Devolution

[Wings of Fire]

Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a state to government at national, regional, or local level.

I was watching the news a few days ago and saw some story about Scottish and Welsh devolution and would like to know what others think of it. I am unsure of where I stand on the issue as opposition to it stinks quite strongly of Imperialism and Nationalism and I, personally. have no objections to 'Great' Britain losing her remaining 'empire' (such as it is) but on the other side there are some other factors to consider as well.

The economical impact would be quite huge on the UK as the North Sea oil is in Scottish territory and Scotland as a nation lacks any kind of independent police force or army. After speaking with a few Scottish friends I was quite alarmed to discover that there seems to be quite an uncalled for anti-English feeling in Scotland as taxes and other stuff are seen as 'England robbing from Scotland' as opposed to the central government distributing resources for the betterment of her people and I believe a few weeks ago the head of the Scottish Assembly reported to Scotland that England can not be trusted to give Scotland what she needs which I see as basically hate preaching.

There are also other reasons why I think total devolution would be a bad idea including the added difficulties a border (as much as you could call the line between any EU countries a border) would make including the added hardship of university applications (Britain has a national university application centre which includes unis in Scotland and Wales) and the added divisions between nations who according to the EU are supposed to be trying to form extra cohesiveness between them. But anyway I was interested in hearing the views of other British people and those of international people as well.

[Bullet Magnet]

I was thinking of breaking my house away from the rest of Greatish Britain. The tax and rent on the land is just horrendous. Independence, I say!

[Wings of Fire]

Apathy I say! Think of the drain you'll cause on the lower middle class.

[Anonyman!]

I was thinking of breaking my house away from the rest of Greatish Britain. The tax and rent on the land is just horrendous. Independence, I say!

Hey, it worked for us Yankees! Yee haw!


(If you do create the Nation of Bullet Magnetopia, I will henceforth become your first citizen. Not joking.)

[Strike Witch]

That country might get shot at.

Well, it's a better name then Carbomya, population 20000 Camels 40000.

[Hobo]

Hobonia.

It's the place to be

[Mac Sirloin]

Canada.

It's over here.

[Bullet Magnet]

Even in Belleville?

[Wings of Fire]

Bullet Magnetopia,

Aka

Internet.

[Anonyman!]

I essentially derailed the entire community off topic in a single post. I think I'm Jesus.

[skillyaslig]

Countries are always trying to gain power, and steal from one another. Countries get blamed for things, citizens will get mad, and anger (noes, rioters) will erupt. WW3, here we come.

[Fortesque13]

Countries are always trying to gain power, and steal from one another. Countries get blamed for things, citizens will get mad, and anger (noes, rioters) will erupt. WW3, here we come.

WW3 is definetely inevitable. Just a few more steps and we're in for it....

[Hobo]

WW3 is definetely inevitable. Just a few more steps and we're in for it....

I'd disagree. While the political climate at the moment is far from Friendly, Europe, North America, some of Asia and Australasia are all pretty stable.

[Nate]

Besides, the implication of a World War is that it would be a wide battlefront, raging across several countries. That's simply not going to happen these days seeing as land warfare has lost favour and countries can no longer count on a steady supply of young volunteers to die for their country.

[Strike Witch]

Most of Europe is all intermixed and happy, Australia and New Zealand are pretty happy, China's making millions off of exported goods and is happy, Japan's getting tons of exports and imports to make their economy work and are happy, and the US is imagining threats again but they're still kinda happy.

Isn't there a line of thought somewhere that two countries that both have McDonalds in them won't go to war with each other or something?

[Bullet Magnet]

That may be true, though not necessarily because of McDonald's. They're not that powerful (yet).

[Strike Witch]

Well, Duh.

It's more like Free-Trade/Globalization/Whatever.

[Bullet Magnet]

Anyway, I'm not keen on this whole devolution thing. I have always called myself British rather than English because I am proud to be associated with all the people's of Britain and those that the country in turn is and has been associated with (ie the Commonwealth). It disturbs me that there are so many (or seem to be so many, if we judge purely by the racket they make) who are in direct opposition to this notion of unity.

Plus the England flag doesn't make me think of England at all, but rather football hooligans and chavs, which is why I much prefer the UK flag with all of its representatives in place, which would hardly be right without Scotland.

Arbitrary reasons, I know, but I can't deal with the ins and outs of the real stuff. Tidal estuarine mixing is enough for me to handle, thank you very much.

[Nate]

Isn't there a line of thought somewhere that two countries that both have McDonalds in them won't go to war with each other or something?

The typical statement is that there has never been a war between two democracies. That said, I saw on QI that there was one of the minor countries in the Axis of Powers in WW2 that actually was a functioning democracy - I think it was Finland. But other than that example, the statement is completely true.

[Fortesque13]

Maybe you're right, but people nowadays are a lot more greedy and will do a lot of things for their own gain. Everyone runs along their own way and want their face to become visible in the crowd of unknown faces. But what if every individual in the crowd wants that?

I mean, who never thought of getting his own nuclear equipped country?(It's for "protection", of course)