Aye or Nae?

Much to say today, and I know many people are following the referendum in Scotland. We can talk a bit about that in class. In Scotland recently, as I mentioned briefly, I was struck by the ways in which economic arguments and historical-cultural arguments "talked past" one another to an extent. Many people engaged in the politics of persuasion - especially on the side of "No" (or "Better Together", i.e., stay in the UK) - simply use a logic and rhetoric that is on a different register than the one many people are voting on.

In any event, we can discuss, but since Tommy Joe posted a video that was "in favor" (ahem...) of independence, I thought I would bring equity to the debate with a video below that articulates some arguments against independence. (To be fair, he gave a hearing to such arguments himself, though he was surely won over by the rhetorical appeals of the great Scot statesman and orator whose video he posted.) Not exactly from leaving the UK, but I think you will see the analogy. I am also trying to mind the gap in this debate, thinking not only about what the future holds for the Scottish economy, but also what its history has been.