So if they vote yes, I hope they wont be able to vote in the general election due next year?! If will have nothing to do with them
The Loch Ness Monster has this morning announced plans to relocate to Lake Windermere in the event of a Yes vote, "To avoid uncertainty.".
It is really amazing!! Last night I headed doon the chippie, after a pint in the local (just to re-enforce all the stereo-types and prove the English are right about us booze fueled, fried food consuming Jocks). While waiting, there is a heated debate going on about the election. An awful lot of shite being spouted by the totally misinformed, granted. Cutting back through a bit of the Uni on the way home there is a place where normally youf are wrecking the street furniture with skateboards or scooters. Last night the skateboards were there, but they were parked against a wall and the youfs were in a debate about the election. I've never seen political engagement like this EVER. Like it or loathe it, the politicos ought to be careful for what they wish for, when the people get fired up its inspiring and scary all at the same time.
None of them. Each chapter has to be first opened, then dealt with, then closed. Only after all of the 35 chapters are concluded does accession become possible, provided the current member states agree. Hazarding a guess, I would say that half of the chapters would be fairly easy to close but there are several which would be a real struggle. Like I said, dealing with all this in three years would be a mad rush - any less is fantasy land.
Following the switch (now 15 years ago), the German government carried out a detailed inquiry into the inflationary effects of the introduction within Germany. The report was that there was indeed an inflationary effect - of around 2%, which is roughly what inflation would have been anyway. There was a small number of instances of small items like coffees being increased by 20% or more in some places, and of businesses which had done this losing customers - those instances were wildly exaggerated in the Mail and the Express at the time. Exchange rates are a different issue. Currencies go up and down against one another from time to time, and the Euro is no exception. The Euro has had periods of sinking to a low level, and periods of rising to a high level although recently it has been quite stable. These fluctuation don't make any difference to the relationship between prices and incomes within the zone, obviously.
Of course they will. Whatever the result of the referendum, it does not have an immediate, direct, legal, or binding effect - it is indicative only. It is only binding in the political sense, i.e. that no politician or party could afford to flout a clear result so they will all be politically obliged to put it into effect. Most likely nothing would have been done to change the legal position by May 2015, so the general election would be UK-wide in any event. Even Alex Salmond's fantasy timetable does not imagine Scotland being independent before 2016.
Thanks Pete for some quality in-depth background analysis, as always. Salmond has been a very effective leader and rather out maneuvered the NO camp. How did the government agree to the Scots outside of Scotland not having a vote but EU citizens in Scotland being able to vote? I find him highly unpleasant. If he wins, a few years down the road (when things are not so rosy) he'll be complaining of the bad settlement by Westminster, that has cost Scotland so dearly. If he loses he'll be smiling at all the further powers he's won from Westminster. How will Scotland with half it's population being very unhappy with the result, kiss and make up? Rather like divorcing your wife only to return to living together with nothing settled. It will cause a few waves to the rest of the UK economically but I think after such a bitter contest, it's better Scotland takes off on it's own. Good luck! The economy, Pensions, benefit payments, Currency, EU, attracting business, etc.....I see a car crash in slow motion.
It was Wee Eck who pushed for 16 year olds getting the vote, but failed to anticipate that the youth of Scotland, like it's women, prefer the status quo; another triumph of optimism over reality.
another triumph for democracy as it will be the kids that inherit the earth. bend the story to suit ones opinion's. expected it from pete not from yourself.. saying that has pete ever expressed an opinion?
It is what the polls tell us fin. It is men in the 30 - 55 age group who are going over to the Yes side. Young people and women are more likely to in the No camp.
@finm I admire your misplaced optimism. A Yes vote will indeed be a car crash for the Scottish. I assume you will be taking on all your liabilities as well as your alleged assets?
