gistfile1.txt

ECONOMIC

1. We can pool and share British-wide resources. This means Scotland can help pay for the rest of the UK's needs, and the rest of the UK can help Scotland, when and where necessary to the tune of millions and billions.
- The UK overspends its budget EVERY YEAR leaving us with a 13 billion pound black hole

2. We can redistribute wealth, via the British-wide tax system. This helps to safeguard welfare benefits, the state pension, and protect us from fluctuating oil revenues.
- welfare and pensions are the worst in the western world

3. We can remain part of the overall UK domestic market with no internal tariffs. Firms in Scotland sell twice as much to the rest of the UK as we do to the rest of the world combined. 
- We are about to go out on WTO terms. Better in the EU.

4. We can have uninhibited access to the entire British labour market, to seek employment and to seek employees.
- We have uninhibited access to EU nationals until Brexit

5. Consequently, we can enjoy the benefits of association, and the economies of scale, which enable us to do more and to do it better, than if we were apart.
- you havent gave any real benefit here, this is waffle that belonged in point 5

6. We can be guaranteed continued use of the Pound Sterling.
- which is less than a Euro in some exchange bureaus

7. We can ensure no currency transaction costs, because we have one single currency.
- So can the EU

8. We can benefit from the UK bilateral-trade agreements which will be a consequence of Brexit.
- No we cant, see ANY brexit impact report

9. The Scottish private banks can be supported by the nationalised British Central Bank – the Lender of Last Resort – thereby helping to stabilise the economy if the private banks default.
- We are creating a Scottish bank to replace this

10. We can ensure Scottish savers are protected by the British Central Bank, which protects savings of up to £85,000.
- A Scottish Central Bank will obviously perform the same functions as the BofE

11. We can ensure Royal Navy ships will continue to be built in Scotland.
- how? so far production has went DOWN - provide evidence

12. We can continue to enjoy funding for industries, universities and research in Scotland, which has been provided at the British-level.
- which funding? westminster creates 13 billion of debt on our behalf per year. 

13. We can maintain our successful tourist industry. Since Queen Victoria popularised the romance of Scotland, it has been a much-loved holiday destination for people from England. To what extent would Scottish separation harm the appeal of our country? There will certainly be people in England who would no longer wish to come to a country which appeared to have "rejected" them!
- unless brexiteers never leave the UK, this is a totally crap argument. people will still go on holiday

14. We can safeguard our jobs which depend upon a unique "Scottish brand" selling to customers in the rest of the UK. For example, if Scotland were to separate, then it is possible that traditional "Scottish" products (Aberdeen Angus Beef, Whisky, Shortbread, Haggis, Salmon etc) could suffer a hit in the English marketplace, as a consequence of English customers feeling slighted "by the Scots". This would be a natural reaction!
- we can perotect scottish brands better with EU geographical protection
 

PERSONAL 

1. We can have lower fuel bills. This is because the cost of generating energy is shared across the fuel bills of all British households, and not only those in Scotland. These fuel payments from all the households in the UK also help to subsidise green jobs and energy in Scotland. Without them, the cost of green energy in Scotland would rise and the green industry might collapse.
- Scotland pays more for energy, despite being the main producer of fuels

2. We can have cost-free, hassle-free access to lifesaving specialist treatment in hospitals anywhere in the UK.
- OK , this IS a benefit. Thats ONE.

3. We can ensure standard and universal postal charges across the UK, compared to, for example, very expensive postage to the Republic of Ireland.
- they privatised Royal Mail, so there are ZERO guarantees on this

 

POLITICAL

1. Our MPs from Scotland will continue to exercise disproportionate power in the British Parliament.
- This is no benefit, we have 59 MPs of 650 (9%) and get outvoted all the time

2. Our British Parliament continues to enable Scotland, via our MPs, to exercise a degree of control over England, and to exercise control over the direction of our Islands. Further on that matter on our Legacy Site here.
- The concerns of Scotland have routuinely been IGNORED

3. Our British Parliament will continue to represent those Scots, and those issues, which are not represented at Holyrood. For example, Westminster is more representative of Scottish public opinion on Brexit and Trident (both of which many Scots support) than Holyrood!
- This is mere opinion on your part, and doesn't bring any benefit, whoever makes representations

4. Our British Parliament can over-rule separatist policies in Scotland, in favour of those Scots who are not properly represented on those matters at Holyrood.
- You are selling independence with this one. Wow.

5. Scottish MPs can reach high office and influence throughout our Islands, including British Prime Minister.
- Only to be whipped in to line by Whitehall powers that be that stay out of the limelight

6. The unique perspective of many Scottish MPs can act as a balance on the wider House of Commons. For example, a degree of Scottish "socialism" can help to moderate some of the English "conservatism", and vice versa – leading to more moderation in British politics.
- That might be good for the rUK, but it's no benefit to Scotland
 

INTERNATIONAL

1. As part of the United Kingdom, we are represented on one of the 15 seats at the UN Security Council, including one of the 5 Permanent seats alongside Russia, China, France and the USA – an extremely powerful and influential global position.
- The UN have criticised the UK on their human rights abuses. opinion is very low of the uk currently

2. We're represented on one of the seats at the G7 (Group of 7 with Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA).
- Theyre a policy thinktank forum. what about it?

3. We're represented on one of the seats at the G8 (Group of 8 – the above, and Russia).
- Theyre a policy thinktank forum. what about it?

4. We're represented on one of the seats at the G20 (Group of 20).
- Theyre a policy thinktank forum. what about it?

5. As part of the UK we have continued membership of the Commonwealth, and thereby an ability to help influence it for good.
- Many countries declared independence from the British, and yet somehow are STILL in the commonwealth

6. We continue to enjoy the strategic value provided by the 14 British Overseas Territories, which would be lost to an independent Scotland.
- We have no interest in global conquest or policing the world.

7. We can enjoy the safety and security, and the power and prestige, of the British Passport, one of the most respected in the world. Our Passport is our proof of British Citizenship. 
- oh FFS. A Scottish passport performs the EXACT SAME function. and if its an EU one, even better

8. As British Citizens, we have guaranteed personal access to the UK's Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and Diplomatic Missions world-wide – the consequences of centuries of international development.
- All nations have embassies

9. Consequently, as individuals, we are able to benefit from Britain's massive diplomatic reach worldwide.
- This is just the last argument, again

10. As part of the UK, the British have one of the world's largest Foreign Aid budgets which can potentially help millions around the world.
- the rest of the world is not Scotland

11. Staying together enables all the people of the UK to work together, through our shared political institutions, to be a Force for Good in the world; to have a positive impact upon the world in a way which we could never have if we were to be divided and separated. It enables the British to help the rest of humanity.
- this is pure waffle with no substance behind it

12. We can share in the vast legacy of Goodwill which has been built by the UK over centuries throughout the World.
- Opinion of the UK has never been so low in 312 years of union. Brexit took care of that

13. All of this adds up to Greater Influence when dealing with the large national powers in the world.
- Again this is your last weak argument spread thinly of two points

14. Ultimately, it helps us maintain an outward-looking global attitude, rather than obsessing about the Scottish navel, which is what would happen if Scotland separated and the shutters came down – psychologically and physically.
- You seem to have forgot Brexit. And you seem to have it the wrong way around.

 

DEFENCE

1. We can remain part of the British Armed Forces, and continue to be defended by them, here and overseas.
- 10% of the British Armed Forces are a Scottish Asset. 

2. We can continue to enjoy the protection provided by the British Intelligence Services, including MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
- the same intelligence who infiltrate our movement to undermine our cause, in order to protect THEMSELVES? Not a benefit

3. We can stay protected by the world's greatest anti-terrorist force – the SAS.
- The SAS didnt save Lee Rigby, Jo Cox, or stop any of the attacks in the last decade

4. We can have guaranteed membership of NATO.
- Scotland holds key strategic waters which would ensure they'd want us

5. We can have guaranteed membership of The Five Eyes (FVEY) intelligence alliance, with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the USA.
- We don't want that. Britain's GCHQ intelligence agency can spy on anyone but British nationals, the NSA can conduct surveillance on anyone but Americans
  So they spy on each others then swap data.

6. We can continue to play our part in defending the Free World via the Trident missile system.
- housing trident in Scotland is not a benefit, free world defended or not
 

IDENTITY

1. We can Stay British! Contrary to the claims of the separatists, the British identity depends upon British political structures and is not merely a "geographical" matter.
- This is not a benefit

2. We can keep the Monarchy, which would become a contested issue in a separated Scotland.
- The Queen is also not a benefit

3. We can keep flying the Union Jack, which would be taken down in a separated Scotland – although the SNP is already taking it down where it has authority to do so.
- These are pretty desperate tbh, we can wave flags?

4. We can continue to enjoy the fact that the Union gives us one big country to call our own – the United Kingdom – instead of just one part. We can go to any part of the UK and say "This is my country too." It is great that English people can come to Scotland and say "This is my country too." It is great that Scots can go to England and say "This is my country too". That would not be the case if we were politically separated.
- oh, we can SAY something? not a benefit
 

SOCIAL

1. We can ensure no internal borders, physical or economic. This helps to improve our life opportunities.
- Good luck with Northern Ireland post Brexit

2. We can maintain the Social Union. Sharing a unitary political structure tends to smooth social integration, where separately developing and competing structures can hinder integration. (Unfortunately, however, devolution is already compromising that integration; see the outrageous policy where students from the rest of the UK have to pay for university education, while students from Scotland do not!)
- Bad example, the fact English students must pay is down to the UK, not Scotland. Not a benefit

3. We can maintain family links throughout the UK, without having to think of our own family as foreigners.
- Your family in England will not magically disappear

4. Although it may not always seem like it, the United Kingdom reduces internal rivalries. It helps to "keep the peace" between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Where the peace has not been kept – in Ireland and latterly in Northern Ireland – it has been over the question of membership of the UK. Generally though, it does reduce internal rivalry. It allows us to swim about the big UK pond, and avoid each other if we want. If we take Scotland out that big UK pond, and put it in its own smaller pond, then the fish will be in danger of eating each other!
- Where is your evidence of this? Not a benefit
 

CULTURAL

1. We can stay part of British-wide sporting investment schemes, and activity, including Team GB.
- And we cant come up with our own sporting initiatives? 

2. We can continue to enjoy British-wide public service broadcasting via the BBC.
- Enjoy? And pay a tax for the biased propaganda? To quote yourselves, 'no thanks'
 

AND FINALLY…

1. We can ensure there is no need to "reinvent the wheel", expensively and completely unnecessarily, on all the above points!
- there is every need to reinvent a wheel, as the currenmt one is outmoded, outdated, and no longer fit for purpose