Euro Area

[Kralizec]

2. This is a bit more complex so let's take Scotland as an example. If Scotland leaves the UK what currency does it use? The UK is a member of the EU but 'Scotland' as such is NOT. Legaly it must apply to join the EU (same would be for true Catalonia etc also). Now if Scotland apply to join the EU they are obliged to join the euro - but even the hairbrained Scottish Nationalists don't want to do that; they sensibly wish to keep the £. That though is NOT an option...

Wrong, as PVC pointed out.

The problems of what currency the Scots would use is a relevant question though. They can't keep using the pound if the English won't allow them to, obviously. They could go for a currency opt-out like the British or the Danes. Wether that would be a good idea is another question.

3. IF you are part of a Single European State you may have broken away from an "enforced nation state" but you are already in part of an 'enforced superstate'; out of the frying pan and into the fire! IT does not matter anymore! Your taxes and laws all come from Brussels and are mostly 'directives' which you have to obey. You vote means NOTHING regionaly because someone beaurocrat in Brussels dictates where your taxes will be spent. Did you elect him? No. Can you get rid of him? Well there may be ways that will occur to some but they are not 'legal'. Can your MEP do anything about it? Only refuse time and again what he is asked to vote on... so no. He cannot repeal any laws or create new ones. That's it pal... end game and LOSE for you.

Yeah, I'm against that, just like I'd be against any plans the EU might develop in the future to murder kittens and to clone Hitler. Those are bad ideas.

Can you guys please stop throwing around these purely hypothetical scenarios as if they have any bearing on the presesnt situation? If you want to discuss specific transfers of power to Brussels, fine. Just don't use these inane slippery slope arguments that Brussels is inevitably going to become a centralized seat of power where bureaucrats will micromanage every detail of your personal life; arguments that are purely speculative and which have no basis in reality or common sense.

[Greyblades]

Can you guys please stop throwing around these purely hypothetical scenarios as if they have any bearing on the presesnt situation? If you want to discuss specific transfers of power to Brussels, fine. Just don't use these inane slippery slope arguments that Brussels is inevitably going to become a centralized seat of power where bureaucrats will micromanage every detail of your personal life; arguments that are purely speculative and which have no basis in reality or common sense.

If it helps, there hasn't been a country to date competent enough to successfuly maintain a orwellian dystopia, the European union cant even manage it's economy so the chances of it being the first are remote at best.

[gaelic cowboy]

Wrong, as PVC pointed out.

The problems of what currency the Scots would use is a relevant question though. They can't keep using the pound if the English won't allow them to, obviously. They could go for a currency opt-out like the British or the Danes. Wether that would be a good idea is another question.

Not true in the slightest since The Bank of Scotland already has the right to print sterling, the Bank of England would have no say except for interest rates.

Since Scotland would technically be using a one of one link it will resemble The Punt which technically a separate currency was basically a green Sterling note. In fact the only time real problems were experienced with currency valuations or interest rates is when Ireland is in any kind of euro pie in the sky.

European Monetary System

European Exchange Rate Mechanism

European Currency Unit

Economic and monetary union

The result of joining all these mad schemes has been the eruption of European sovereign debt crisis in which the solution is to cut a forest down so a tiny weed can grow.


Scotland can easy get round the EU and it's love of Eurodynamite by making sure they have to hold a referendum on currency issues, that would be 1-0 to Scotland against the need to join the Euro.

[Kralizec]

Hmmm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknot...pound_sterling

How quaint.

I can only assume that the Bank of Scotland and other private banks have the right to print pund sterling because an Act of Parliament says so. Which means it can be revoked.

Scotland could conceivably hold on to the printing machines and print them anyway; printing what is essenitally the currency of the remnant of the UK without their permission, but that wouldn't be very nice of them. I'd guess that there's a treaty against that sort of thing but I can't be arsed to look it up.

[gaelic cowboy]

Hmmm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banknot...pound_sterling

How quaint.

I can only assume that the Bank of Scotland and other private banks have the right to print pund sterling because an Act of Parliament says so. Which means it can be revoked.

Scotland could conceivably hold on to the printing machines and print them anyway; printing what is essenitally the currency of the remnant of the UK without their permission, but that wouldn't be very nice of them. I'd guess that there's a treaty against that sort of thing but I can't be arsed to look it up.

I have to stop ye there kralizec they have permission so it's not a case of printing an illegal currency, they would merely be mainting a one of one link on the currency.

Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes are NOT accepted in England as legal tender however they are backed by the Bank of England as legal tender in both those places. Indeed many Irish are often caught out by there bank or bureau de change where they arrive in England with Northern banknotes and end up refused as I was in a pub in Cheltenham.

Basically nothing would change they wouldn't even need to remove the Queen from them.

[Kralizec]

...

The United Kingdom is a strange thing.

[Greyblades]

...

The United Kingdom is a strange thing.

That's what makes it awesome!