Euro Area

[Sarmatian]

Mentary Union does not work without Fiscal Union (inc transfers), because divergent economies have no mechanism to correct for that diversion. so no, it is far from bollox, you want the Euro to work then you'd better be willing to pony up 5% of GDP in perpetuity.

It's bollox, there are mechanisms to correct that. Army of different EU funds (and many more not EU-related) stare you right in the face and thousands new ones can created if need be.

Alternatively, you might get away without the transfers is you have very harmonious neigbouring economies, germany and the netherlands for example. In that case, the Eurozone needs to weed out the weak countries that cannot thrive without transfers, viz the upcoming Grexit. But Greece is only the start!

The difference in GDP per capita between richest and poorest EU state is about the same as between richest and poorest US state.

yes, the scots are my family, i consider myself british not english.

if scots vote for indepenence then they will have said they are not my family, in which case the sentiment dies, but i am not going to prempt their decision.

What about family ties, language, common history, similar mindset... all those values you seemed to emphasize when you were talking about nation states? Are they all severed the moment Scots declare independence? Poof and that's it?