Nae Chance

By Alan Kimber on 26/04/2014

It’s raining so a rant for your amusement, of course it’s all bullying! NOT from AK!! Just a very good pal.

Why on earth would a Scot who gave England an intelligent Stuart Monarch, to replace a barren semi legitimate Tudor, so that England, Wales & Ireland became part of the Scottish Isles, give up what they had so long desired, a united kingdom under Scottish rule. James VI sensibly told the Saxons that they better thole the arrangement and accept that they were to be British, e.g. a subset of the people that Edward thought he had conquered, and expect them to fight under a Union Jack with a thinly disguised St Andrews Cross as its main element.

Then to better exploit the resources of England corrupt and avaricious Scots united the parliaments and exploited both the resources and English market to build an industrial power, and spread Scottish influence and products throughout the World, making the Scots the wealthiest and most successful sub set of the British Diaspora. Scots governed many of the colonies, and governed England much of the time. It could be said that the UK operated mostly in the interest of Scotland, and probably still does. A Scot is welcome almost everywhere.

What rational that has any merit justifies breaking this arrangement which has benefited Scots, and economic immigrants like ourselves. It is very hard to be positive about a thoroughly crap idea.

This Brave Heart syndrome, that seems to have revived the Jacobite cause, would leave Scotland separated from the wealth and economic strength Scots did so much to develop. It’s like cutting off a nation’s nose to spite its face. The fact that the Norman usurpers of both countries found common cause and continued to exploit the indigenous population of both countries seems to be written out of the narrative. Class divisions and the divide between rich and poor will remain, and probably become more acute. The problem is not one of nationality but of economic power and exploitation, which has to fought on an international scale.

The whole discussion lead by the media and purportedly artistic community based on cultural identity is almost daft; the culture of Scotland was exported by Scottish landlords to make way for sheep. It is more honoured among the consequent Diaspora than here. The Gaelic culture barely survives, and the present Scottish culture only prospers as a local variety of Anglophone culture. Local dialect has largely disappeared. Sikhs, Moslems and Poles probably have a more coherent cultural identity. Many of the media arguments are redolent of insecurity not confidence.

I would be convinced if the former SLF conducted its business in Gaelic and landlords spoke to estate workers in Gaelic, rather than the language of the dominant minority and exploiter being the lingua franca.

The idea that Scotland could not be independent is a non argument, of course it could operate independently, and it could eventually make itself prosperous. It was only ever poor because those in power exploited those who generated the wealth in the name of governing and defending the country, that cost will increase not diminish.

What is going to change, except that 4 million people will have to bear the cost rather than 65 million? When we look at the cost of establishing the Irish State, corruption, de population and civil war dragged on for decades and depopulation almost equalled that of the Potato Famine.

God knows what it will be like to live in Scotland if the vote is very close. It will split the country and vile spirits of past religious, ethnic and class conflicts will get a new lease of life. All foreigners are resented in the East End of Glasgow, and that in a community of people of Irish, Italian, English backgrounds who came in desperation as economic immigrants, who while thinking themselves Scottish know almost nothing about Scotland, and are more gripped by religious and political divisions that have their roots elsewhere. There are people on the Housing Committee who might vote Yes if they thought it would result in desperate immigrants/refugees having a free bus pass withdrawn and access to any sort of social benefit denied. Anybody who is ahead of them in a Dr’s surgery is self evidently, an immigrant exploiting the health service, not an sick person in need of medical care. They resent the presence of the thousands of Chinese who currently enable the Universities to survive while educating the indigenous population for free. Under the surface there is a stinking swamp.

Will Scotland become a fairer and more equal country, no. Will it be able to get rid of nuclear weapons, not for a long time. Will it be able to operate effectively in the short term as a completely isolated currency, no. Will it get the wealth from oil, no.

In international law breaking up a country to secure exclusive the benefit of a natural resource is thought to be illegal, and has resulted in wars throughout Africa and South America. In fact it could be said that Germany’s invasion of the resource rich areas close to its borders it order to increase its economic power was the reason for WWII, and defending or integrating its European Diaspora just an excuse. Will Shetland & Orkney remain as part of Scotland, probably not.

If Russia can dismember Ukraine, annex Crimea, and gain control of the Donetsk coal basin, leaving an agrarian rump, then the remnant UK can quite easily justify taking control over any part of what is currently defined as Scotland if the vote for independence is dominantly no. Who puts the boots on the ground to defend it, a militia with pitch forks? What we currently think of as Scotland could be dismembered. The supporters of independence could end up with a theme park of heather and mountains owned by foreigners, who do not pay tax in any jurisdiction, but exert extraordinary influence. In fact the last people Scotland wants are the ones on behalf of whom the state has operated for centuries.

A new future, yes, as a minor rump economy open to exploitation by every foreign carpet bagger, from Donald Trump to oil companies, Norwegian fish farming firms and Swedish forestry and pulp firms. After golf courses, wait for gambling casinos and health spars, served by cringing indigenes dressed in tartan and tweed, on a no hour’s contract. Will the financial sector remain strong, yes, but as a tax haven for people making money elsewhere? Will it produce wealth for the people of Scotland, no, it will be the location for hedge funds and foreign investment operations and brass plates on doors, like Monaco, good for a few.