Canada can adopt Scotland while the United States welcomes England as the 51st state. Ireland can have custody of Wales.

That's not really how independence works.

England to Scotland: "There can be only one"

McCrickets: Soon appearing on the Value Menu

Seriously, what would an independent Scotland's economy be and who would they trade with?

ZAZ: Seriously, what would an independent Scotland's economy be and who would they trade with?

Are you trying to say that whisky and haggis are not viable exports?

They could take a vote on it when they're independent. How 'bout that? If the Euro is so awesome then everyone will vote yes, right?

Jubeebee

It is illegal to import haggis into the United States.

ZAZ: Seriously, what would an independent Scotland's economy be and who would they trade with?

They would export consonants and import vowels?

ZAZ: Ireland can have custody of Wales.

No, no, just no. Round up the Welsh, ship them off to Africa or some other out of the way place, and turn Wales into an open set for the BBC.

The problem with Scotland is that it's full of Scots.

Quiefenburger: The problem with Scotland is that it's full of Scots.



Damned Scots! They ruined Scotland!

But I keep hearing that the Eurozone is going to collapse Any Day Now.

/if it's not Scottish, it's CRRRRRAP!

I forgot about the oil, or that it could be claimed by Scotland. Britain could end up like Iraq or Sudan as they struggle to draw the boundary lines and arrange export.

I'm not Scottish, so I don't have a horse in the race, but I've never understood the heavy pull for Scottish independence. I mean, I'm all for "the right to determine your people's future" or whatever, but with a devolved legislature plus representation in Westminster, plus Scots-language and Scottish Gaelic education and media, plus essentially complete control on local matters...what would they really have to gain from disunion? Keeping all of the North Sea oil revenues for themselves? That's all I can think of.

mark.jms: I quote Scottish author Iain Banks:

Scotland is wet and dreary. Don't let anybody tell you different. Even the hills are mostly just big mounds, not proper mountains like the Alps or the Rockies. People will tell you it's all romantic and rugged but I've yet to see the evidence. Even when it's nice it's covered in a cloud of these bastard little insects called midges so you have to stay inside anyway. Plus it's full of Scots. Case rested.

I will say that Iain Banks is the best thing to come out of Scotland in a long, long time. I'd like to buy that man a beer for the amount of enjoyment I've had over the years reading his books.

Also, Luxembourg's a craphole. Avoid it at all costs.

Lord Dimwit: I will say that Iain Banks is the best thing to come out of Scotland in a long, long time.

Pre-millennial Banks, sure. Since 2000 or so, not so much. I gave up The Algebraist out of boredom. Matter was OK and would have been much better at half the length. I just finished Transition and thought it needed a rewrite before publication.

ZAZ: Lord Dimwit: I will say that Iain Banks is the best thing to come out of Scotland in a long, long time.

Pre-millennial Banks, sure. Since 2000 or so, not so much. I gave up The Algebraist out of boredom. Matter was OK and would have been much better at half the length. I just finished Transition and thought it needed a rewrite before publication.

To be honest, I've never read any of his non-Culture stuff. Matter was definitely the worst Culture novel, but it wasn't terrible. The most recent novel in the series, Surface Detail, was quite good.

Of course, nothing beats The Player of Games.

Lord Dimwit

Player of Games was good, but Use of Weapons was great. See also Espedair Street (non-SF, set in Scotland). Espedair Street pulls of the feat of having a character with political views who isn't being a conduit for the author's preaching; Transition fails there.

ZAZ: Lord Dimwit

Player of Games was good, but Use of Weapons was great. See also Espedair Street (non-SF, set in Scotland). Espedair Street pulls of the feat of having a character with political views who isn't being a conduit for the author's preaching; Transition fails there.

Very Mild Spoiler Alert

I felt the twist in Use of Weapons to be a bit contrived. It just came out of left field for me. Maybe I need to go re-read it.

As for Banks's politics - the whole reason I like The Culture is because it's a beautiful communist utopia. :)