While on one level it has nothing to do with us, I do still find it very interesting and think there may be knock-on effects here.
Overall the nationalist in me says Yes to an independent Scotland (probably Scottish republic in due course). Its a county I like, have been a good few times - ok I'm more attracted to lochs, glens, tartan, accents .."ancient celtic links" etc than high rise east end Glasgow slums, so my interest is admittedly superficial.
Ignoring the heart and gonig solely with the brain, other than having power locally and not in far flung London, I cant imagine it makes great sense. Economically it seems a shaky proposition, in the pound, not in the pound, with the Bank of England or with no central bank. Joining the EU but maybe not in the Euro. If in the Euro then a hassle with its main trading partner England.
In an Irish context I think it would be a blow to unionism/loyalism and while that, in a general sense, appeals to me, I dont really want to think of any fallout, so from that point of view I'd be nearly as well pleased if status quo prevailed on both sides of the water. On an economic level there is the risk they will steal our clothes with low tax rates and attractiveness to FDI.
Its definitely a big leap of faith for the Scots, I dont doubt their resourcefullness as a people to get it right in the long run (maybe ROI, for all its failings, is a template for life after the union), but there's an awful lot of uncertainty being ladled onto fairly tenuous benefits.
Still, roll the dice, vote Yes, twill be great craic.....
Overall the nationalist in me says Yes to an independent Scotland (probably Scottish republic in due course). Its a county I like, have been a good few times - ok I'm more attracted to lochs, glens, tartan, accents .."ancient celtic links" etc than high rise east end Glasgow slums, so my interest is admittedly superficial.
Ignoring the heart and gonig solely with the brain, other than having power locally and not in far flung London, I cant imagine it makes great sense. Economically it seems a shaky proposition, in the pound, not in the pound, with the Bank of England or with no central bank. Joining the EU but maybe not in the Euro. If in the Euro then a hassle with its main trading partner England.
In an Irish context I think it would be a blow to unionism/loyalism and while that, in a general sense, appeals to me, I dont really want to think of any fallout, so from that point of view I'd be nearly as well pleased if status quo prevailed on both sides of the water. On an economic level there is the risk they will steal our clothes with low tax rates and attractiveness to FDI.
Its definitely a big leap of faith for the Scots, I dont doubt their resourcefullness as a people to get it right in the long run (maybe ROI, for all its failings, is a template for life after the union), but there's an awful lot of uncertainty being ladled onto fairly tenuous benefits.
Still, roll the dice, vote Yes, twill be great craic.....