• Scottish Referendum? 'Better Together'?
    74 replies, posted
The white paper is one of the most pathetic things ever written. They claim it's independence but they still leant everything they already have, like the pound, the BBC and to join the EU without accepting the immigration agreements that you have to abide by to be part of the EU. A no vote for independence will be safer, or history will repeat itself. Don't forget, England effectively bought Scotland after it bankrupt itself in 1700 trying to compete with the English trading routes. Seems a bit familiar with the North Sea energy profits. We all know fossil fuels last forever.
[QUOTE=Memobot;43048730]The white paper is one of the most pathetic things ever written. They claim it's independence but they still leant everything they already have, like the pound, the BBC and to join the EU without accepting the immigration agreements that you have to abide by to be part of the EU. A no vote for independence will be safer, or history will repeat itself. Don't forget, England effectively bought Scotland after it bankrupt itself in 1700 trying to compete with the English trading routes. Seems a bit familiar with the North Sea energy profits. We all know fossil fuels last forever.[/QUOTE] They won't be able to support free universities, due to mass English speaking people in the EU coming to Scotland for their free education - i.e Wales, England, Northern Ireland. Currently, they have a law in place under British law to make English, Welsh and Irish students pay, which the EU will not abide by if Scotland goes reapply for membership.
[QUOTE=Vasili;43049273]They won't be able to support free universities, due to mass English speaking people in the EU coming to Scotland for their free education - i.e Wales, England, Northern Ireland. Currently, they have a law in place under British law to make English, Welsh and Irish students pay, which the EU will not abide by if Scotland goes reapply for membership.[/QUOTE] And why will that cripple us any more than the swarms of Romanian, Bulgarian, Spanish, ... students that come here already?
[QUOTE=Flapadar;43057357]And why will that cripple us any more than the swarms of Romanian, Bulgarian, Spanish, ... students that come here already?[/QUOTE] because at the moment for english, welsh and northern irish prospective students before scottish independence: university in england/wales/n.ireland - normal fees, which can be up to £9k/year university in scotland - cheaper but fees still apply after scottish independence: university in england/wales/n.ireland - normal fees, which can be up to £9k/year university in scotland - free i think that's a pretty good indicator. for european students little will change, but it'll be a big change to non-scottish UK students
[QUOTE=Flapadar;43057357]And why will that cripple us any more than the swarms of Romanian, Bulgarian, Spanish, ... students that come here already?[/QUOTE] In short; its not easy. In length; because they are not native English speaking countries, this means the number of students attending foreign far away Universities are significantly less compared to bordering countries next door that speaks the same language as you, offering cheap method of travel to your nation and share similar cultural values. Can you imagine the influx of Welsh, English and N.Irish students coming to Scotland for free education if you suddenly became another EU member? A student from England instead of having to pay £9,000 a year could attend a Scottish Uni for no fees at all. Newcastle is not that far away from Scotland, a simple foot over the border and he can get free education intead of 9k charge at home. That is the emphasis I'm making here - short distance travel and how easy it will be. [URL="http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/universities-scotland-eu-students-could-be-liable-for-tuition-fees-after-independence.1369916561"]This is such a worrying problem, that the SNP wants to charge all EU countries in the future tuition fees if they get independence, which I believe is not allowed.[/URL]
that sounds like complete bullshit anyone from the EU would learn english for a free education and if they don't want to then half of the EU countries offer free education anyway
[QUOTE=Kondor;43062593]that sounds like complete bullshit anyone from the EU would learn english for a free education and if they don't want to then half of the EU countries offer free education anyway[/QUOTE] Here in the Netherlands, we're taught English in school, and then for an extra 200 euros you can do the Cambridge Advanced English exam. (A certificate of which really helps your applications.) I didn't do it eventually because I went and started a study here in the Netherlands, but I was [I]this[/I] close to going to Scotland for a study.
I think the referendum itself is a brilliant idea, but the trouble is a lot of Scottish people aren't being educated. Most Scottish media is Yes and most English media is No, even the BBC. Before they vote, they should have to read some list of pros and cons to independence, and then answer a quiz. If they fail the quiz they can't vote. Democracy only works if the decision-makers are informed, and it's very easy to allow bias to fall into passionate issues like this.
Id go for independance.
I can see some benefits to independence, what ever Scotland has, now can be haggled with Britain rather than just given. Although, there probably are benefits to being apart of the UK that once they leave, they wont have. Shafted in some areas, benefiting in others.
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