Good morning Goodfellers, in response to your no.38
In 2013 Scotland’s GDP was $248.5B. Every source I have looked at quote percentages which indicate modest and consistent growth on par with the rest of the UK. It could be argued growth to be a better indication of a countries potential. My own estimates put the figure at nearer $275B. The 2018 Scottish GDP per person was on par with the rest of the UK according to GERS.
Regarding potential; Scotland has only 8.3% of the UK's population. But it does have...
32% of the land area
61% of the sea area
90% of the fresh water. (There is more fresh water in loch Ness than In all the lakes in England and Wales combined!)
65% of the natural gas production
96.5% of the crude oil production
47% of the open cast coal production
81% of the untapped coal reserves
62% of the timber production
46% of the total forest area
92% of the hydro electric production
40% of the wind wave and solar energy production
60% of the fish landings
30% of the beef herd
20% of the sheep herd
9% of the dairy herd
10% of the pig herd
15% of the cereal holdings
20% of the potato holdings
100% of the Scotch Whisky industry
70% of Gin manufacturing
Scotland has huge potential alongside a...
17 billion pound construction industry
13 billion food and drink industry
10 billion business services industry
9.3 billion chemical services industry
9.3 billion tourism industry
7 billion financial services industry
5 billion aeroservice industry
4.5 billion whisky export industry
3.1 billion life sciences industry
Scotland still has 350 million pounds worth of textile exports
Scotland has 25% of Europe’s wave and wind energy potential.
And finally, we are blessed to have 1.5 trillion pounds - £1,500,000,000,000 worth of oil and gas reserves. All these figures are available online.
The extraction of oil and gas while developing green technologies is not incompatible, lots of other countries are managing to do so. We can look to our Scandinavian neighbours who are doing it. The UK is doing it. The transition, like anything worthwhile, takes time.
You’re right Trident is a very expensive insurance policy but do we really need it? Who are our enemies? Do we really envisage mass annihilation as way to resolve issues? We should be deeply suspicious of the American controlled Trident program. The missiles are refitted and exchanged in America, any that are tested are done so under the supervision of the American manufacturers and the US Navy. The guidance and control systems are American and the UK government is not allowed to modify, adjust or replace them. It could be argued that it cannot be described as a British Independent Nuclear weapon. In the event of Scotland achieving Independence Helensburgh will become home to a Defence Force fleet.
The reason we cannot recruit enough teachers, nurses and doctors is more to do with the workplace politics than with anything else. Teachers and nurses, I have dealings with are not entirely comfortable with the management systems that interpret policy and govern their working life. So, yes a proportion will seek to work elsewhere, not necessarily in the UK though.
Your question, “If Scotland had no oil, would it be pushing for independence?” The simple answer is Yes.
You appear to promote the view that the UK has supported Scotland for three hundred years. Does that Westminster support include the Highland Clearances? Does that Westminster support include the deindustrialization of England and Scotland without regenerating anything in its stead?
I get the impression that you believe that it is normal for another country to run, rule, and manage its neighbour. The union was supposed to be a union of equals yet there is plenty of evidence to show that there is nothing equal about the arrangement, then or now.
I am disappointed at your effrontery when you say that when the oil runs out or becomes worthless, the people of Scotland will go begging the UK to take the country back! Since the end of WW2 over 140 countries have gained independence, not one has asked to be returned to its former overseer.
I admit that I was an ardent unionist; in 2014 I voted an emphatic ‘NO’. I had spent 26 years in the military, served all over the world and I was proud of the UK and proud to be British. However my experience of September 2014 and analysing what happened I realised the people of Scotland had been comprehensively lied to. Project ‘Fear’ sponsored by Westminster and the MSM was based upon deceit and lies. The promised ‘Vow’ was carefully diluted almost out of existence.
Then there was Brexit. The people of Scotland voted to remain and subsequently have been ignored. Since then we’ve seen the rise of British nationalism south of the border where racism and hatred have become more prevalent.
I’m a Scottish ‘Normalist’, it is normal for a country to be independent.
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