Scotland Voted NO. What are Thoughts From Our UK Members?

[Snowshoe]

My OH was born in Edinburgh. He has cousins there. I'm Scottish and Irish descent but third generation Canadian; I have no close relatives over the pond. But all my immediate family is from Quebec and the Scottish vote is said to be very closely watched by all areas thinking of their own hoped for, or feared, separation.

I feel relief. Quite apart from any economic repercussions I can't help but think our world needs to stay together and try harder to work with each other.

[charlie'sdad]

I think it was great to see the democratic process in action, and such a huge level of participation.

[voodoo]

when I spent a few days in Scotland I was so impressed with the people and their thought process. very educated imo so I am willing to say they made the right choice.

Scotland the best educated country in Europe, claims ONS report - Education News - Education - The Independent

[KenZ71]

I feel relief. Quite apart from any economic repercussions I can't help but think our world needs to stay together and try harder to work with each other.

Very well said.

There is no doubt or denying English monarchs did unforgivable injustices to Scotland but does separation cure that? I don't know enough of the history or current situation to judge. I would think being part of a larger united country i.e. the UK would be beneficial. It would seem the majority of the voters thought so as well.

[Sir Winston]

My understanding is that there were several thorny issues that the independence vote would have dredged up, according to former Prime Minister (and Scot) Gordon Brown:

1. Currency - Adopt the pound of Euro? Accept having to use a currency over which the Scots had no control was a problem.
2. Default of debt - UK was threatening to burden Scotland with a share of its national debt as a result of the split, which Scotland is ill-equipped to pay
3. Requirement to build $30 billion in bank reserves, which would come at the cost of social programs (National Health Service, etc)
4. Rising prices due to severance with UK
5. Rising interest rates and mortgages, as banking would become more risky, at least in the short- to medium-term
6. Lots of job dependent on shipbuilding for UK's naval fleet would disappear because those contracts would be pulled and jobs relocated
7. Financial hole from UK divestment of capital, potential loss of the Bank of Scotland
8. Nuclear disarmament of missiles belonging to the UK
9. Financing social programs solely from Scottish tax and oil revenues, the latter of which would most certainly dry up

Given that Scotland is less wealthy than the rest of Britain (on a per capita basis), it seemed unwise that they would want out of the union when they receive more tax expenditures than they contribute in revenue. There is an ugly past history, and the general, persistent feeling that they are disrespected by the English. The economic reforms instituted by Margaret Thatcher, while perhaps economically necessary, decimated their economy and many towns have never recovered. As such, the English, particularly English Tories, are reviled by most of the Scottish population. Despite such misgivings, I think they made the right decision.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is the end of political instability in the developed world. Advanced countries are beginning to feel the sting of outsourcing labor to the developing world along with automating jobs out of existence. Both forces have hurt growth in the developed world, eliminating millions of jobs and stagnating wages, even as the cost of living continues to rise. That can only mean a lower standard of living unless technological advances are so great that they substantially reduce the cost of living. The ensuing political battles over how to alleviate these pressure points are going to be ugly.

Having said all of that, I'd love to hear alternative viewpoints from UK members. I don't live in Britain, obviously, but I do follow its politics somewhat closely.

[KenZ71]

Some very interesting points. For sheer curiosity I too would be interested in the counter points.