Yes but most of the companies that are involved in the oil and gas sector aren't Scottish!! Recent debate is centred around economics. I steer you towards a recent article which points out (amongst other things) that, "Scotland's wealth tends to be overstated because, although the economy benefits from North Sea oil production, a significant proportion of its domestic economy – particularly in oil, drinks, energy, and financial services – is owned by overseas stakeholders.
As a result, GDP is not as effective in terms of measuring economic performance compared with other countries. The key question is how much of the earnings from what is produced in Scotland, stays in Scotland. Based on current forecasts, North Sea tax revenues would not be enough to offset the loss of monies currently transferred from the rest of the UK, leasing to a net loss of funding at time under independence."
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... ions-niesr
My concerns are ranging; I am concerned about basing our economy and revenue on an industry in decline, about the debt we stand to inherit, about the challenges and pitfalls of creating separate financial and regulatory institutions, about inherited debt, about renegotiating entry into the EU, about security and losing access to the UK's wider intelligence capabilities, about defence provision and our (renegotiated) membership to NATO, about more spending cuts and tax rises being needed to ensure fiscal sustainability in an independent Scotland. Then there is the issue regarding the security of pensions due to an ageing and declining population...
I am all for debate and I won't belittle anyone for their views. However, there remains more questions than answers in my opinion and the fact of the matter is, I have seen nothing to sway me that independence will be better for Scotland and its people.
Opinion polls would suggest that you and the "millions of others" are becoming an increasingly fragile minority:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014 ... ealed-poll
Now, let's consider Alex Salmond. Yes, there is an argument that we are voting for the future of our country and this shouldn't be entirely based on one man but, when that man is the one responsible for selling a vision that he himself seems somewhat unclear on, it's a rather unsettling prospect to place your faith in him, his campaign's "facts" and changing views.
http://www.politics.co.uk/comment-analy ... and-now-he
Don't get me wrong, the 'Better Together' campaign is terrible. It bases itself on negative campaigning and scaremongering.
(Ron, factually your statement is rather inaccurate.) We were an independent country for far longer than we have been part of the union but this is in no way a reason for returning to independent status. There is literally nothing to suggest that we were better off on our own. In fact, had we remained a sovereign nation then much of the infrastructure and developments that have contributed to our success would never have been possible.
I am all for debate and I won't belittle anyone for their views. However, there remains more questions than answers in my opinion and the fact of the matter is, I have seen nothing to sway me that independence will be better for Scotland and its people.
just a thought its a lot easier to leave things than join em. And all the things big Alex wants to keep let's see if he's allowed. Since when was blue tits a swear word