[doganjo]

Ah, but Russ, we Scots have our own Parliament!  And we will do just exactly fit we effin feel like daein, fit wey, cus we're aw heid the baws -

[marigold]

Do I sense a little irony there - annie?

[doganjo]

Just a tad, dear one, just a tad.

[Hilarysmum]

I know several people who have never worked (in UK as well as here in France) and who either claim their benefits in UK and live in france or who claim benefits in France.  In at least 3 of these cases the recipients work on the black as well as claiming.  Its life. 

Yes, but it's also your money!

So true

[r+lchick]

My mum had a very simple attitude to life.  No matter what culture or colour, if they were clean (personal higiene) and worked they were OK in her books. She came from one up from the slums of Liverpool in the 1930s and has always hated unwashed people.  That was the way I was brought up.  Not a bad attitude. 

[Hardfeather]

Why do scots wish to preserve their autonomy and culture but don't want to hear about all the scots living and working (sometimes in very influential positions) in England.?

I can't speak for all Scots, obviously, but I personally don't really care how many Scots there are living and working in England, or how influential they may be. That is a potential problem for the English, should they wish to see it that way. The Midlothian Question suggests that they may find it a little irritating when it comes to voting in the great house, but I'm not sure how the man in the street feels.

The Scots have a good reputation across the world.

Why should Scots not want to preserve their culture, and wish to have autonomy?

[sellickbhoy]

well said Aengus

[RUSTYME]

well the English,Welsh, Irish, and Scots can want as much as they want ...wether it be autonomy/Independence or whatever, the fact remains the Former UK is now part of the EU .
 It will be up to EU commissioners how much power any former nation/state has , and if you read the Lisbon treaty/constitution that won't be much.
The EU is now on a roll to set up as a 'United States of Europe' if you like .  It has always had an anthem and flag , now I have even heard it referred to as the EU National Anthem and National flag of the EU, by EU politicians .  The final nail in the UK's coffin will be when the French and Germans take the London stock market apart , which they are already in the process of trying to  do . Everything else (all the banks , building societies , what remained of any manufacturing industry we had )  is either being sold off to other EU members, or has been  already . The stock market was the jewel in the UK's dwindling crown , having become one of the most powerfull markets in the world .
  So enjoy whatever power you think you have, while you can , over the next year or so things are going to become very different . I don't mean that as a slur on any individual former country member, wether he/she be from Ireland, Scotland , Wales , N.Ireland or England , but just as a statement of fact . We do not have any individual political power left anymore , apart from what the EU Commission says we 'may' have. 

cheers

Russ
 

[sellickbhoy]

given that we are the 5th largest economic power, why is it all our good institutions are being bought over by French, German and Spanish companies?

why are we (British - for now!) not buying their prized assets?

always amazes me to hear that we are being assett stripped and sold off - can't believe that our businesses aren't buying up the opposition.

[sandy]

Evolution!!! move onward and upward...good or bad the world is changing!!! Anyway, didn't the Romans do it all before???

[RUSTYME]

http://centurean2.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/your-country-almost-gone-enoch-powell-was-right-on-this-too-no-wonder-corrupt-mps-destroyed-the-mans-credibility-treated-like-suckers/

Many of the answers as to why are in the link above , or in links provided within the article. You could argue that it is very one sided view of what has happened and what is yet to happen . However if you read the article in full and check just a few of the links within, you will soon see by what has already happened and what we know is in the pipeline , that most , if not all ? ,of these events are being implemented .   
 Evolution ? you mean dictatorship Sandy surely ?

Cheers

Russ

[marigold]

Oh *********
I had a bellyfull of politics at work today - Can't we talk about chickens?
Actually if you watch your chickens very carefully you can see much of the power play and xenophobia  apparent in this thread in the chicken yard.
James - are you still there or did you go and read a book or something?

[doganjo]

I'm here and I'm not reading a book or anything.  I have just wrapped my Secret Santa pressie.

[jameslindsay]

Oh *********
I had a bellyfull of politics at work today - Can't we talk about chickens?
Actually if you watch your chickens very carefully you can see much of the power play and xenophobia  apparent in this thread in the chicken yard.
James - are you still there or did you go and read a book or something?

I'm still here, sitting back and watching the debate. Actually went to bed lastnight and thought I had signed out of here but when I came back on this morning I was still logged in for some reason...

[sandy]

I bet this same argument went on from the beginning of time!!! never ending story. Like all  species, our basic instinct is to protect ourselves and our families, be aware of strangers, things unfamiliar to  us, changes that may threaten our life's etc. I try to think with empathy, looking at things from others prospectives, think in their shoes. I know the powerful in any group will rule, that again needs to be, for better or worse, democracy, dictatorship or communist, there is little, myself as an individual can/will do.....just fingers crossed, head in a bucket and enjoy what you can!!!