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[10ebbor10]

Yup, currently one of the large banks is going to be dismantled. The other stays in operation, but it's going to be closed for quite a few days.

[Descan]

How the hell have we gotten to the point where banks ARE the economy, instead of just helping the economy? With like, loans and junk.

[Sheb]

Well, depends on the country. Small countries like Cyprus or Iceland that let their banks grow can easily find themselves with banks owning debts several time the size of their GDP (debts include deposits in said banks). When they crash, either you can offload most of the cost to someone else (Like Iceland did by letting English and Dutch depositors down), or you're screwed.

[Owlbread]

Well, depends on the country. Small countries like Cyprus or Iceland that let their banks grow can easily find themselves with banks owning debts several time the size of their GDP (debts include deposits in said banks). When they crash, either you can offload most of the cost to someone else (Like Iceland did by letting English and Dutch depositors down), or you're screwed.

Hey hey... British.

But yes, I would say that countries like Iceland and Ireland have been able to react quite well to the economic crisis. They do seem to be recovering, Iceland most notably.

[Descan]

Owlbread, keep this in mind: If Scotland becomes independent of the British State, I'm moving there.

[Owlbread]

Owlbread, keep this in mind: If Scotland becomes independent of the British State, I'm moving there.

I can guarantee you we would want as many people like yourself as we could get. We have an ageing population so any young people from abroad are welcome, especially those who want to change the world. I'd personally recommend it to everyone here to join us in the creation of a new country. This kind of opportunity is very, very rare.

I can tell you it's our intention to make nuclear weapons in Scotland unconstitutional, along with adding more unusual things like "The right to a home" and other stuff that hasn't been outlined yet. This is a constitution drafted about 10 years ago that has been heavily edited since then;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Constitution_for_a_Free_Scotland

I think the kind of society we would want to build here may accord with the sensibilities of a lot of the people on this forum. Though we are often socially conservative as a population (just going by my experiences of older people, we're generally tolerant though) we tend to elect parties that are more progressive than elsewhere in the UK - we're pro gun control, pro gay rights, anti nuclear, very "green"... you know, all that stuff.

Though we're going to remain in NATO and the EU and keep the Queen etc, my theory is that after independence we will elect a party that will remove us from NATO and eventually we will become a republic.

[Sheb]

Well, the 4 billions euros Iceland didn't reimburse to British (Sorry, I though that bank only operated in England) and Dutch taxpayers is equal to 40% of GDP. That's quite a massive help. Cyprus might get 10 billions, but they'll have to pay it back.

[Owlbread]

Well, the 4 billions euros Iceland didn't reimburse to British (Sorry, I though that bank only operated in England) and Dutch taxpayers is equal to 40% of GDP. That's quite a massive help. Cyprus might get 10 billions, but they'll have to pay it back.

It does operate in England but it is technically the Bank of Britain. It was formed before the Act of Union though I think, incidentally by a Scotsman, hence the name "Bank of England".

[Sheb]

I was talking about the Icelandic banks that collapsed during the crisis.

[Descan]

All of that makes it very enticing, but my main reason is because I myself am a Scot by ancestry, and I want to go back to the hills and glens. They're so pretty!

[MonkeyHead]

I really hope Scotland does go for independance. It opens a big can of worms for Those of us in Wales, NI, Cornwall, Channel Isles etc... I for one would welcome the break up of the UK as a positive step towards greater European unity, as the smaller republics formed would need to be part of the EU to stand any chance of survival over anything over the short term.

[Owlbread]

I really hope Scotland does go for independance. It opens a big can of worms for Those of us in Wales, NI, Cornwall, Channel Isles etc... I for one would welcome the break up of the UK as a positive step towards greater European unity, as the smaller republics formed would need to be part of the EU to stand any chance of survival over anything over the short term.

I agree with you 100%. One of my main reasons for supporting independence is the fact that by breaking up the UK we will become less isolated and find it far easier to integrate into a greater European community of whatever shape. I think it would do wonders for our tourist industries as well. I can tell you as soon as Wales became independent I'd obtain a Welsh passport.

[Sheb]

I'm hoping Scotland get independant for another reason: It'd prove that a region can secede without bloodshed and that a state can let a part go away without loosing face. It would be a great precedent.

[Owlbread]

I'm hoping Scotland get independant for another reason: It'd prove that a region can secede without bloodshed and that a state can let a part go away without loosing face. It would be a great precedent.

It will almost certainly happen that way. This will probably be one of the most amicable secessions there's been. Other regions in Europe are already learning from us - Catalonia frequently uses our example in arguments with the Spanish government over their own referendum.

[Sheb]

It sure look like it's set to become a European norm. Maybe it'll give Quebec's independence movement a fresh start too.