They wouldn't be forming a nation, just taking a nation that already exists and is widely recognised internationally as a nation (with its own national sporting teams in most sports, its own separate national history, and so on) out from a purely political union with several other recognised nations. It's not the same as the US civil war situation - it's not a matter of one trying to 'leave' to set up some new 'nation' at all. Scotland is already a distinct nation in its own right, with a long history of its own (as a fully independant country, before the union) but it is just governed as part of a political union. As for being 'abused', I would agree that 'abused' would be too strong a word for the situation, but the point is that Scotland is much smaller in population than its nearest neighbour, so its neighbour (which has over 5 times the population of the other constituent countries of the UK put together!) holds the overwhelming balance of power within the union. It is not an equal partnership, and England can effectively dictate to Scotland in many ways as a result. Scotland is effectively run primarily according to the democratic will of the people of England, not of the people of Scotland. That is why they are considering leaving. Part of the thinking behind it, of course, is that the two nations might well actually have a less uneasy relationship with each other if one no longer holds power over the other in a political union, and they are just close neighbours, friends, partners and allies. Nobody is suggestion they are going to become 'enemies' (as they certainly were at times in the past), it's just that the people of Scotland (if they decide to vote for indepenadance) will have decided that they want to run their own country their own way, acoording to their own votes (for better or for worse).
It appears that Alex Salmond is playing the nationalist card in order to remain in office . Making the scottish electorate believe that the can have it both ways - having their cake and eat it. Time will tell. ..
As cenydd points out- it's more a matter of eating half their cake and keeping the other half. Nowt wrong wi' that, lad. Good housekeeping.
Perhaps because they don't feel the desperate need to compensate for their personal inadequacies by beating their collective chest, like so many naive Americans, and attacking countries they've never heard of to suit Big Business?
Countries can and do merge into one, Scotland itself was once five countries the people blend their cultures till they are one and the same. In fact that is what was happening with Scotland and England when I was young, though two countries most people saw them as one nation they were slowly merging together, blending into one. There were Nationalists in Scotland just as there are Nationalists everywhere but they were seen as the lunatic fringe. Then one day they found oil in the North Sea and everything changed. They created myths like everyone in England being Conservative and everyone in Scotland being Socialist. Let me tell you I see expensive cars with personalised number plates filling the roads every day, even the humble crofter drives a Japanese 4X4. When they got the right to buy their council houses cheap the Scots rushed to buy them. Scotland is full of Conservatives but no one will admit to it, even the bank managers claim they are Socialist. But what is so Socialist about keeping all the oil for yourself?
Trident is an American made missile leased to the British government but they are not in themselves nuclear, the nuclear part has "Made in Britain" stamped on it.
Your prerogative. My estimation is based upon witnessing a succession of sycophantic UK governments and the UK's involvement in American criminality. Yours ?
Because it sounds like SNP scaremongering and makes no sense whatsoever. If we were getting the missiles for nothing, like Israel does, I could believe it. But we aint gonna fork out that sort of money if we don't get the launch codes, no way.
Sorry Fredc...everything is the UK is at the behest of the American military! Even the computer codes are owned by the US military! But just think....If America fires just one atomic missile from your English soil...where do you think the Russians are going to fire back? It certainly won't be Scottish soil if we have our way! But you my son...can trust who you want, your owned and bought Aristocracy wearing the AIPAC crown or support those like Enoch Powell who fought against American ownership of England! Regards Highlander
It appears that the missile system itself is leased from the US of AIPAC; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Trident_programme The only thing ' British ' about it is the diminishing submarine fleet. The Scots would be correct in removing this insane system from their country.
Why don't you welcome the Brit nuclear base to Brighton ? You've got a pier to lash the tubs to and your economy could do with some Yanks spending Chinese money.
No, the missiles are leased from the USA as I said in an earlier post, they are not nuclear, they could just as easily carry a conventional warhead The only thing which is nuclear is the warheads which were made in Britain, they are the same warheads we used on the Polaris missile. We can't buy or develop new ones because we signed the NPT.
You should think for yourself before believing everything the SNP propaganda machine tells you. America couldn't fire any nuclear missiles from English soil even is they had any, which they don't. The only nuclear capable missiles in Britain now are submarine based. More SNP scaremongering, vote for independence or you all die in your beds. Do you honestly believe the population of Scotland are that stupid?
Aye..... yer a prize ID 10 t! Sovereign base area.....do you realise what that means? Obviously...you don't! Do some homework! And as for nuclear weapons......you have no bloody idea! Die in your beds.....well I suppose its better than dying or killing on some battle field in an illegal war committing genocide against a nation which is undefended! Education elevates the need to be scared....we're well educated....pity the tory cuts so effect your English pride that you need to feel that ignorance is bliss... in your case!!!! Regards Highlander
