Today's the Big Day for Scotland

[luckyval]

Any thoughts on their vote for independence? 

[rupertpenny]

I am very interested to see what happens. I don't think I know enough to make a prediction though. I can kind of see both sides here.

[missmaddie]

I know which way put family there is voting, as does all of FB. Sounded like the polls were close last night.

[meggers5]

I'm going to puke.

I hope when it comes down to it, people see that they are better together.

[Deleted]

Oh. This is not about Outlander.



Moving on.

[Deleted]

Kidding.


I am curious to see what happens. I can see both sides.

[luckyval]

I don't know a whole lot about it either. But, like you said rupert, I'm fascinated by the developments.

The BBC (is this the news source I really want to be going to? lol) noted that UK Prime Minister David Cameron would face pressure to resign if the vote goes through. Though I think any opposition party would use something like this to leverage their desire to get him out of office.

[weelass24]

The results will be announced at "breakfast time" tomorrow. It should be interesting. The polling has been mostly in favor of the No vote. Last week the Yes vote was leading slightly. I think it will end up on the No side. The BBC has a nightly show on the referendum for at least the last few months.

Interesting side note, the talk here is that the Crown announced this pregnancy at the time they did, not because of her HG, but to try to drum up some good will toward England for the No vote.

[CurlyQ284]

Sept 18, 2014 7:10:18 GMT -5 @lazerus24 said:

Oh. This is not about Outlander.



Moving on.

Sam is pro-independence. Obviously we should also be pro-independence then lol.

[CurlyQ284]

Is this a one time vote? If they stay together will they vote on it again during the next cycle?

[Deleted]

Sept 18, 2014 7:18:18 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:10:18 GMT -5 @lazerus24 said:

Oh. This is not about Outlander.



Moving on.

Sam is pro-independence. Obviously we should also be pro-independence then lol.

Exactly!


His fine ass has been wrapped on blue and white all over instagram this week.

[wambam]

I am apparently the very worst because I didn't know this was going on until yesterday. Whoops.

[candreco]

The whole thing is really fascinating, in that people have been agitating for Scottish independence in so many ways, for so long. It'll be interesting to see what happens with a democratic, non-violent approach, considering wars have been fought over this.

Also, I'm really enjoying the accents in all of the interviews with Scots this week, lol.

[luckyval]

Sept 18, 2014 7:25:41 GMT -5 candreco said:

The whole thing is really fascinating, in that people have been agitating for Scottish independence in so many ways, for so long. It'll be interesting to see what happens with a democratic, non-violent approach, considering wars have been fought over this.

Also, I'm really enjoying the accents in all of the interviews with Scots this week, lol.

I knoooow! Listening to interviews on NPR this week, I could wrap myself up in cute accents forever. 

[meggers5]

Sept 18, 2014 7:15:24 GMT -5 TR said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:08:05 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

I'm going to puke.

I hope when it comes down to it, people see that they are better together.

Remind me, what are your ties to Scotland? Family? Fiancé? I can't remember.

I lived there for 2 years. FI lives there but is not Scottish. I'll be moving there next year after we get married.

[bluetopaz]

I don't know enough about it to have a good opinion, but like others have said, I've been totally captured by the debate. (And the accents).

[underwaterrhymes]

If the Yes vote wins, things are going to be messy. Obviously domestically there would be a lot to sort out, but from a foreign-policy perspective, things would be no less complicated. With so much in upheaval already this makes me nervous, although I can understand the reasoning behind wanting independence.

CurlyQ284 - This is supposedly a once-in-a-generation thing. Whether it's a yes or no vote - that's it. They don't want a no vote, in particular, to continue to be a referendum and they've indicated that they would work toward greater inclusion for the Scots.

[CurlyQ284]

So does England decide when it goes on the ballot in Scotland?

[meggers5]

Sept 18, 2014 7:47:28 GMT -5 TR said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:36:31 GMT -5 meggers5 said:

I lived there for 2 years. FI lives there but is not Scottish. I'll be moving there next year after we get married.

Gotcha. I'm totally clueless on immigration stuff so would this affect your ability to move there at all? Or just what it would be like living there?

I could still move there. Their immigration would likely become a bit easier. The problems are twofold. FI has spent about 9 years in the UK all with the goal of becoming a British citizen. He does not want Scottish citizenship. As well, depending on how the industry/business works, banks could end up moving their operations to England. If the jobs go he will have to follow them.

Realistically, the worst case scenario for me is that we move to London. I really don't want to though (no offense London ladies). It's not a city I want to live in. I have no friends there. It's big and expensive and I have spent the last 3.5 years counting the moments until I get to move back to Edinburgh.

Not the end of the world, but I would be really upset.

[Waffles]

I'm at the same time really intrigued in a detached way and a little worried about the implications for H as a non resident.

I generally think the way forward is to unite more countries together at EU and world level rather than to divide but I also haven't had to be consistently ruled by people I haven't voted for.

[Deleted]

My family is completely divided on it. I've never seen my aunts and uncles and grandparents so argumentative.

[underwaterrhymes]

Sept 18, 2014 7:45:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

So does England decide when it goes on the ballot in Scotland?

I don't understand the question. It's on the ballot right now and they're voting today.

Scotland picked the September 18 date.

[CurlyQ284]

I feel like I don't know much about this so I might sound like an idiot. I saw a clip of some political debates and a Scot said that 68% of Scots think the oil revenues should go to Scots (since the oil is being drilled in scotland). He then asked the PM if he agrees.

The PM laughed as well as a bunch of other politicians in the room and said "if you're going to ask a stupid question, you're going to get a stupid answer."

Why is his question stupid and why was everyone laughing? I felt like an idiot.

Or maybe PM is being a douchebag?

[CurlyQ284]

Sept 18, 2014 7:58:26 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:45:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

So does England decide when it goes on the ballot in Scotland?

I don't understand the question. It's on the ballot right now and they're voting today.

Scotland picked the September 18 date.

You said " they" don't want it to be continued on the referendum and "they" will work for greater inclusion for the Scots so it sounded like England is the one that is setting all the rules for the vote.

Sorry I know very little about this so I should probably keep to myself lol

[rupertpenny]

Sept 18, 2014 8:04:19 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:58:26 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I don't understand the question. It's on the ballot right now and they're voting today.

Scotland picked the September 18 date.

You said " they" don't want it to be continued on the referendum and "they" will work for greater inclusion for the Scots so it sounded like England is the one that is setting all the rules for the vote.

Sorry I know very little about this so I should probably keep to myself lol

The UK parliament allowed it to go to the ballot. They don't want Scotland to vote yes, but I guess they are civilized people who believe in democracy or something. A rare breed.

I think this is why it freaks out other countries with separatist movements. The UK is being so reasonable they are all going to look like asshole when they shut down independence movements.

[underwaterrhymes]

Sept 18, 2014 8:04:19 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

Sept 18, 2014 7:58:26 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I don't understand the question. It's on the ballot right now and they're voting today.

Scotland picked the September 18 date.

You said " they" don't want it to be continued on the referendum and "they" will work for greater inclusion for the Scots so it sounded like England is the one that is setting all the rules for the vote.

Sorry I know very little about this so I should probably keep to myself lol

Sorry. I meant the parliament. I wasn't clear.

[wise_rita]

Current time stamp: 1 USD = 61 pence

Heading to bed now and will update in about 8 hours!

ETA 17 hours later: NO 

1 USD = 61 pence

[underwaterrhymes]

Sept 18, 2014 8:00:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I feel like I don't know much about this so I might sound like an idiot. I saw a clip of some political debates and a Scot said that 68% of Scots think the oil revenues should go to Scots (since the oil is being drilled in scotland). He then asked the PM if he agrees.

The PM laughed as well as a bunch of other politicians in the room and said "if you're going to ask a stupid question, you're going to get a stupid answer."

Why is his question stupid and why was everyone laughing? I felt like an idiot.

Or maybe PM is being a douchebag?

I didn't see the interview, so I'm not sure about context.

So this gets a bit complicated. Although Scotland isn't a sovereign state, they've divided the North Sea into sections to define which part belongs to England and Wales and which part belongs to Scotland. "It's Scotland's oil!" has been a slogan for some time now because Scotland's section has the vast majority of the oil. (I think 90%?)

However, because Scotland isn't its own state, it doesn't really have any true maritime borders and technically any money it gains goes to the UK as a whole.

It could also be Cameron laughed because oil has a lot to do with the desire to become independent, but many believe the confidence over Scotland's oil supply is a bit misguided.

Regardless, he's nervous over today's vote because it has tremendous implications for his political career and as we know well here in the States politicians can be utter douchebags a lot of the time. I think it's highly likely he was just being a dick.

[CurlyQ284]

Ok thanks! That's what I thought but everyone in the room was laughing. I felt bad for the Scot that asked the question.

[vampsterdam]

Sept 18, 2014 8:00:33 GMT -5 CurlyQ284 said:

I feel like I don't know much about this so I might sound like an idiot. I saw a clip of some political debates and a Scot said that 68% of Scots think the oil revenues should go to Scots (since the oil is being drilled in scotland). He then asked the PM if he agrees.

The PM laughed as well as a bunch of other politicians in the room and said "if you're going to ask a stupid question, you're going to get a stupid answer."

Why is his question stupid and why was everyone laughing? I felt like an idiot.

Or maybe PM is being a douchebag?

This clip was shown in John Oliver's segment about Scotland's independence vote. I know shows like this aren't actual news shows, but I still found it all very fascinating.

AND OMG the one "vote no" commercial with the mom? How offensive. Like, "I'm just a woman. I can't think for myself!"