State of the Union ...

[Vipersan]

Hi friends..
I am well aware as I am sure other members are that our wonderful forum does not involve itself with Religion or Politics so am taking a chance posting this at all.
I don't want to start In depth political arguement etc ..but in view of the discussions taking place today am curious to get a feel from members who will be affected by the devolution issue.
I for one would be very upset to see the Union dismantled and Scotland become a seperate country.
I feel we have far too much in common...and to a large extent feel that our borders are clearly defined by the fact that we a physically an island...and that as island dwellers ...we are all one nation..with our regional differences dialects ..quirks and customs make us richer and more diverse..
Political arguements aside ..what do you guys feel about this ?
It takes me back to when I was a youth ..when to some extent there was a certain amount of largely good natured rivalry between Scotland England Wales and Ireland..
Yes there were jokes and occasional jibes....but see a group of Brits on holiday abroad...and those differences suddenly vanished..
We were suddenly all Brits regardless of origin.
Thats how I feel about it anyway ..we are all Brits ..and proud of it..
If this thread isn't appropriate ..then by all means remove it ..I won't be offended.

 

[Huevos]

VS, these issues need putting to bed, and the only way to do that is to have a vote. Because this is an irreversible thing I think there will be a high turn out and those voting for the Billy-no-mates union will realize just how little support they really have.

 

[timo_w2s]

It would indeed be a real shame if Scotland was to break away but I somehow doubt it would happen.

On the other hand, putting emotions aside, if it where to happen it would be quite interesting from a "technical" point of view to watch how it would work out. Currency, broadcasts, passports, etc.

 

[hairybadger]

VS, these issues need putting to bed, and the only way to do that is to have a vote. Because this is an irreversible thing I think there will be a high turn out and those voting for the Billy-no-mates union will realize just how little support they really have.

Put to bed for the time being. I can see this issue rearing its head once per generation or so ad infinitum given that there will always be a largish proportion of Scots wanting independence, whether in the majority or not. You throw the coin enough times, sooner or later it's going to come up tails....

 

[Analoguesat]

I rather doubt the yes camp will get enough votes.

 

[excollier]

I wish I could move back to the Union, life would be so much simpler (and cheaper)

 

[Mickha]

It might be interesting if the vote was yes, hopefully it would mean the end of the BBC, as Scotland would no longer be forced to finance this London based organization, and we might go back to truly local television stations, like ATV.
I can't see much difference, even if the vote was yes, it would just mean scottish people paying tax to a scottish government, having their wishes listened to, for a change. Anyone remember the Poll Tax, wasn't Scotland used as a testing ground, for this policy?
I doubt many of us, in England, would notice much difference, apart from no Scottish MP's in parliament, and the English Labour party would lose a lot of votes.
Scotland already seems to have their own policies, on housing, national health, education, and some difference in legislation.
With us all being part of the EU, and supposed to follow their rules, does it really matter if Scotland votes yes?

 

[Huevos]

I doubt many of us, in England, would notice much difference, apart from no Scottish MP's in parliament, and the English Labour party would lose a lot of votes.

Without Scotland the UK would have a perpetual Conservative government.

 

[excollier]

It might be interesting if the vote was yes, hopefully it would mean the end of the BBC, as Scotland would no longer be forced to finance this London based organization, and we might go back to truly local television stations, like ATV.
I can't see much difference, even if the vote was yes, it would just mean scottish people paying tax to a scottish government, having their wishes listened to, for a change. Anyone remember the Poll Tax, wasn't Scotland used as a testing ground, for this policy?
I doubt many of us, in England, would notice much difference, apart from no Scottish MP's in parliament, and the English Labour party would lose a lot of votes.
Scotland already seems to have their own policies, on housing, national health, education, and some difference in legislation.
With us all being part of the EU, and supposed to follow their rules, does it really matter if Scotland votes yes?

Be very careful what you wish for. The BBC would be sorely missed. Totally commercial tv would be an abomination. Even worse is the situation here in Ireland, where we pay a tv licence fee and the broadcasters are commercial too, the worst of both worlds.
The BBC had nothing to do with the demise of ATV, and once again, localised tv to that extent would be dire. The home grown output from RTE in Ireland is pretty woeful. I never watch it, but I have to pay for it and it's menu of imported (largely UK and US) programming. TV3 is a clone of ITV with a few local things thrown in.
I watch, mostly BBC and Channel 4. Far superior.
I wish the vote was tomorrow, then Scotland can decide what it wants, for better or worse. I wish them well. Now if they leave the UK and go it alone in Europe......the EU is not a particularly wonderful thing, is it?

 

[Mickha]

Be very careful what you wish for. The BBC would be sorely missed. Totally commercial tv would be an abomination. Even worse is the situation here in Ireland, where we pay a tv licence fee and the broadcasters are commercial too, the worst of both worlds.
The BBC had nothing to do with the demise of ATV, and once again, localised tv to that extent would be dire. The home grown output from RTE in Ireland is pretty woeful. I never watch it, but I have to pay for it and it's menu of imported (largely UK and US) programming. TV3 is a clone of ITV with a few local things thrown in.
I watch, mostly BBC and Channel 4. Far superior.
I wish the vote was tomorrow, then Scotland can decide what it wants, for better or worse. I wish them well. Now if they leave the UK and go it alone in Europe......the EU is not a particularly wonderful thing, is it?

I don't want to take this into a pro/anti BBC discussion, as it is taking the thread way off topic.
Personally I hate the BBC, and British television, and would welcome its demise, or better still a change, to quality themed channels, no more soap operas, rubbish comedies, and the same scenes involving naked men, and boys, in every BBC production.
Instead we could aim for intelligent, educational, and entertaining programming, with zero nudity, innuendo, or sexism, towards both sexes, safe for any child to view, where they can be entertained and taught, without any parent needing to worry.
What I consider to be rubbish, which currently is most of British television, can then be encrypted with viewers having the option of paying, to support, and view, these programmes. The themed channels, Science, History, Natural World, News, Entertainment, would be FTA, either covered by the current license fee or by the government, overlooked by a new, independant body, voted into office, so it will no longer consist of ex MP's, or governmental favours, to their friends, relations, or party sponsors, as an easy way of making money.

 

[hairybadger]

Personally I hate the BBC, and British television, and would welcome its demise, or better still a change, to quality themed channels, no

The UK does not have a monopoly on low-quality television, France being a case in point....

 

[excollier]

Wow!

 

[sonnetpete]

The UK does not have a monopoly on low-quality television, France being a case in point....

I can certainly agree with that.....

 

[Channel Hopper]

It would indeed be a real shame if Scotland was to break away but I somehow doubt it would happen.

If I recall my geology correctly, much of Scotland could be broken away, as there are at least three fault lines running the breadth of the 'colony'.

Ah, here we go

 

[excollier]

Is there a building contractor called Hadrian in the Yellow Pages.....?

 

[Channel Hopper]

To move Scotland away would require a demolition firm and plenty of expensive firework material, somewhat more than what woz used below.

 

[Vipersan]

Swear I saw the ghost of Fed Dibnah cheering from the bushes ...
..or perhaps just wishful thinking..

 

[PaulR]

Fred only knocked them down when he had to. He was much more into conservation and always prefered it when something could be saved. His workshop at his house is testament to that.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Fred only knocked them down when he had to. He was much more into conservation and always prefered it when something could be saved. His workshop at his house is testament to that.

As is my local entrepreneur, Mr Baylis. Spot the artefacts that sit on his bench.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21510198

 

[Huevos]

Now if they leave the UK and go it alone in Europe......the EU is not a particularly wonderful thing, is it?

So the UK journalists would have you believe, but the reality is somewhat different. Also, Scotland would not be a member of the EU. It would have to apply from scratch and go through the testing procedure every new country is subjected to. But anyway if you are voting for nationalism why would you want to quit one union and then rejoin another that you were already part of?