[sauropod]

My understanding of the SNP is that they are repulsively Leftist (worse than the Labour Party if you can believe that).

I have been following this and the argument that the First Minister has been making is that independence is good for jobs (IOW not a freedom issue).

This is not a valid, rational reason for Independence.

However, I do think Independence might be good for Scotland.

I also live in a State where the urban population centers dictate what the State does and what the level of taxation is. I also am tired of not having a voice in our government. I do understand the desire for Scots to be independent.

[riverdawg]

Scotland has its own parliament and a large degree of “home rule” already. An independent Scotland will be a socialist welfare state, at least in the near term. The two big issues that will have to be negotiated with Westminster if there is a break-up are (1) who gets what share of the tax revenues from (declining) North Sea oil extraction (Scotland is not going to get 100%) and (2) what is going to happen with UK military bases and personnel now stationed in Scotland, most notably at the submarine base Clyde at Faslane (they are not all going to be absorbed into an independent Scotland; for one thing, the Scots couldn't afford them and, for another, don't want the nuclear subs).

Then, of course, there is the important decision regarding currency. Scotland could decide to stay on the pound, go on the euro, or start its own currency. Under the first two choices, Scotland would cede much of its newly gained independence to others, with great economic risks (see southern Europe). The third choice wouldn't be very different from the first two; Scotland is a small, open economy, so its exchange rate would be determined primarily by the balance of payments, changes in government debt, and relative money growth.