Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoffrey Collier
mrabody: The United Kingdom is not merely an economic entity. If you want a separate England say that: but don't think that you will continue with an arrangement which will allow England an indefinite monopoly on matters like foreign affairs and defence, etc. in Scotland and Wales. Destroy the Union if you wish, but don't imagine that you can destroy it, while continuing to control those other parts of Britain by stealth.
When I have more time, I will return to this subject once others have contributed to this debate.
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I have never said I want a seperate England, but don't let the facts get in the way of your argument. I am merely pointing out that based on the economics of the current arrangement England gains no benefit. The fact is Geoffrey, the people of England (and Scotland and Wales) are more likely to vote on pocketbook issues than on more distant matters such as Defence and Foreign Affairs. Therefore the perceived unfairness of the current arrangement is going to grow into an issue of large concern to English voters in the coming years. When it becomes generally known that elderly Scots
do not have to sell their homes to pay for care and that it is English taxpayers who are keeping them in comfort and wealth - when people get angry about the fact that you can get treatment for macular degeneration in Scotland on the English taxpayers tab, but if you are English you will go blind, they won't take your lofty, dispassionate position on the issue.
In Canada the the French in Quebec are generally very isolationist and opposed to any form of involvement in overseas conflicts. They make up 1/4 of the electorate so foreign affairs is "controlled" by the 75% of the population resident in English Canada. It's led to problems in the past but somehow the country muddles through. As long as we have a volunteer army and Westminster isn't conscripting Scots and Welsh to fight in unpopular wars, your concern remains a red herring. I think the Scots and Welsh population are mature enough to understand that if you voluntarily sign up to take the Queen's shilling, you may sometimes have to earn it.