Five reasons why Scotland should vote ''Naw''

Five reasons why Scotland should vote ''Naw''. By Steve Collins.

Having visited Scotland recently, I was able to experience first-hand the mood of the nation.

•  Five reasons why Scotland should vote ''Yes''

Speaking to friends and family with children, jobs and mortgages, they were very concerned about the impact a split would cause.

The nation is being split in two.

Even households are divided with the ''No'' camp simply worried about the future of the country and the ''Yes'' treating all Scots not voting with them as traitors.

1) Economy: This is unknown territory.

It is basically starting a new country from scratch and I don't think Alex Salmond and his followers realise just what it costs to run a country.

We will have no air force, no army, no navy, no central bank, no embassies and no credit history.

Scotland will incur huge debts trying to get this set up.

2) Social welfare: We have a population of about 5.5million with 2.5million employed.

This alone is sure to make income tax go up and VAT (GST) go up.

This will put a huge strain on the benefit system, housing benefits and the health service.

Cutting back on these is sure to raise crime.

3) Oil: We keep getting told that the oil will be the saviour of Scotland.

That may have been true 50 years ago if Scotland had secured devolution then, but now with depleting oil reserves I cannot see this turning Scotland into a booming economy where everyone will prosper.

We do own the oil but not the oil companies; they are owned by shareholders whom we can only tax.

Oil companies in Aberdeen have started scaling down, with a view of pulling out if devo happens.

4) European Union: Scotland is not guaranteed to walk straight into the EU and be part of the euro.

There is sure to be opposition from many countries, for example, Spain in case the Basque region were ever to get independence.

This would leave Scotland with no currency to speak of, as the Bank of England has put a stop to any ideas of Scots using the pound.

Surely inclusion is better than separation when it comes to business.

5) Vote with the head not the heart: Too many people in Scotland seem to see this as a chance to stick two fingers up at England.

It is not an admission that you like Margaret Thatcher, the Queen and the English football team.

Giving a vote to 16-year-olds - as they have done - with no kids (well most of them), no jobs and no mortgage in a referendum that is to decide the fate of a nation with everything to lose seems very irresponsible.

Filling their heads with a Braveheart mentality is not an educated choice on Scotland's future.

It is a vote that is the best for the country economically and politically.

Once you make this decision you are stuck with it.

Scotland is a very proud nation that will never change - devolution or not.

I am very proud to be Scottish; that will never change.

Nothing could make me feel more Scottish (maybe if we won the football World Cup).

- Steve Collins is the proprietor of the Albar in Dunedin

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