Hoots mon!

[IC1967]

You've got to love him haven't you. Thick as a bucket of monkey spunk, but utterly assured of his own certainties.

We're talking about a situation where Scotland is in a worse-than-2008 recession. And you suggest that they put up VAT. And raise tax on one of their most lucrative exports. And send letters to billionaires in Belize saying, "Please come home and pay us a fortune in tax".

Night night Mick.

Look, there are plenty of solutions to this hypothetical problem that would probably never happen anyway. What about agreeing to keep Trident and charging the rest of the UK £5Bn per year? Sorted. Like I say there are many ways to sort out such a small shortfall. Some of you around here should try adopting a big picture optimistic outlook on life like what I do. You'd be much happier people.

So do you think the rest of the UK would pay £58bn per year or just relocate to a suitable site within the UK?

I don't know where you get your figure of £58bn, all I do know is that it would cost many billions to re-locate and to continue to fund Trident. The government would be more than OK with giving Scotland £5bn per annum to save all that hassle. Scotland would also benefit by not having to contribute to any future costs of Trident. Sorted.

[IC1967]

Yes Mick. I can't imagine why i hadn't thought of that.

It's because you are not a big picture person and are nowhere near as creative as I am. You are a negative thinker and always extrapolate doom and gloom scenarios from the slightest setback. You should try being more optimistic like what I am. You'd feel a lot better for it.

[Filo]

You've got to love him haven't you. Thick as a bucket of monkey spunk, but utterly assured of his own certainties.

We're talking about a situation where Scotland is in a worse-than-2008 recession. And you suggest that they put up VAT. And raise tax on one of their most lucrative exports. And send letters to billionaires in Belize saying, "Please come home and pay us a fortune in tax".

Night night Mick.

Look, there are plenty of solutions to this hypothetical problem that would probably never happen anyway. What about agreeing to keep Trident and charging the rest of the UK £5Bn per year? Sorted. Like I say there are many ways to sort out such a small shortfall. Some of you around here should try adopting a big picture optimistic outlook on life like what I do. You'd be much happier people.

So do you think the rest of the UK would pay £58bn per year or just relocate to a suitable site within the UK?

I don't know where you get your figure of £58bn, all I do know is that it would cost many billions to re-locate and to continue to fund Trident. The government would be more than OK with giving Scotland £5bn per annum to save all that hassle. Scotland would also benefit by not having to contribute to any future costs of Trident. Sorted.

Unlike you mick, I'm graciouse enough to admit my mistake, I misread your post, but the question still remains

[IC1967]

You've got to love him haven't you. Thick as a bucket of monkey spunk, but utterly assured of his own certainties.

We're talking about a situation where Scotland is in a worse-than-2008 recession. And you suggest that they put up VAT. And raise tax on one of their most lucrative exports. And send letters to billionaires in Belize saying, "Please come home and pay us a fortune in tax".

Night night Mick.

Look, there are plenty of solutions to this hypothetical problem that would probably never happen anyway. What about agreeing to keep Trident and charging the rest of the UK £5Bn per year? Sorted. Like I say there are many ways to sort out such a small shortfall. Some of you around here should try adopting a big picture optimistic outlook on life like what I do. You'd be much happier people.

So do you think the rest of the UK would pay £58bn per year or just relocate to a suitable site within the UK?

I don't know where you get your figure of £58bn, all I do know is that it would cost many billions to re-locate and to continue to fund Trident. The government would be more than OK with giving Scotland £5bn per annum to save all that hassle. Scotland would also benefit by not having to contribute to any future costs of Trident. Sorted.

Unlike you mick, I'm graciouse enough to admit my mistake, I misread your post, but the question still remains

I didn't realise you'd made a mistake. I now see that you meant to say £5bn instead of £58bn? I thought I answered that. The government wouldn't want all the upheaval and hassle of relocating. They'd take the easy way out and pay £5bn per annum. Of this I have no doubt. Sorted.

[BobG]

Mick. Just out of interest, what's your position on TTIP?

BobG

[IC1967]

Mick. Just out of interest, what's your position on TTIP?

BobG

It's a nightmare and may never be concluded. I'm all for free trade but not at any cost. The problem is that because we are part of the EU we have to go along with what Germany wants predominantly and the other countries that make up the EU to some extent. Trying to keep everyone happy is impossible. The deal if ever one is arrived at will be a compromise for all concerned but will mostly suit German interests which often conflict with what is best for Britain.

Far better for us to be out of the EU and for us to negotiate our own trade deal. Things could get sorted a lot quicker and we would get the deal we want that suits Britain best. If we weren't part of the EU we'd have a had a deal years ago that would have benefited our economy. That trade has been lost forever thanks to the EU.

As one of the largest economies and markets in the world we'd have more than enough clout to sort a good deal for ourselves. We could also negotiate deals with other countries instead of always having to wait for the sclerotic EU to get its act together.

[BobG]

Although I diisagree with quite a lot of the thinking on the route I heartily do agree with the conclusion that TTIP is a human disaster in the making. They tried to get this in '98 I think it was. It failed then as a result of popular pressure. Now it's being tried again. Brilliant if you are a corporate raider. Blooody disastrous for democracy, humanity and decency.

If anyone is interested, I have a link or two where easy peasy contributions to pressure groups can be made. Not going to achieve all that much, but as the numbers swell, and as the emails to MP's grows, the pressure will increase.

BobG

[River Don]

In other news, I noticed Al Murray is going to stand as the pub landlord against Farage in South Than-it. He says it's time for a man waving a pint, talking common sense.

Anyway to get back on topic, he says he'd make Salmond governor of Norfolk, so he can find out what it's really like to represent an ignored minority in the UK. Common sense.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Get a grip! How do you know that the oil price will be this low in 18 months! Even if it is, overall revenues will only be down by about £5bn.

Don't get me wrong. That is a substantial sum but nowhere near enough to cause the calamity you claim. To put it in perspective it is only a small part of Scotland's GDP  of around £130bn. 

It looks like BP know more than you do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30827910

[BillyStubbsTears]

Quote from Forbes that reflects what I've been telling Mick for about 4 years now...

The first and largest problem for forecasting is bias: people almost always start from their particular beliefs and preferences before analyzing the facts.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaellynch/2015/01/09/the-oil-price-outlook-for-2015-beware-optimism/
Just replace "before" with "instead of" and there's Micky Boy to a T.

[IC1967]

Get a grip! How do you know that the oil price will be this low in 18 months! Even if it is, overall revenues will only be down by about £5bn.

Don't get me wrong. That is a substantial sum but nowhere near enough to cause the calamity you claim. To put it in perspective it is only a small part of Scotland's GDP  of around £130bn. 

It looks like BP know more than you do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30827910

Look. You only need to look at my track record in predictions to know that I know what I'm on about. I refer you to the Eurozone Deflation thread as evidence.

I'll repeat it. £5bn is not going to derail the Scotch economy. I predict the oil price will be over $100 in 18 months time (when Salmond was going to take over) so there would have been no problem. But even assuming the doom and gloom scenario by our resident pessimist silly Billy, I've already given excellent solutions.

I'll give further solutions. What about loads of Scotch people emigrating to England if their economy is struggling? What about the sick and old moving to relatives in England and then taking advantage of our NHS? That would save them a fortune. Once the economy recovers and the patients are better the Scotch could return to Scotland. While they were away government spending wouldn't have to be so much so they could easily cope with a loss of £5bn. Sorted.

I've got loads more solutions if anyone is interested.

[Glyn_Wigley]

Get a grip! How do you know that the oil price will be this low in 18 months! Even if it is, overall revenues will only be down by about £5bn.

Don't get me wrong. That is a substantial sum but nowhere near enough to cause the calamity you claim. To put it in perspective it is only a small part of Scotland's GDP  of around £130bn. 

It looks like BP know more than you do.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30827910

Look. You only need to look at my track record in predictions to know that I know what I'm on about. I refer you to the Eurozone Deflation thread as evidence.

I'll repeat it. £5bn is not going to derail the Scotch economy. I predict the oil price will be over $100 in 18 months time (when Salmond was going to take over) so there would have been no problem. But even assuming the doom and gloom scenario by our resident pessimist silly Billy, I've already given excellent solutions.

I'll give further solutions. What about loads of Scotch people emigrating to England if their economy is struggling? What about the sick and old moving to relatives in England and then taking advantage of our NHS? That would save them a fortune. Once the economy recovers and the patients are better the Scotch could return to Scotland. While they were away government spending wouldn't have to be so much so they could easily cope with a loss of £5bn. Sorted.

I've got loads more solutions if anyone is interested.

Let's put it to the vote. Good old democracy!