Implications of Scottish Independence

[Damien Evans]

[derail] why so many? 20 should be more than enough. Same with Westminster where there are currently about 1500 legislators. The US gets by with a third of this number.[/derail]

In what way is 435 for the lower and 100 for the upper house a third of 129?
Plus there's the 50 state legislatures as well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate

 

[MikeG]

In what way is 435 for the lower and 100 for the upper house a third of 129?
Plus there's the 50 state legislatures as well...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate

[derail] why so many? 20 should be more than enough. Same with Westminster where there are currently about 1500 legislators. The US gets by with a third of this number.[/derail]

In what way is that complicated?

 

[mummymonkey]

So any word on how David Cameron's visit to Scotland went down with the locals? New opinion polls, press reaction, etc?

The "locals" barely noticed.
In other news the polls continue to show solid support for The Union.

 

[Craig B]

Deleted.

 

[funk de fino]

The "locals" barely noticed.
In other news the polls continue to show solid support for The Union.

I bet you wish you could see the secret poll seeing as you seem to set such great importance to each single poll eh?

http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/blog/archives/category/scotland

 

[Craig B]

Discussion of recent poll results here. http://ukpollingreport.co.uk

 

[Damien Evans]

In what way is that complicated?

I'm pretty sure those aren't the numbers he was comparing, and in any case he's still wrong even if they were, because he forgot to take into account the federal nature of the USA and the resulting proliferation of politicians in the individual states.

 

[The Don]

I'm pretty sure those aren't the numbers he was comparing, and in any case he's still wrong even if they were, because he forgot to take into account the federal nature of the USA and the resulting proliferation of politicians in the individual states.

If a smaller number of legislators is "better" then maybe the ideal is a single person making all the decisions .

 

[Francesca R]

Discussion of recent poll results here. http://ukpollingreport.co.uk

The needle hasn't noticeably moved on betting odds: 43% yes Ladbrokes, 43.5% yes Paddy Power

 

[Architect]

First Minister actually got some decent slot on BBC's morning show today, much to my surprise.

 

[Rolfe]

Who was interviewing? Robertson? He can be good sometimes, but more often than not he's just obnoxious. (About ten years ago I heard him being obnoxious to Chris Day, homoeopathic vet, and I have to say that one did warm the cockles of my heart.)

I've re-tuned my radio and practically superglued the dial to Radio 3. I never hear this stuff now. Naughtie's interviewing technique wasn't doing my blood pressure any good at all. It's ridiculous. How can anyone imagine he could be impartial, with his CV? And it's not as if he's got a track record of putting aside his personal views when on air. But he's parachuted in for two days a week, stays at the Crown Plaza for a couple of nights and then jets back to Heathrow. Way to go, to have your finger on the pulse of the nation, I don't think.

Oh well, if they managed to give the FM a fair hearing, once, that's something for the other side of the scales.

Rolfe.

 

[Architect]

Apparently he was on R4 as well as the telly

 

[Rolfe]

Oh, I thought you meant GMS. I never turn the TV on in the morning.

Rolfe.

 

[Craig B]

Polls are on the move again, a little.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides...for-stv-shows-gap-between-yes-and-no-closing/

 

[Francesca R]

No change at the bookies (links previous page)

 

[Craig B]

No change at the bookies (links previous page)

Well that's that, then. I remain surprised at the importance you attach to bookies' odds. One wonders, given such a dependable source, why anyone even bothers to conduct surveys.

 

[Francesca R]

No, it's not "that". And I don't attach inordinate importance to betting odds. However they are an additional source of (presumably) unbiased expectation, and everybody else posts polls.

 

[Aber]

From the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-27656628

Scottish independence: Tories back Scots income tax power

Scotland should be given full income tax powers following a vote against independence, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said.

She also argued Holyrood should get additional responsibility over VAT, income tax and welfare.

The plans, which have been endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron, will be in the Conservative manifesto for the 2015 UK election.

I'll be interested in the explanation of how this means 'they' are against more powers devolved to Scotland...

 

[SpitfireIX]

Polls are on the move again, a little.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland-decides...for-stv-shows-gap-between-yes-and-no-closing/

I haven't posted on this topic in years, but I saw this poll today, and I just have to ask, why the huge gender gap? Any thoughts?

ETA: Apologies if this has been discussed up-thread.

 

[Soapy Sam]

There may not be one single reason.

Maybe it's an artifact of the polling process?

I can't help thinking of something I was once told by an insurance company investigator:- In a large number of motor accidents involving two or more vehicles , by far the majority of women tend to brake immediately they perceive a potential for collision, whereas men are more evenly divided between those who brake and those who attempt to accelerate out of trouble.

Is the connection too facile? Maybe. There's no doubt men, especially young men, actively seek avoidable hazards that (most) women neatly and wisely sidestep. Maybe more men just like change for it's own sake.

Maybe women are just smarter?