Dissolve the UK?

[Mr Stabby]

With the rise on Scottish nationalism, opening the possibility of Scotland leaving the UK, is there still any point to the union?

If Scotland left, the 300 year old union, which formed Great Britain would be over, N.Ireland would then be sure to leave.

The Union was necessary for the success of the British Empire, and to end Anglo-Scottish wars, so is the union now obsolete. Do England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland actually benefit from being a single political organization?

 

[Solaris]

I'd end the union soley becuase I believe it would bring about a united Ireland quicker.

 

[Mr Stabby]

You're English, why do you care about Ireland?

 

[The Monkey]

If the people of Scotland want to be free, let them.

If the people of Wales want to be free, let them.

If the people of Northern Ireland want to be free, let them.

I have no opinion on my own, other that the people themselves should decide.

 

[Solaris]

You're English, why do you care about Ireland?

I'm Irish.

 

[Mr Stabby]

If the people of Scotland want to be free, let them.

If the people of Wales want to be free, let them.

If the people of Northern Ireland want to be free, let them.

I have no opinion on my own, other that the people themselves should decide.

It's not really about freedom the UK is a free society, it's about if there is any point to it, it applies equally to the English as it does to anyone else.

 

[Mr Stabby]

I'm Irish.

As in actually Irish born in Ireland, or like American feeling Irish.

 

[ComradeBadger]

It would be incredibly foolish from an economic standpoint to dissolve the United Kingdom... no matter what your leanings on the political spectrum.
Intergration and Union create a wider goods market and increase all the principalities' competitiveness - the same reason that the European Union is a good idea.

Oh, and Solaris, some Irish people don't want a united Ireland - you can't force intergration on an uninterested population - and WHY would a united Ireland be a good thing?

 

[Mr Stabby]

From an economic standpoint we are moving towards a pan-European economy but dissolving the union would almost certainly have a short term negative affect.

Certain issues such as military and foreign policy, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, would not be able to do in near the same capacity as Britain does today, even on it's own England would have it's world power diminished.

Other issues such as health and education would most likely be handled better if devolved.


I think there isn't any definitively good reason to keep the union, but it would be too much effort to end it.

 

[ComradeBadger]

None of the potentially devolved states have the capacity to effectively compete in a world market - arguably they still function as colonies with Britain as the metropolitan state. They are not suited to economic intergration as individuals - health and education would in all likelyhood be handled exceptionally poorly... National Sovereignty would become of paramount importance - especially in Education, which is quite frankly a very antiquated and dangerous idea with very little practical application, aside from as a manipulative ideology.

From an economic standpoint we should be moving towards complete European economic intergration, as it is one of the world's largest markets and as such has large benefits stemming from full economic membership. Devolution is not really constructive.

 

[Mr-Fusion]

I feel like doing a Good Will Hunting here.

Wtf is this plagiarism shit!

 

[Mr Stabby]

None of the potentially devolved states have the capacity to effectively compete in a world market - arguably they still function as colonies with Britain as the metropolitan state. They are not suited to economic intergration as individuals - health and education would in all likelyhood be handled exceptionally poorly... National Sovereignty would become of paramount importance - especially in Education, which is quite frankly a very antiquated and dangerous idea with very little practical application, aside from as a manipulative ideology.

If we take the Republic of Ireland as an example, it's doing very well within the EU economically. When Northern Ireland's health was run from direct rule in Whitehall, it was often in many respects the worst in the UK, due to a lack of effective accountability to elected officials. Education is different in each nation anyway, the Scots do different final exams, Northern Ireland's A levels use a different exam board than England and still has academic selection. How would these be affected other than financially.

From an economic standpoint we should be moving towards complete European economic integration, as it is one of the world's largest markets and as such has large benefits stemming from full economic membership. Devolution is not really constructive.

I agree we should be more involved in Europe economically, wouldn't that negate the economic impacts of splitting the UK. Wouldn't Scotland fit into the EU the same as the RoI.

 

[Mr Stabby]

I feel like doing a Good Will Hunting here.

Wtf is this plagiarism shit!

What?

 

[Link]

The UK is not water soluble damnit!

(means I voted no btw)

 

[The Monkey]

It's not really about freedom the UK is a free society, it's about if there is any point to it, it applies equally to the English as it does to anyone else.

Yeah, I wasn't speaking about civil or political liberties, I was talking about national independence. Maybe that would'be been a more appropriate term.

Most of the union is controlled from England, as far as I know, but OK:
If the people of England want national independence, let them have it.

 

[Mr Stabby]

It's controlled by England because power is proportional, the English make up the vast majority of the UK's population so most MPs represent the English. In theory an Englishman has as much say in how the country is run as a Scotsman.

This is more about whether people should support ending or keeping the union. Northern Ireland and Scotland already have the right to leave by their own choice, not sure about Wales.

 

[Raxxman]

Sorry I love Scotland, but from what I can see dissolving the union is one of the worst things that could happen the Scotland. Scotland has a massive problem with young able bodied people leaving Scotland in droves. This is driving the population age up faster than the rest of the UK (which is already an ageing population) coupled with Scotland having the worst diet in UK leads to a massive health problem which for some reason people seem to believe that it will sort itself out if only they weren't in league with the damn limeys.

In addition people hear that Scotland has oil and that oil will pave the way to Scotlands freedom is a bit convoluted in they just assume that British assets will become Scottish assets without any hitches.

Basically I think it's a stupid idea. I'm all for Scottish pride and Scottish identity, but I don't want to have to choose which country my passport comes from and becoming a foreigner in what I consider my own home.

 

[lePobz]

Are you nuts? As soon as the union is gone, we'll be burning scottish villages all over again. And they'll be throwing rocks at our mounted infantry.

 

[Druckles]

As long as we rebuild Hadrians wall (to a hieght over a toddler), I'm perfectly fine with Scotland leaving. As long as they take Gordon Brown with them

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

No, none of the union nations can really be important political/economic players on their own.

 

[kirovman]

Why not focus on our similarities rather than our differences? As a union, we bring a lot of mutual benefits to each other. I think this is a distraction from real issues that need addressing.

The sum is worth more than the parts.

 

[Kadayi]

In the great scheme of things nationalism is little more than a conceit and the foundation stone for xenophobia.

 

[Druckles]

Why not focus on our similarities rather than our differences? As a union, we bring a lot of mutual benefits to each other. I think this is a distraction from real issues that need addressing.

The sum is worth more than the parts.

Yeah, lets all unite together in one global state...

It might be going backwards, somewhat, but it might be good for us. I have no opinion on the matter, and there's no option for it. I think my vote will have to go for keeping the union, but giving more powers to each part.

Even being British, it wouldn't effect me that much.