Jump to content

Independence - how would you vote?

Wee Bully

By Wee Bully
in The Politics Forum

Independence - how would you vote  

1,135 members have voted

You do not have permission to vote in this poll, or see the poll results. Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 32k
  • Created
  • Last Reply
The Moonster

The Moonster

Posted
Posted

Point of view from a Finnish guy who lived here:

Dear friend,
I'm a bit of an outsider, not being a Scot. However, I lived in Scotland for several years and still maintain a keen interest in all things Scottish, hoping to return to my country of choice one day.

I come from a country that was under Swedish rule for several hundreds of years, then under Russian rule for about a hundred years. Finnish independence is one of the most important things in my life. I cry tears of gratitude every Independence Day (6 December) that my “wee, stupid and poor” country is independent, since 1917.

The first couple of decades were quite a turbulent ride but WWII galvanised us and now, we, a small nation of approximately 5 million, are a united country. We've done well from an agrarian backwater to a modern industrialised and then post-industrialised country, and still a welfare state that looks after the weak and vulnerable and educates the young to the highest PISA standards and beyond - no tuition fees in our universities. We could not have done it if we hadn't been independent.

Of course, the case for Scotland is different. Finland has fewer natural resources (like oil), fewer opportunities for hydropower (Finland is a very flat and boggy country, imagine Caithness x 10), no chance of tidal power (the Baltic Sea doesn't have tides), we have Arctic winters (need to sell different kinds of diesel fuel summer/winter, by law two sets of tyres (summer/winter) compulsory for every car), houses/blocks of flats required to clear snow from pavements etc. Living in Finland is a real drag. All these problems, but yet we are a rich nation and are mostly happy in our own country.

From the outside, it seems that Scotland is being hood-winked into believing that it cannot stand on its own two feet while at the same time being asset-stripped to pay the debts of a dysfunctional larger neighbour. I'm baffled as to why all Scots can't see that. I'm baffled why anybody would vote for the unionist parties. They don't want what's best for Scotland; they want what's best for the UK, which usually isn't what's best for Scotland. Of course, there are Scottish voters who want what's best for the UK (read London/SE), and I cannot for the life of me understand WHY. But each to their own.

The tragedy of Scotland is that it gets bogged down by UK politics and can't fully function, realise its potential. Look to Norway - a small nation with a multitude of potential infrastructure problems including sparse population, hilly terrain and semi-Arctic climate. But they've made it, because of their oil and wisely spent oil revenues. Why didn't Scotland fare as well with the oil? Because England (officially, the UK) hoovered it up and squandered most of it
No use crying over spilled milk (or oil) now. But I just cannot understand how so many who live in such a fundamentally rich country don’t want to control their own affairs through their own government.

Maybe Finnish independence wasn't so "financially viable" in the beginning, but sometimes you have to think with your heart, not numbers. As to Scotland, Scotland is richer in natural beauty, natural resources, education, history, just about anything (except land area) than Finland. Begs the question, why isn't Scotland independent again? You've got more going for you than we ever had, and we made a success of it.
Come on in – the water of independence is lovely!

Yours fraternally,

Lumi

Come on in, the water's lovely :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeGas

DeeGas

Posted
Posted

Point of view from a Finnish guy who lived here:

Dear friend,

I'm a bit of an outsider, not being a Scot. However, I lived in Scotland for several years and still maintain a keen interest in all things Scottish, hoping to return to my country of choice one day.

I come from a country that was under Swedish rule for several hundreds of years, then under Russian rule for about a hundred years. Finnish independence is one of the most important things in my life. I cry tears of gratitude every Independence Day (6 December) that my “wee, stupid and poor” country is independent, since 1917.

The first couple of decades were quite a turbulent ride but WWII galvanised us and now, we, a small nation of approximately 5 million, are a united country. We've done well from an agrarian backwater to a modern industrialised and then post-industrialised country, and still a welfare state that looks after the weak and vulnerable and educates the young to the highest PISA standards and beyond - no tuition fees in our universities. We could not have done it if we hadn't been independent.

Of course, the case for Scotland is different. Finland has fewer natural resources (like oil), fewer opportunities for hydropower (Finland is a very flat and boggy country, imagine Caithness x 10), no chance of tidal power (the Baltic Sea doesn't have tides), we have Arctic winters (need to sell different kinds of diesel fuel summer/winter, by law two sets of tyres (summer/winter) compulsory for every car), houses/blocks of flats required to clear snow from pavements etc. Living in Finland is a real drag. All these problems, but yet we are a rich nation and are mostly happy in our own country.

From the outside, it seems that Scotland is being hood-winked into believing that it cannot stand on its own two feet while at the same time being asset-stripped to pay the debts of a dysfunctional larger neighbour. I'm baffled as to why all Scots can't see that. I'm baffled why anybody would vote for the unionist parties. They don't want what's best for Scotland; they want what's best for the UK, which usually isn't what's best for Scotland. Of course, there are Scottish voters who want what's best for the UK (read London/SE), and I cannot for the life of me understand WHY. But each to their own.

The tragedy of Scotland is that it gets bogged down by UK politics and can't fully function, realise its potential. Look to Norway - a small nation with a multitude of potential infrastructure problems including sparse population, hilly terrain and semi-Arctic climate. But they've made it, because of their oil and wisely spent oil revenues. Why didn't Scotland fare as well with the oil? Because England (officially, the UK) hoovered it up and squandered most of it

No use crying over spilled milk (or oil) now. But I just cannot understand how so many who live in such a fundamentally rich country don’t want to control their own affairs through their own government.

Maybe Finnish independence wasn't so "financially viable" in the beginning, but sometimes you have to think with your heart, not numbers. As to Scotland, Scotland is richer in natural beauty, natural resources, education, history, just about anything (except land area) than Finland. Begs the question, why isn't Scotland independent again? You've got more going for you than we ever had, and we made a success of it.

Come on in – the water of independence is lovely!

Yours fraternally,

Lumi

Come on in, the water's lovely :D

"Of course,the case for Scotland is different."

'Scotland,Scotland,Scotland,

the country where he quite wants to be'

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeGas

DeeGas

Posted
Posted

You're right it is different. What exactly is your point?

Finlands experience has nothing to do with Scotlands and this persons view has nothing to do with the UK.

Just as the Holland/Belgium and Czech/Slav has nothing to do with Scotland and its place as a country and fully paid up and loved member of the United Kingdom.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
The Moonster

The Moonster

Posted
Posted

Finlands experience has nothing to do with Scotlands and this persons view has nothing to do with the UK.

Just as the Holland/Belgium and Czech/Slav has nothing to do with Scotland and its place as a country and fully paid up and loved member of the United Kingdom.

So we can't compare ourselves with similar sized countries who have gone independent because we're currently part of the UK? No one has suggested things aren't different with us, quite the opposite.

Who exactly are we loved by? I thought we were subsidy junkies holding the rest of the UK back?

Apart from that, a point well made.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
~~~

~~~

Posted
Posted

Finlands experience has nothing to do with Scotlands and this persons view has nothing to do with the UK.

Just as the Holland/Belgium and Czech/Slav has nothing to do with Scotland and its place as a country and fully paid up and loved member of the United Kingdom.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2424713/Scots-MUST-vote-independence-Itll-save-rest-fortune-says-SIMON-HEFFER.html

Many Scots don’t much like the English and appear ungrateful for everything that England does for them in showering them with money.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeGas

DeeGas

Posted
Posted

So we can't compare ourselves with similar sized countries who have gone independent because we're currently part of the UK? No one has suggested things aren't different with us, quite the opposite.

Who exactly are we loved by? I thought we were subsidy junkies holding the rest of the UK back?

Apart from that, a point well made.

Financial arguments and all the rest of political stuff aside,millions of Unionists from all over the UK love Scotland and its people.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Davi3j

Davi3j

Posted
Posted

Come on mate.Yes Northern Irish people are 'British',but really,this photo does not represent the majority of Brits.

You will not succeed it making this a SNP v Tory or Scotalnd v England thing.

We like you. :)

No, you like out Tax reciepts ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest

Guest

Posted
Posted

And they can't love Scotland and it's people if it goes independent because...

No, DeeGas will be boycotting Scottish products if we gain independence :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DeeGas

DeeGas

Posted
Posted

And they can't love Scotland and it's people if it goes independent because...

If Scotland goes inde,for many UK people it will appear to be a slap in the face,a running out the back door shouting "it's out oil",desertion,the blatant and unarguable fact of border creation,divide on our islands.

It's simply not a very nice thing to do at all and it will be a shame for all of us and reflect badly on all of us too.

We should remain together on our island/s.

300 years of Union.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...