egafd.com

There are no greater snobs in this World than Scottish landed gentry, had the misfortune of meeting some of them on Golf trips. A union with Scandinavia would be impossible, they are healthy, clean living people with innovative industries and a great quality of life. Scotland's major cities, apart from Aberdeen and Inverness are rife for crime, aids, violence, drug dealing and shitty housing schemes, far removed from Sweden or Finland.
Scotland has the highest rate of lung cancer and liver problems, as well as coronary heart disease in the whole of Europe. Why the chuff would Norway, which has the highest standard of living on the planet want to have a union with Paisley, Greenock or Motherwell?

Yessh, Sssir Ssean is!!

Four, Warren. Stirling joined the city club a few years back. And Perth seems to think it's one, even though it isn't.

Ireland used to get big money from the EU, but not any more. You don't get rich by getting handouts, otherwise Africa would be rich now. You get rich by attracting and keeping business, and that's why Ireland has been so successful. They have a decent legal system, decent infrastructure (fair play, the EU money did buy some good roads), the people speak English, which is a big advantage in international business, and they have a corporation tax rate of, iirc, 12%.

The EU money could have built as many roads as you like, that in itself does not lead to prosperity if no-one can afford to drive on them.

I think that Ireland now is putting money into the EU rather than taking it out. New EU members such as the Baltic states are going down the same route, opening up to business and setting a low flat tax system. It's countries like France and Italy which are weighing the EU down these days. Every time a French politician suggests to the French people that maybe they will have to do a bit of work now and then the buggers revolt, so I can't see that problem changing soon, but you can only keep reality at bay for so long. Gordon Brown, the gold seller, pensions robber and snake oil salesman behind the bullshit PFI scheme may be about to find this out for himself.

Home Rule for Enland thats what we want!thumbsup!

[quote]Not sure why you have such a problem with Scottish independence! It works in Eire.[/quote]

True to an extent. Trouble is, as soon as Ireland got independence, 50% of em migrated to the UK for work! There are more Irish people living in the UK and New York alone, than living in the whole of the Republic.

On another note.......I knew this thread was going to turn into a Celt v Anglo Saxon argument !laugh!