The Core

The powers that be want a nay! I've changed my mind to a yes but can't vote being in Canada just now.

The real sticking point of the debate has been the currency issue, or more so the lender of last resort.

It seems people have switched to a yes because there hasn't been much positive coming from the "no" camp. Ultimately most of the discussion has been around economics.

The SNP (Scottish National Party) are the instigators of the referendum and they propose a currency union with the rest of the UK and continue to use Sterling. The UK parties have all said there's no chance of it and there's a bit of bluff on both sides. The SNP argue that if Scotland cannot take the proportion of the UK's assets, then it will won't take the proportion of debt either. The underlying theme would seem to be that the rest of the UK would co-operate, as Scottish exports (a large part being oil) helps the balance of trade with Sterling.

Ultimately the referendum is whether the people want Scotland to be independent, and there would be an election. So any party is entitled to have a different point of view and be voted in on that.

The EU Commissioner (?) had came out and said that Scotland would not be assured automatic entry into the EU or Euro.

Doubtful there'd be border controls.

There are a lot of unknowns if the yes vote comes through.

A good read on the subject:

Schroedinger's Kingdom: the Scottish Political Singularity Explained

http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2014/06/the-scottish-political-singula.html

It makes it really hard to even think about writing that next near-future Scottish police thriller when I can't predict what country it will be set in, much less what its public culture will look like or where it will be ruled from.

>Debbie says.

She bases this on how she sees a similar "Do you want out?" referendum going for, say, Texas. Or maybe even Vermont.

Mini states fragmenting off from larger unions only make sense when there are no powerful enemies nearby. With peace and prosperity let's people think about fiddling with the status quo.  Scotland is not the end of it:

Belgium is barely holding together, Spain and especially if Scotland votes for separation, Quebec will eventually try again.  There are more.

The whole Scotland question took me by surprise, I had no idea that close to 50% of the voters might consider separation. It is going the be very interesting.

My heart wants the union to stay.
My pockets wants it to go.

I fear that Yes will win (posted something in private that may be interesting)

I see no problems in us keeping the full name (even if Scotland leaves)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Scotland is voting whether to become an independant nation by leaving the UK. The rest of Great Britain isn't voting to change and will continue to be all it is, within it's formal name.