Independence for Scotland?

I would not have expected the Scottish Independence vote would be so close.  But the polls show a dead heat.  We should know the results in a few hours.  All this because the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I, refused to marry and so her Scottish cousin James VI inherited the English thrown uniting the two countries.  Even if the Independence movement loses by a few votes I am certain the referendum will return in a few short years.  Independence is supported by young Scots overwhelmingly and opposed by those over 65.  Time alone will guarantee secession as the older generation dies out.

The implications, however, will be far-reaching.  There will now be no stopping the Catalonians and Basques in Spain, or the Walloons in Belgium from copying this movement.  Are there others in Europe?  A few decades ago the Quebecois almost separated from Canada until the popular (Quebec-born) Mulroney quelled that fire.  Might that movement return?  And then all over Africa and the Mid-East the current national boundaries (those created by France and Britain based solely on geographic and French/British political boundaries – not tribal and cultural boundaries) are being questioned.  Maybe the world should step aside and let these countries work things out themselves – without interference.  There will be a lot of bloodshed for certain.  But what if Texas wants to secede again?  Holy Smoke!

From everything I have read Scotland will suffer for a long time.  They have no currency since Cameron has declared they may not adopt the British Pound nor tie the value of any new Scottish currency created to the British Pound.  The Euro is suffering and both the EC and the European Central Bank are not anxious to admit any more burdensome members who would drain the EC economy – so Scotland has been told not to expect they can adopt the Euro or become a EC member.  They will be held responsible for a proportion of the UK debt and will lose most of the North Sea oil field revenues because they are privately (British) owned.  They are dependent on a rail system owned entirely by the British (English) government and which is centralized around London, not Glasgow or Edinburgh.  They have decided they will retain the Queen (because she is ½ Scottish anyway) as their monarch.  But she is not happy about the idea of secession.

  In times past a new country would request an established monarchy to sacrifice a ‘second son’ to become a king.  England has a couple of 'second sons'.   Can you imagine if Prince Andrew were to become King of Scotland before Prince Charles ascended the English thrown?  Would he then remarry Sarah?  Queen Fergie?  Or a perhaps King Harry?  Well, it isn’t going to happen anyway.  But it is a clever idea.