New Currency for Scotland

[piscator]

Any other suggestions?

The Prood Bantam Cock, composed of 12 Kilts, or 100 Jocks.


"Aye'll have a McHaggis, a McSnickers, and a McDouble weedram."
"That'll'be 4 Cocks and a Kilt, Mister Jarvis."
"Can'aye pay'ya on Tuesday?"

[pErvinalia]

The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

[Svartalf]

The Deep Fried Mars Bar.

People eat through their money far too easily without having edible currency.

[Hermit]

Well, at least there'll be plenty of famous Scots to appear on the currency.

After all, the Scots believe they invented just about everything.

If they saw fit to adorn one of their notes with David Hume, I'd much approve. Among other notable Scottish thinkers were Adam Smith and James Mill.

Mindful of the old stereotype of the Scots as a tightfisted people, I'd call the currency "Mine".

[JimC]

Does anyone here seriously believe that the referendum will produce a win for independence?

[Svartalf]

Who knows?

[ronmcd]

Does anyone here seriously believe that the referendum will produce a win for independence?

“Officially, Cameron’s Government is making no contingency plans for Scotland’s secession. But unofficially, the mood is bleak. Some of the Prime Minister’s chief strategists now argue that the battle is lost and that a Yes vote is not only possible but probable.”
And that's from Tory supporting Spectator editor Fraser Nelson. Spin perhaps from Nelson, giving the no campaign a kick up the arse, possibly. But yes. I suspect the referendum will be won by YES, and I don't think it will be 51/49, I think it will be 60%+.

We will see.

[Clinton Huxley]

I confidently predict a No and the implosion of the SNP

[mistermack]

Does anyone here seriously believe that the referendum will produce a win for independence?

“Officially, Cameron’s Government is making no contingency plans for Scotland’s secession. But unofficially, the mood is bleak. Some of the Prime Minister’s chief strategists now argue that the battle is lost and that a Yes vote is not only possible but probable.”
And that's from Tory supporting Spectator editor Fraser Nelson. Spin perhaps from Nelson, giving the no campaign a kick up the arse, possibly. But yes. I suspect the referendum will be won by YES, and I don't think it will be 51/49, I think it will be 60%+.

We will see.

You're such a bullshitter, I love your posts.
I was too lazy the other day, but I just had a look at the betting odds.

Latest at William Hill, to bet on a no vote, you need to bet £7 to win a pound.
Betting on a yes vote, 22p wins you a pound.

If you're so confident, here's your chance to make a fortune.

[Tyrannical]

After glancing through the SNP's policies, it seems like a bit of a waste of time. I read a lot of chatter about giving people more while lowering taxes. Nothing radical with any policy changes, just we think we can do a little bit better. And a little difference isn't worth the trouble or expense of establishing a new country. Now if there were radical differences between governing philosophies, then yes it may be a good idea.

[ronmcd]

Does anyone here seriously believe that the referendum will produce a win for independence?

“Officially, Cameron’s Government is making no contingency plans for Scotland’s secession. But unofficially, the mood is bleak. Some of the Prime Minister’s chief strategists now argue that the battle is lost and that a Yes vote is not only possible but probable.”
And that's from Tory supporting Spectator editor Fraser Nelson. Spin perhaps from Nelson, giving the no campaign a kick up the arse, possibly. But yes. I suspect the referendum will be won by YES, and I don't think it will be 51/49, I think it will be 60%+.

We will see.

You're such a bullshitter, I love your posts.

Why thank you!

[ronmcd]

After glancing through the SNP's policies, it seems like a bit of a waste of time. I read a lot of chatter about giving people more while lowering taxes. Nothing radical with any policy changes, just we think we can do a little bit better. And a little difference isn't worth the trouble or expense of establishing a new country. Now if there were radical differences between governing philosophies, then yes it may be a good idea.

Of course we aren't electing the SNP in the referendum, we are making a decision on where all the political decisions should be made. There will be an election in Scotland in 2016, either for a devolved Scottish Parliament as now, or to choose the first independent government. The SNP policies you are talking about are the example ones they say they would stand on, but they wouldn't be the only option.

As for "a little bit better", perhaps. The SNP policies are currently to the left of any mainstream UK party, and I have no doubt an independent Labour would pursue similar policies. There is also a growing "radical" independence movement which supports independence but would push for a range of policies which would likely be higher taxation, higher public spending etc. The other party which would gain massively from independence would be a new right of centre party, once distinct from the Tories.


The Scotland being proposed by Salmond now is the Britain voted for by millions in 1997 – a moderate social democracy

In itself, the fat policy manual isn't revolutionary. Scotland's Future is a sturdy, sensible, well-written catalogue of aspirations – all of them achievable with luck and skill. But what's so exhilarating is the flock of many-coloured hopes gathering behind this project, like seabirds in the wake of a working trawler. Scotland's departure from the union could mean all kinds of liberations and reinventions for the islanders who live under the crown.

England, above all, could at last disinter its identity and the buried radicalism of its people. Stripped of the "British" comfort blanket, the archaism of England's power structure and its monstrous north-south imbalance would become visible and intolerable. And in Scotland itself, there would be a violent climate change in politics as parties ceased to be London's branch offices.

...

Reading Scotland's Future, I couldn't at first account for a faint twinge of melancholy, a recognition. Then it dawned on me. The Scotland being here described – or proposed – was the Britain so passionately hoped for by the millions who voted for Tony Blair, back in 1997.

After 18 years of Thatcherism, the longing was for a return to fairness and a stronger regulating and redistributing role for the state. What New Labour did with those hopes is another story. But Salmond's "what sort of Scotland" is also a moderate, statist social democracy that partners the private sector but is not afraid to – for example – renationalise the Royal Mail.

[ronmcd]

I confidently predict a No and the implosion of the SNP

You may be right about the no vote. But if there is a no vote, it will be partly - ironically - because people are very happy with the SNP government at Holyrood, which they feel stands up for Scotland and rattles Westminister cage on occasion. The SNP are actually on higher Holyrood poll ratings than when they won the election in 2011, winning an unprecedented majority in a PR system that was supposed to stop such an outcome.

Just as importantly, they have no opposition in Scotland. Scottish Labour is a fucking shambles.

So yes, the referendum might be lost, and Salmond may even retire (either way) soon after 2014. But Nicola Sturgeon is by far the most popular and trusted policitian in Scotland, and will be the First Minister at some point assuming we stay within the UK.