Ukraine

[Dons79]

18 minutes ago, Ramandu said:

Nooooooo! This is a zombie stat that should be dead. They barely scrape into the top 10 wheat producing countries in the world, nevermind grains.

The reason they get mentioned is because they export(ed) a disproportionate amount of their wheat, so they produce a lot of the internationally traded wheat (not 40% though).

Note read the thread, so no idea what you were arguing about. Pedantry over. As you were.

Aaah got ye, succinctly put, wonder why the price of wheat has doubled globally since the start of the conflict? Shouldn’t have,  if the produce exists elsewhere like you said, markets would be unaffected.

[Redforever86]

1 hour ago, Fridge said:

I am almost certain that we can’t be raped for water.

For the love of fuck you can’t tax rain.

Thought you'd been to Middle East? Surely that answers your question. 

[CCB III]

2 hours ago, Redforever86 said:

"UK general government gross debt was £2,365.4 billion at the end of Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2022, equivalent to 99.6% of gross domestic product (GDP). "

 

Well, you know what I mean. 
 

They haven't been able to accumulate wealth before money became this even weirder abstract concept, meaning now they have no influence/power. 
 

Partly want to study economics because money fries my head on a national level. A huge part of the way money is made is through debt, was just listening to a podcast on this today, and I sort of get it from a population perspective, the 99% are in debt to the 1% and that goes on and on until the debt can no longer be repaid and they find a new way to rig it. 
 

But on a governmental or national level, I can't get me fuckin nut raaan' it. It just becomes this abstract thing, binary.

 

Beyond my powers of comprehension

[Redforever86]

1 minute ago, CCB III said:

Well, you know what I mean. 
 

They haven't been able to accumulate wealth before money became this even weirder abstract concept, meaning now they have no influence/power. 
 

Partly want to study economics because money fries my head on a national level. A huge part of the way money is made is through debt, was just listening to a podcast on this today, and I sort of get it from a population perspective, the 99% are in debt to the 1% and that goes on and on until the debt can no longer be repaid and they find a new way to rig it. 
 

But on a governmental or national level, I can't get me fuckin nut raaan' it. It just becomes this abstract thing, binary.

 

Beyond my powers of comprehension

It has some answers but not everything. Certainly not yet and maybe never will. 

It's designed to be complex so we can't see that it's all bullshit. 

 

[CCB III]

1 minute ago, Redforever86 said:

It has some answers but not everything. Certainly not yet and maybe never will. 

It's designed to be complex so we can't see that it's all bullshit. 

 

Depends on what economists you study, I suppose. 
Yeah, I know, it does my head in, hence why I want to know more about it!

 

 

[Redforever86]

44 minutes ago, CCB III said:

Depends on what economists you study, I suppose. 
Yeah, I know, it does my head in, hence why I want to know more about it!

 

 

Certainly the right attitude. Do you read the economist ever? 

[Redforever86]

1 minute ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Do you even know how it started ? 

He phoned up Chois that nicht. 

[BrianFaePerth]

5 minutes ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Do you even know how it started ? 

Hate fuckin Billy Joel

[CCB III]

9 hours ago, Redforever86 said:

Certainly the right attitude. Do you read the economist ever? 

Old man used to order it and I'd occasionally skim over a bowl of cereal before school. 
 

Do they not generally accept things as they are, though? Like an establishment magazine?

 

 

[Guest milne_afc]

14 minutes ago, CCB III said:

Old man used to order it and I'd occasionally skim over a bowl of cereal before school. 

?

[CCB III]

5 minutes ago, milne_afc said:

?

? is funny now I've said it. 
 

The truth, though.

[strachanmcgheegoal]

You think thats embarrassing?  I used to buy the Sunday Mail and actually believe the football news they printed.  

[manboobs109]

6 hours ago, CCB III said:

Old man used to order it and I'd occasionally skim over a bowl of cereal before school. 
 

Do they not generally accept things as they are, though? Like an establishment magazine?

 

 

And to think people say young folk now are too serious.

[CCB III]

2 hours ago, manboobs109 said:

And to think people say young folk now are too serious.

?

 

That was only once we stopped getting the p and J of which I'd only read the sports bit

[CCB III]

5 hours ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Young Consi reading The Economist before school. My dad bought the Daily Record when it still had page 3 girls. 

Understanding very little but always being wary of China!

 

Good thing the propaganda never affected me. 

[Redforever86]

8 hours ago, CCB III said:

Old man used to order it and I'd occasionally skim over a bowl of cereal before school. 
 

Do they not generally accept things as they are, though? Like an establishment magazine?

 

 

I wouldn't say it's anti-establishment, but it is fairly informative and gives a decent if fairly brief overview of many topics. 

[CCB III]

7 minutes ago, Redforever86 said:

I wouldn't say it's anti-establishment, but it is fairly informative and gives a decent if fairly brief overview of many topics. 

I'll take your word for it

[Wester Hailes Skins]

22 hours ago, Ke1t said:

Scotland could succeed massively as an independent nation. 

Tourism, exports, geostrategic position, and energy (fossil and renewable), coupled with a relatively small population to support on the back of those assets would make for a dynamic state far in excess of its southern neighbour. 

Of course you'd need a better quality of people than currently inhabit Scotland in order to pull it off. 

Maybe hand Scotland over to the Ukrainians and deport the Scots to Russia. 

 

I'll try to just make this sound a challenge rather than a pro unionist rant. Which it isn't.

But.

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions.

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies.

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster.

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed.

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway. But I just don't see counter arguments that give me confidence.

I do think for example we'd do better if independent becoming a tax friendly environment like Jersey or Switzerland. Rather than a highly taxed country. Dunno.

And I've not even touched currency.

I'm not pro independence but then, I've zero faith in Westminster either. No matter what party. Or the EU, an unelected arm of the WEF. 

Politics has never been more scrutinised, and lower quality in my lifetime. I've never been more passionate about politics, and yet, less likely to vote.

[Bluto10]

politics \ indy \ brexit \ etc etc

 

LOL

[Parklife]

17 minutes ago, Wester Hailes Skins said:

I'll try to just make this sound a challenge rather than a pro unionist rant. Which it isn't.

But.

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

We have that debt anyway. What's the difference? 

Quote

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions.

We have the same ageing population anyway. 

Quote

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies.

Taxation revenues from our oil and gas flows to the UK Treasury. 

Quote

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.

Tourism is huge and will remain so. 

Quote

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster.

You're equating the control Westminster has over Scotland with what the situation would be should we join the EU? 

Quote

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.

1. There'd be an election to choose the government the people of Scotland wanted. 
2. Have businesses and high earners fled other Northern European nations that have higher taxation than ourselves? Or are those nations thriving? 

Quote

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed.

How are situations that have arisen under Westminster control and that are largely in the gift of Westminster to resolve a positive advert for the Union? 

Quote

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway.

Probably because it is

 

[Redforever86]

13 minutes ago, Wester Hailes Skins said:

 

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions.

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies.

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster.

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed.

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway. But I just don't see counter arguments that give me confidence.

I do think for example we'd do better if independent becoming a tax friendly environment like Jersey or Switzerland. Rather than a highly taxed country. Dunno.

And I've not even touched currency.

I'm not pro independence but then, I've zero faith in Westminster either. No matter what party. Or the EU, an unelected arm of the WEF. 

Politics has never been more scrutinised, and lower quality in my lifetime. I've never been more passionate about politics, and yet, less likely to vote.

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

Well firstly that'd be a negotiation not a given, and if you are in £10k of debt with your husband and you get divorced and now have £5k of debt, nothing has changed. Expect now, your debt has a lower interest rate because it's backed by resources where as Englands interest rates would go up. 

1 - 0 Indy. 

 

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions.

True, which is why it's fucking ludicrous we have the Tories and middle England against immigration. Thankfully we can rejoin the EU (England will quickly follow suit) and problem not only solved but it's better for the Scottish economy than the current state of affairs. 

2 - 0 Indy. 

 

 

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies.

Well yes but we have already started extracting it, and it's not British companies it's multinational companies. Hey, maybe we could create some Scottish companies, or just tax the multinationals fairly. And best of all we get to keep the tax. Ace eh. 

3 - 0 Indy. 

 

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.

As someone who runs a tourism based business I think this is complete shite. Imagine if we could keep the tourism revenue, and set up national companies to challenge booking.com, and the payment providers. Keeping more of that revenue in Scotland and the local communities. 

4 - 0 Indy. 

 

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster.

'bUt WE CaNT rEjOin" I thought? Compared to the elected government in Westminster we haven't voted for since the 1950s, at least in the EU we would have fair representation. 

5 - 0 Indy. 

 

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.

Surely they have already fled? Ah wait no, the SNP supported business by removing business rates for the majority of small businesses. Do you know what will make high earners flee. Living in the fucking populist shithole the UK is fast becoming. Maybe a non-SNP government would lower corporation tax and attract companies, like Ireland did. 

6 - 0 Indy.

 

 

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed.

Yeah and what caused that? What isn't fixing that? What is making that worse? Ah yes, the Union, let's stick with it so...

7 - 0 Indy. 

 

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway. 

Well you are a fucking Jambo cunt, so its a given. 

 

 

Politics has never been more scrutinised, and lower quality in my lifetime. I've never been more passionate about politics, and yet, less likely to vote.

It is a terrible quality, because the Tories seek to bring it down, stopping decent and educated people joining the political system and trying to make it better. 

[maryhilldon]

The jambo getting torn apart here. What a fud.

[Ke1t]

34 minutes ago, Wester Hailes Skins said:

I'll try to just make this sound a challenge rather than a pro unionist rant. Which it isn't.

But.

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland. - Which Scots already have, if that's an accurate figure. Keeping Scotland's share of debt happens either way, so it's no impediment to an Independent Scotland. 

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions. - Which doesn't change either, so again, no impediment to an Independent Scotland. 

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies. - Mineral rights belong to the country that owns those minerals. They'd fall under control of the Scottish government. 

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.- Tourism looks like its been stable since the 90s, bar the Covid blip. Scotland is a very attractive holiday destination. 

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster. - Again, an independent Scotland decides which international organisations it applies to for membership. I would expect Brussels, if Scotland joined the EU, to be less prone to hostility against the Scots than England has shown. 

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.- I would have to see some kind of evidence to accept that claim. 

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed. - When the Soviet Union Collapsed, Eastern European nations had rampant unemployment, a fucked and obsolete industrial base, massive drug and alcohol abuse, and in some cases near societal breakdown. For the most part they've flourished as independent nations. Are you suggesting Scotland is uniquely incapable of overcoming lesser issues than these? 

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway. But I just don't see counter arguments that give me confidence. - I'm delighted you've taken the time to post a coherent, insult free response. 

I do think for example we'd do better if independent becoming a tax friendly environment like Jersey or Switzerland. Rather than a highly taxed country. Dunno. 

And I've not even touched currency. - Keep the money already in circulation until a new currency is created/adopted. 

I'm not pro independence but then, I've zero faith in Westminster either. No matter what party. Or the EU, an unelected arm of the WEF. 

Politics has never been more scrutinised, and lower quality in my lifetime. I've never been more passionate about politics, and yet, less likely to vote.

 

[Ke1t]

42 minutes ago, Bluto10 said:

politics \ indy \ brexit \ etc etc

 

LOL

You're a simple man of simple pleasures, Bloots. 

Never change ?

[Bluto10]

14 minutes ago, Ke1t said:

You're a simple man of simple pleasures, Bloots. 

it’s what keeps me alive 

[frankie_mac's_4]

7 hours ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Young Consi reading The Economist before school. My dad bought the Daily Record when it still had page 3 girls. 

Mists of time shit there^. Now - was it the same page 3 lassies appearing in the daily record as the sun, star etc? Yer Linda Lusardis, Sam Foxes etc?

Anyway, Jo Guest and her gravity defying paps for me   ?

[Don Fonte]

1 hour ago, Wester Hailes Skins said:

I'll try to just make this sound a challenge rather than a pro unionist rant. Which it isn't.

But.

First up we'd be given our share of the UK national debt. About 250 billion in debt right away. Equivalent to 50 thousand pounds for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

Then we have the aging population, less earners, coupled with more drain on NHS and pensions.

Our fabled gas and oil takes years to extract and it's British, not Scottish companies.

Tourism is going the way of travel, airlines and all tourism. Kept for elites and getting more expensive.

Our independence would actually be reporting into Brussels as an unelected body giving us less sway than Westminster.

Taxation would sky rocket under a socialist and incompetent SNP government seeing both businesses and high earners flee.

For a small nation we have severe social challenges across poverty, drugs, crime, ill health, housing. All needs addressed.

I know you'll take as some kind of pro union rant anyway. But I just don't see counter arguments that give me confidence.

I do think for example we'd do better if independent becoming a tax friendly environment like Jersey or Switzerland. Rather than a highly taxed country. Dunno.

And I've not even touched currency.

I'm not pro independence but then, I've zero faith in Westminster either. No matter what party. Or the EU, an unelected arm of the WEF. 

Politics has never been more scrutinised, and lower quality in my lifetime. I've never been more passionate about politics, and yet, less likely to vote.

Fuck off.

[Dons79]

1 hour ago, Sooper-hanz said:

Fuck knows. I was more concerned with their nipples than their names. I don’t think they were Scottish women as they were quite attractive. 

Are you Ramirez,s brother?

[Poodler]

1 hour ago, Ke1t said:

Are you suggesting Scotland is uniquely incapable ofovercoming lesser issues than these? 

Tbf Kelt. If there’s one country in the world that could fuck it up. It’s us 

[Redforever86]

18 minutes ago, Poodler said:

Tbf Kelt. If there’s one country in the world that could fuck it up. It’s us 

It's not "us" for you, English cunt.