A vote for Scotland, a vote for insignificance.

The SNP (Scottish National Party) has decided that Scotland need to think about full Independence from the UK. (The UK being England N.Ireland Wales and Scotland). Hurray for devolution! How wonderful, if you're into that stuff.

I however am not. In fact I would go so far as to say that anyone who thinks devolution is a good idea has probably let their 'red mist' hatred for the English cloud their judgement to such an extent that it can no longer really be called Judgement... idiocy maybe, but not judgement.

But let me put this in perspective. I have been born in a Celtic country. I am not now, nor will I ever be English. I like all my Celtic countrymen love ribbing the English for not being as good as the Celtic nations.
In addition I love that high power Civil service jobs are being exported out of the South East (mainly London) and being put in the areas they serve, thus allowing people who have an IQ over 15 who want a good job to remain in their local area.

But do I want the Celtic nations to be independent? No, of course not. No more than I want to declare my house to be independent of my street and demand my own post code and street sign.

The most amusing part of this of course is that the Scots cite one of their reasons for considering this as 'influence'. Presumably they mean that with a sense of irony? There is very little that would kill Scottish influence in the world stage quicker than leaving the UK. To have influence you need two things generally:

1. a strong well trained army;
2. a strong economy with a huge GDP.

Lets think this through, army? No, GDP? Not even close!

At this point some who know my views on Europe (the EU) could be so bold as to call me a hypocrite. I don't want the UK in the EU because influence in the EU is nothing to do with UK influence. Also I am I calling the Scots mad for wanting Independence while fighting for my own (as a UK citizen), but let me distinguish these points.

The UK has (like it or not) culturally assimilated. Morality is generally the same in Scotland as it is in Yorkshire which is roughly the same as in Cornwall. There will be some slight disparity between the city and country but that is found anywhere. We speak the same language (regardless of what Welsh nationalists may tell you). Our law is essentially the same. Any problems with the amalgamation of the two were dealt with hundreds of years ago and thus one cannot go back to how it was previously.

Also the UK has influence, it is one of the largest economies in the world, it has big friends and and a heritage that lends itself to good diplomatic links. It may not be an 'empire' as it once was, but it is still a country that you don't want to piddle off, ever.

Scotland does not have one of the largest economies in the world. It doesn't have diplomatic links it doesn't have nuclear weapons, it doesn't have a seat on the UN security council, it has a peat bog on some, admittedly beautiful, mountains. It also has a good name in producing Whiskey.

So surely what they mean when they ask the Scottish public if they want to be independent is: "do you want to so wholly ruin your international influence that you might as well be taken off the map?"

Sounds harsh but lets face it, it is true. I just don't see what possible benefit that they hope to gain from leaving the Union. Less money, greater over heads, less influence.

There is that awesome argument of democratic accountability and the desire for decisions to be made as close to the people whom is will actually effect.

Right, sounds good but lets face it, in practical terms, it is a load of rubbish. For a start look at the US. People in California have decisions made about them in Washington DC, on the other side of an entire continent. Scotland on the other hand is a days journey from London. Second, look at local government, they make decisions for your area and does that mean that you get what you want? Judging my the pointless speed bumps outside my house and the multiplicity of pointless signs that go up at the end of each financial year, it certainly doesn't where I live.

Next problem when you live so close to another country how different can you really make the laws? If you wanted to do something great, for example banning abortions, on a practical level it wouldn't have much effect because people would simply pop across the border and have them done in England (although maybe that would be better?). Any real disparity in the law would just mean that people go else where to do business or else.

What it could do however is increase the number of contentions, squabbles and conflicts and allow local governments to do what they do best; argue about pointless minutia. Lets face it, all they allow is for opinionated and argumentative egotists to indulge themselves by giving them a platform to hear their own voice... on second thoughts, SNP, where do I apply?