Arrrgghhh, Scotland, why do you do it to me?

here's the headline...

The break-up of the union now appears inevitable

With nationalism on the rise in every corner, 2008 will see the UK stretched to breaking point. Yet still Westminster is oblivious.

here's the link...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2238275,00.html

this article discusses essentially what we've discussed before. scotland's going to pull out (thereby dissolving the united kingdom), now there are rumblings from wales and (as always) more of a kerfuffle in N Ireland.

here's what i really want to talk about though-- england, scotland, wales, and northern ireland are all a part of the EU (because they are all a part GB, and GB is an EU member nation). if any of them pulls out of the union that makes them great britain it will all dissolve and there will be no more GB. england alone is not an EU member nation. neither is scotland, etc...

so, if it all falls apart do they all get grandfathered right back in? do they all have to re-apply for member status (which takes YEARS)? does that mean that people who know hold UK passports and are members of the EU will no longer be members of the EU? how do they let people decide where they want to hold their citizenship (say you were born in england, lived there until you were 20 and then moved to scotland to work. you've lived there for 20 years, your kids were born there, but you still consider yourself english- do you get to pick to be english? and then are your kids english by default? or do they get to pick when they come of age? do you get to pick at all or do you just become a citizen of whatever country you happen to live in (no matter how long you've lived there or where you were born)?).

this is so infinitely complicated i just can't even stand it!! there's no precedent for anything like this in the EU. i haven't read the entire EU Constitution so i don't even know if they've made a provision for something like this happening.

why is scotland really trying to make life so much harder on me? i've always wanted to live in the UK. i've always wanted EU member status. i'm married to a scottish national. i wanted (note past tense) to raise my kids in scotland, but not if it means they won't be EU members. it's the best club in the world to be a member of, and damn it my kids will be members!! i understand why they want to break away, i understand why they want and what they want, but is there not some way that they can amend treaties, etc and take more control over their own country without actually completely breaking away?

why are they going this to me?!?!?! (not to mention to the people of N Ireland, if they have to re-apply for EU member status they will NEVER get it. they're not economically viable enough. neither is wales). way to fuck it up for everyone, scotland. think of all the other subjugated lands that are your comrades before you run straight to dissolution!!!

they can take away my EU member status, but they can never take away my FREEDOMMM!!

Scotland leaving Great Britain (and possibly the EU)?!?

As many of you probably don't know the Scottish Nationalist Party now has a majority in the Scottish Gov't. One of their biggest platforms is a call for Scottish independence. In the short term this might seem like a good idea. Scotland does have the North Sea Oil, after all. Problem is, that's only going to last for about another 10 years. Where does Scotland get their money after that? And if they pull out of GB does that mean they lose EU member status as well (which would be tragic and detrimental to their economy).
I know that Scotland has wanted to be free of the English yoke since Edward I, but come on! I feel like they're only going to hurt themselves here.
Check out part of the SNP's manifesto and tell me what you think about them pulling out of GB.

I agree with a lot of what it says (like pulling out of Iraq), but doesn't some of it sound a little ambitious (cus yeah, they'll be like Norway in no time!)

passionate about independence and equality for our nation.
The 300-year old Union is no longer fit for purpose. It was never designed for the 21st century world. It is well past its sell by date and is holding Scotland back.
The SNP believe Scotland and England should be equal nations – friends and partners - both free to make our own choices.
Scotland can be more successful. Looking around at home and at our near neighbours abroad, more and more Scots believe this too. Independence is the natural state for nations like our own.
Success for Scotland
Scotland has the people, the talent and potential to become one of the big success stories of the 21st century. We can match the success of independent Norway – according to the UN the best place in the world to live. We can do as well as independent Ireland, now the fourth most prosperous nation on the planet.
With independence Scotland will be free to flourish and grow. We can give our nation a competitive edge.
Peace and Prosperity
Together we can build a more prosperous nation, a Scotland that is a force for good, a voice for peace in our world.
Free to bring Scottish troops home from Iraq.
Free to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland’s shores.
Free to invest our oil wealth in a fund for future generations.
Peace and prosperity - equality and opportunity.
These are some of the best reasons for independence and why the SNP trust the people of Scotland to decide on independence in a referendum.