know how popular Independence is in Scotland actually, pretty much every Scot I've spoken to on the subject is against it, but at the same time, all of them voted for the SNP in that election.
I'm not trying to say that the 6 people I know represent the population of Scotland,
only that the success of the SNP in the election shouldn't be seen as an indication of the popularity of Scottish Independence.

Scottish Independance could result in an interesting situation whereby the British Isles start to form a power block of their own in the EU. I don't see it happening, but if it does it could be a political trick to counter the France/Germany power duo.

Load of tosh, England "stealing" their money. English tax payers paid for them to have their own government set up. Even Scottish comedians frequently poke fun at their own country for having a high benefit rate. If they want to be independant, sod 'em, they need us more than they think!

It's clearly all a big ploy for more Eurovision votes

This is a topic I know nothing about and I know better than anyone that I have no business posting here but:

I think every country deserves their independence if they want it. If they fall apart or destroy themselves because of that independence then that is now their problem and no one else's. So despite how well off they are under England's care or how much they need England I feel that if they truly wanted their freedom then they should have it and whatever happens to that country as a result is their own problem.

Again, did I mention I know nothing?

Lets just say, England doesn't really want them either. Scotland is like the kid that won't leave home and acts pissy with mum and dad whenever they ask for a contribution to the running of the household.

I thought I should find and post some links related to Scottish Independance for anyone interested in reading more on it
Blog (pro-independance)
Wiki page
Interview (anti-independance) from The Herald Scotland

One argument for Independance I kept seeing brought up as I googled was :
Scotland became a part of the UK against the will of the people, sold off by it's aristocracy, I don't know enough about Scottish history to be able to confirm or deny the truth in this.
I'm personally not sure obsessing over the past is a very good reason to seek independence.
However, as was said, if it's the popular opinion of the people, then more power to them.

Is being able to vote for which nation you want to be a part of a good thing though?
I can imagine doing something similar in Northern Ireland being...problematic.
What about the south in the USA?

What will Scotland do with independence then if they get it? Hand it over to the EU?

Given my own nationality, entertaining the idea that independence might not be a good thing probably makes me a terrible hypocrite, but I'm not looking to take sides, I don't know enough about it to take sides.

Milky, Thanks for the links! I'll be looking into them completely and read on it. As it is I also agree with you. I don't know enough to take sides either so defending their want of independence shouldn't be my business other than my idealism that everyone deserves their freedom. Of course- wars normally decide who gets those freedoms and who does not at least in the past. If they get their freedom, I'm glad it will be one without a war.

It really needs pointing out that if they want their independence, then they'll be welcome to it, England won't force them to remain part of the United Kingdom and many people in England would probably be glad to see the back of them. The UK government used its own money to set up a seperate parliament for Scotland, and Wales, and they still get a say in the running of the rest of the UK despite the fact Scotland frequently makes it quite clear they don't want anything to do with us. So if they do vote for being independant, I don't think many people in the rest of the UK will be all that put out. I don't want to generalise an entire population (regardless of my previous comments which were tinted with humour) but many people feel that Scotland as a country is a free-loader.

-- Mon May 23, 2011 2:37 pm --

It really needs pointing out that if they want their independence, then they'll be welcome to it, England won't force them to remain part of the United Kingdom and many people in England would probably be glad to see the back of them. The UK government used its own money to set up a seperate parliament for Scotland, and Wales, and they still get a say in the running of the rest of the UK despite the fact Scotland frequently makes it quite clear they don't want anything to do with us. So if they do vote for being independant, I don't think many people in the rest of the UK will be all that put out. I don't want to generalise an entire population (regardless of my previous comments which were tinted with humour) but many people feel that Scotland as a country is a free-loader.