(Source: Herald Scotland) (Source: Yes Scotland)
Tomorrow, a landmark event will be taking place in Scotland as all Scottish residents who can vote (age 16 and over) will decide whether Scotland should secede from the United Kingdom. We can count on our fingers and toes the number of successful secessions that have taken place internationally, the majority of which we don't learn about in high school, as seen in the graphic below.
(Source: The Washington Post)
The Scottish independence proposal requires a simple majority to pass. According to the polls, the likelihood of Scotland's secession is a solid maybe, as approximately 48% are in support of secession, with the nationalists (Better Together) against them. Any currently undecided voters could make a huge difference in the outcome of this event, as they hold the crucial vote which could sway the majority in either direction. I recognize that to many Scots, independence is always preferable to being oppressed and forced into a conglomerate of countries and cultures like the United Kingdom, but in the grand scheme of things, a failure to gain independence would not make the largest of impacts on the rest of the world. Its primary exports are salmon and whiskey, which are also exported from a variety of other countries, and they're just a small member state of a commonwealth. Many issues have abounded, such as which currency Scotland will use, the status of North Sea oil, and how border control and immigration will be handled. Are they worth it? I think not.
My questions to you, dear readers, are simple enough. What is your opinion on Scotland's bid for independence and why? Should they keep quiet and be happy that they are living in a stable commonwealth, or should they keep pushing for freedom from the United Kingdom and take each issue as it comes? What are the advantages and disadvantages to independence? Is this method of determining their independence practical or inefficient and dangerous when it comes to putting the power to decide in the hands of the people?
My questions to you, dear readers, are simple enough. What is your opinion on Scotland's bid for independence and why? Should they keep quiet and be happy that they are living in a stable commonwealth, or should they keep pushing for freedom from the United Kingdom and take each issue as it comes? What are the advantages and disadvantages to independence? Is this method of determining their independence practical or inefficient and dangerous when it comes to putting the power to decide in the hands of the people?
1 comment:
This decision is actually quite a difficult one and is complicated for many reason. A big concern for the British is that the Scots have threatened to get rid of the nuclear weapons located in Scotland. England doesn't have room for such weapons so it is unclear what would happen. Also, financial the decision could have major impact on the already shaky global economy and the even more unstable European economy. Banks have threatened to leave Scotland, and some predict that more nationalism could be dangerous to the already struggling EU, and EuroZone.
I am not sure what the vote should be. I believe it should be up to the Scots, who have been warned about the consequences and benefits, even though it effects the world.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/09/16/348018843/like-it-or-not-scotlands-drama-may-hit-your-wallet
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