Charlie StrossJul 5, 2023

Arguments for/against Scottish independence:

Every single argument against Brexit—except ONE—also applies in miniature to Scotland leaving the UK (a smaller nation leaving a larger free trade zone).

The exception was the Tory complaint that laws in the UK were dictated from afar by an unfriendly foreign power.

In the case of Scotland, s.35 orders, reserved issues, and Henry VIII orders prove this assertion to be true—a right-wing English nationalist party has a choke-hold on Scottish policy.

Show threadCharlie StrossJul 5, 2023

If we (Scotland) get independence, the near-term economic disruption will be ghastly.

But in the longer term, we'll no longer be run from afar as a Tory-controlled colony: there will be scope to improve things, if we can do so.

Control over immigration policy means we could import the skilled workers we're so short of, and regain freedom of movement with the continent. Control over trade and fiscal policy means we could rejoin the EU and adopt the Euro. Frictionless trade! Stable currency!

Show threadSeiðr
@cstross Let's put it in relative terms: how disruptive will it be compared to Brexit? and How long term before being welcome into the EU?
Jul 5, 2023 at 5:52pmWeb
Show threadCharlie StrossJul 5, 2023
@Illuminatus Your model for disruption is UK/Ireland relations—except the land border with England is significantly shorter and easier to build customs checkpoints at. And the legal boilerplate for how Westminster should handle Scottish secession is available off-the-shelf, thanks to Ireland doing the exact same thing in 1922.
Show threadDon MartiJul 5, 2023
@cstross @Illuminatus Are there good locations on the border for tunneling, or are the smugglers going to be all drone-based? And will the routes be able to take profitable cargo in both directions, or have to come back empty?
Show threadCharlie StrossJul 5, 2023
@dmarti @Illuminatus Heh, no: the border is a third the length of the NI/Ireland border and crinkle-cut (hilly/mountainous): there are only 3 major roads, 3 railway lines, and about 15 minor roads that cross it. Terrible terrain for smugglers (they'd be better to do it by boat).
Show threadDon MartiJul 5, 2023
@cstross @Illuminatus maybe long-range WiFi hackers on the England side will climb a hill to get EU pr0n from long-range WiFi hackers on the Scotland side who are climbing a hill to get on a social site that won't launch in the EU
Show threadRoger Crew✅❌☑🗸❎✖✓✔Jul 5, 2023

@cstross @dmarti @Illuminatus

(Antonine Wall gets rebuilt 1900 years later)