Ask Peter: Why Scottish Independence Will NEVER Happen!

[@craigtownsley3615]

Can't believe how viciously Peter just attacked all of us in the North, then I looked down at my gut and nodded in agreement.

[@larryclemens1850]

You are the rare breed that can face reality in the eye. 🙂

[@paulklee5790]

Sad, but oh so true!

[@jeffjames3111]

Yeah he nailed it. 🤦‍♂

[@formxshape]

He's wrong about it being more white as you go north from London... it's more orange. The young women are all painting themselves more orange than Trump. Then attaching fake eyelashes and injecting their lips with filler.

[@kadourimdou43]

Demographics and economic data just rips apart any patriotism. Which is why I didn’t vote for Brexit.

[@brazilianmegaman258]

I've been raising these exact points for years to my Scottish pals and they won't hear a word of it. They've lost their minds.

[@MonTheWell1886]

If you've been saying the exact same stuff as this guy no wonder when half of it is objectively wrong There's pros and cons to independence there's no need to repeat the lies in this

[@judewarner1536]

When it comes to social and political questions, economics goes out of the window. Every political party in every country espouses some policies that make no economic sense. This is why Economists get everything wrong, because they don't take the human dimension into account in their economic theories.

[@Forheavenssake1ify]

Scotland has Brexit envy

[@MartyMolloy]

An American calling ANY other nation fat and unhealthy???? The irony.

[@BobTheBlue]

Would love to see this lad in a live televised debate with the SNP

[@history_repeats8201]

In the last three years Peter has been wrong in his predictions at about 85% of the time. Flipping a coin will give you 50% accuracy sooooooo, he is worse than flipping a coin.

[@jonallan121]

As a (mainly) pro independence Scottish man, I have genuinely never heard a more coherent argument (on either side) than this. Im a 36 year old professional, in a high paid job with a young family; I’m thinking that the risk (for me personally) far outweigh the so called benefits now. This has been a hanging thought of mine for a while and I think your take is what will sway me completely now.

[@quintusfabius574]

Nicola Sturgeon should be done for treason, she's warped the mind of so many youth in believing that there would be no downside in IndyRef. We already have enough of a problem with our citizenry not being able to handle reality. Any youth we do have are depraved addicts, wait until their pipe dream dies. This being from the perspective of someone local to the Glasgow area, I cannot speak for the other constituencies.

[@scotty101ire]

Yeah cause JRM the ERG and the Tory party only have your best interests at heart sad to see a once proud nation reduced to cowards afraid to take there place in the world as there English overlords treat you with distain contempt and just laugh at you as a nation, Scotland really is not capable of been a nation as all nations have self belief and pride two things missing from Scotland or should i say England,s northern slave camp

[@elektrotehnik94]

EU would accept you - just not straight away (meaning 2-4 years down the road), since the emotional sting of Brexit still lingers. On the other hand - full independence for Scotland seems sub-optimal. Federalism seems more viable, IMO.

[@dw620]

Indeed... There is a VERY good reason the SNP purged its leadership of those who wanted ACTUAL independence in favor of "Independence... then let's rejoin the EU asap" despite ~35-40% of SNP voters backing Brexit. The financial black hole alone is absolutely appalling and the SNP would be forced to adopt the ANC's strategy of demolishing what's left to retain popular support.

[@curiositycloset2359]

@@elektrotehnik94 lol "if" the eu accepts them, given Spanish veto, they would soon feel what Greece felt.

[@davidtempest7175]

I’ve been living here over 10 years and the obesity and mental health issues in the population is shocking. Unsustainable.

[@NorthStarPNW]

Are you in Scotland or U.S.? Your observation could apply to either.

[@realitywins9020]

Have you ever considered that the obesity and mental health issues (along with alcohol and drug abuse) could be due to being colonised and ruled by a foreign neighbor? How can anyone be happy about being a 'province' of another country?

[@booopwappp1323]

@@realitywins9020 You think obesity and mental health is due to the act or Union. You think kids care about that. It’s only you! 🤡 🤡🤡

[@stylishone]

@@realitywins9020 Well, England and Scotland united hundreds of years ago. It also was a union of crowns not a colonization. (I understand with England being far bigger in population and power they most certainly ran the show) Its not like this happened 40 years ago and people are depressed over it. So the current demographic issues and obesity rates are certainly not tied to that specifically. Scotland has become a retirement home (and a lovely one at that many retirees would say) and in the context of becoming independent, it would be a disaster. That is Peter's point.

[@rosesoulis1840]

OBESITY......lot of half queer trainers here

[@ianferguson3543]

I’m Scottish. There is no chance of us voting to leave the union. It’s not very long since the referendum and most people are not interested. Add in the SNP debacle and I cannot see them managing to get another vote. Happy to be part of Britain.

[@ivancho5854]

I really hope that you're correct. 🤞

[@thomasherrin6798]

The UK will be the biggest economy in Europe by 2030-2035, our current problems have been caused by Mainland EU countries crashing all of Europe's energy market by being reliant on Russia, France looks a lot sicker than us at present and Germany has big systemic problems going forward, if we got rid of all the remoaners we would be on our way!?!

[@atb8660]

@@secretname4190ol what alternative? If you can move Scotland you are welcome to join Australia. The EU probably won’t take them. They are better off trying to improve relationships with USA and EU as much as possible

[@growler5678]

Many in the South rather wish they could kick the Scots out of the Union. Why continue when many Scots clearly hate the English, which has only gotten worse under the SNP and especially Sturgeon. With Krankie gone, one hopes the Scots can tone down their vitriol but we’ll see.

[@landontesar3070]

I am wondering what motivated this focus from Peter

[@Darrenfive0]

Leaving one union to join another does not equal independence 🤷‍♂️

[@alext3204]

I left school in scotland in 2012. The vast majority of people in my school year who are university educated (including myself) left for the south of England or other countries where there are actual opportunities. A lot of older people move to scotland because its beautiful they can live cheaply there; for example if you go to the Isle of Arran, so many of the people there are retired english engineers and doctors.

[@saindustrian]

2009 for me. The only people in my town who stayed were those who got a cushy NHS/government job or people who failed their standard grades. I visit my parents every year and I just see the decline. Most towns/villages in the area I'm from are 5-15 years away from being ghost towns.

[@ajc5479]

So you are both saying Scotland being in the UK has been absolutely crap for Scotland and they should leave at the soonest possible time.

[@mapples007]

Sounds like my home states of Maine and New Hampshire. Full of rich retirees and no good job for someone with an advanced degree like me. I moved to the west coast 3 years ago. ❤

[@einerus]

That's like most of EU, especially south. And it still works for those countries.

[@jordansahlberg8437]

Ah yes....the white settlers.

[@Seraphus87]

I'm English and while I would be somewhat sad to see the Scots split from the UK, I could absolutely understand and accept it. It was always clear that such a move would be a major challenge for Scotland, but you do indeed make a convincing argument that it would be more on the "disastrous" side of things.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

Except he got some huge facts wrong for example the age structure - Scotland is typical for the EU. Health - pockets of dire health mainly in Glasgow aren't typical for Scotland. And energy - Scotland is a huge energy exporter.

[@booopwappp1323]

Vast majority of Scot’s won’t to remain party of the UK as part of 2014 “once in a lifetime, once in a generation” referendum. Proud Scot & Proud Brit.

[@thomasherrin6798]

​@@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311I wonder where it exports its energy to!?!

[@thomasherrin6798]

​@@secretname4190The EU would not gladly accept Scotland, they would have you go through some serious hoops, they will have a number of very nasty preconditions, you will be over a barrel and they will tan your hide!?!

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@secretname4190 He's basically a CIA propagandist. I assume the Washington establishment would oppose Scottish independence in case an independent Scotland was sceptical about NATO or closed down Faslane. Inconvenient facts don't matter, just so long as the presentation is self assured and backed up by an army of fan boys.

[@chrisjones2312]

Give the English a vote on Scottish independence and they'll have it within the hour.

[@gordonpatterson4031]

Think the English courts already decided that, don't see England throwing us out.

[@paulwusteman9963]

@@gordonpatterson4031 You won't be thrown out - you will be made an offer you can't refuse. Just wait - it's coming

[@markdillon5494]

Tell that to Westminster. Not us.

[@headhunter1945]

Oh, please. If the English could do math themselves, they wouldn't have done Brexit.

[@davidbridge5652]

I'm English, give me a vote now to get rid of the whole rotten corrupt Westminster set up, all parties and get a party in who represents the people who voted them in...unfortunately there aren't any parties like that

[@davelock3166]

I live in the Highlands. Three bus loads of kids go by my house every day. Most will move away after completing their education because there is nothing for them here. Most will go south.

[@Forheavenssake1ify]

Reality, What a concept.

[@tenforward7485]

Peter does in 5 mins what politicians and media could not do in years, it’s embarrassing

[@jacobgordon7998]

That is no accident and is 100% by design.

[@marcariotto1709]

Many people don't handle facts well. They, we, me want what we want. Makes Trump popular. Not with me!

[@jimslim4227]

He skipped any nuance like the question of why retirees would stay in scottland and that the southern UK is actively stealing jobs from them, which makes it very easy. The man for sure has a deeper understanding of the world than i do, but its still not hard to ask questions to find the holes.

[@realitywins9020]

That's because Peter is wrong 100% of the time

[@DerekYoung1]

@@Gary-bz1rf not this time. He got a lot of those points completely incorrect.

[@vladislav3]

The Czechs and Slovaks split in 1993 and they're still unraveling their shared assets. For instance, many retirees that worked the majority of their careers for Czechoslovak state firms are now receiving part of their pensions paid by the Czech state even though they're Slovak. Complicated to say the least.

[@realitywins9020]

Still better than the alternative. It worked didn't it!

[@semtexstu3686]

imagine unraveling 300 years of union

[@dannyboy218]

@@semtexstu3686it was done when austrohungary falled. And look most of those nations are doing better than ever

[@luisdotespinal]

@@realitywins9020 It's debatable if it was better than the alternative, but we can all agree that Czechs and the Slovaks are to be applauded for their civilized separation into their own democracies that 30 years later still manage to untangle themselves by the rule of law and contracts rather than by cannons. I will always admire them for that.

[@rejvaik00]

That's true but it looks like it's still worked I'm not going to weigh in because I'm not Scottish so it's not my decision to make but it looks like it can be done

[@peterb2272]

In England, when people retire and move to a part of the country to live cheaply in a beautiful area, there is usually two places they move to. Wales or Scotland. One of the reasons the population is getting older.

[@freebornjohn2687]

There's plenty coming down to the West Country Sidmouth is locally known as Heaven's Gate!

[@mitchellhawkes22]

The Scots better pray for more retirees. Looks like their best chance at an economy.

[@Jonathan-jq5xc]

Scotland is a fantastic place, but I've never heard of anyone retiring there - always Devon, Cornwall, France or Spain.

[@gobshite99]

You mean Cornwall 😂

[@freebornjohn2687]

@@gobshite99 Yes the Cornish can be a bit like that but its not as extreme.

[@Hollows1997]

Being from North East England, I hear both sides of this very often. Usually though from Pro Independence Scots, and there are the same two points that I often use to make a case for union; 1) Scotland wants to leave a union in which it has 59 out of 650 seats in parliament, about a tenth. But then it wants to join a union where it will be just 1 seat of about 28-30 (depends on when they join). 2) I tell them that as an Englishman living in a poorer area of the country that I’d be glad to see them go. And while this is harsh because culturally we are similar to the Scots, financially Scotland gets disproportionately more funding per person than people in my region.

[@davidchristie696]

Yes, the argument for leaving the UK and joining the EU does seem somewhat daft. And you are quite correct. The North of England really gets the short end of the stick when it comes to government funding. Last time I checked the PER CAPITA annual spending on infrastructure in the North of England was about £200 per annum, versus about £500 per annum in Scotland, and about £5,000 per annum in the South East of England. The Scots certainly whinge a lot louder than their nearest English neighbours.

[@Hollows1997]

@@davidchristie696 maybe we need Mel Gibson to paint his face in the gold and red of Northumbria and shout something about freedom.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

This is incorrect. Scotland had 8 and then 6 seats in the EU parliament out of 705. In the UK it has 59 out of 650 seats. Scotland punches about its weight in the UK.

[@Hollows1997]

@@noodlyappendage6729 Scotland would be one member nation amongst about 30. Just as with the UK as a whole, they’re veto will count for nothing as the EU will always ignore a veto anyway.

[@KieranThomas-p5k]

The difference is a lot, LOT more laws affecting Scotland are made in the UK Parliament compared to the European Parliament. This is especially true when talking about the 'impact' of the laws - EU laws mainly concern lots of little details over consumer products, whereas almost all healthcare, economic, education, legal, defence, social laws are made in the UK/Holyrood. It's comparing apples and oranges.

[@nigelbagguley7606]

Ultimately the real reason an independent Scotland would never be allowed into the EU is Spain.Allowing an independent Scotland back in would create a legal president for both Basque and Catalan peoples to secede from Spain taking about 30+% of Spanish GDP with them.Spain would blackball Scotland in perpetuity.

[@MrSpeedfox]

Reading between the lines, I think this is the reason why the SNP have taken the line "we must take a legal route to independence". The quite part there is that they won't take the "Irish route". They probably have a quite agreement with Spain that if they can get consent from London for their referendum Spain will accept the result and not stand in the way of EU membership but if they take anything that remotely looks like a revolutionary option, Spain will block EU membership.

[@radog7769]

Make it less than 25% en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Spanish_autonomous_communities_by_gross_domestic_product and count with lots of that reallocating. Also the Basque Country is not a tax contributor to the whole country anyways.

[@imarlab]

Good point. Could be the case, but in legal and political terms the situation is completely different. Scotland was an independent nation before joining the UK, which was never the case with the 3 basque provinces or Catalonia. Please remember that those two nationalist movements have been strongly supported by our dear friend Vladimir, in terms of real on site support (spies) and huge ammounts of money. In fact, the Soviets first, and the Russians afterwards, have used in the Basque Country and Catalonia the techniques which Peter perfectly explained and described in one of his videos. So if we leave propaganda out of the game, most of those who know are fully aware of that. Spain now knows that NATO and the EU know. And therefore, they make both organizations more anti secession....

[@brulsmurf]

If britain would agree then there isn't a problem with that.

[@overthewebb]

You missed out France blocking it also due to their independence movements

[@nickbrown8861]

As a Scot, I was a supporter of independence in the vote in 2007, while we were still part of the EU. There was the hope of a similar outcome as happened to Ireland with EU support, to become self a sufficient member of the union. As Peter mentioned, the opportunity for that has passed - North Sea oil is dwindling, and EU membership is questionable at best, as with trade with other EU countries. It is important to realize the vast majority of Scottish trade is with England - how will that work out having just spat on them?

[@darkjudge8786]

North Sea oil is not dwindling. We just can't get licences to explore because the net zero climate bullshit. Can't see the SNP changing their stance on that

[@xb2856]

Trade deal? Hardly spat on..

[@internetenjoyer1044]

Not to mention that you will have to mass import foriegn poeple to make up the population short fall. There will be unrest when scottish people become a tiny minority in independent scotland

[@booopwappp1323]

Any luxury deals would probably go to NI and Wales to shore up the Union.

[@thomasherrin6798]

​@@secretname4190Hmmmm the EU is a little more devious than you imagine, and on the big factors Peter pointed out there is no plus side, Scotland brings the UK ratings down!?!

[@ShivamGupta-sr9zf]

"People do dumb things all the time" - Peter Zeihen

[@DerekYoung1]

Scotland your demographics are f'cked as part of the UK so you shouldn't leave and aspire to be a retirement home. Sounds greeeaattt

[@beldub01]

This is pure garbage , bordering on the racist. How come Ireland has a higher standard of living than UK? I’m from UK now living in Dublin , the tech and pharmaceutical hub of Europe, living standards , pay much higher than I had - Brexit a massive self inflicted wound. Cross border from Republic to Northern Ireland and the drop of living standards and quality of life is stark

[@lanarkcd]

I played this about four times, laughing my socks off each time, I'm Scottish and have been trying to get a similar point across to the "Brigadoon fairyland freedom squad" they will not listen, me I'm keeping my UK passport just in case they get their wish, in the words of a Scottish actor We're Doomed, We're Doomed.

[@QuintaJoryal]

I understand Peter's point but i think people are beginning to want to keep their culture and their independence more than they want more money . Nothing wrong with that.People are tired all over the world of losing their special cultures and sovereign decisions.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

​@QuintaJoryal I agree. That said, the question is if people are willing to pay the price for it ultimately.

[@thomasherrin6798]

​@@QuintaJoryalPeter's other point is that culture is old has a big underbelly and is blocking the future of Scotland!?!

[@fuzzle9392]

When Scotland secedes from its Treaty with England there will be no such thing as the UK. The UK is only Scotland and England in Treaty, nothing more. I suggest that you read the treaty and you will understand.

[@iroscoe]

@@QuintaJoryal Yes vague unquantifiables like 'blood' and 'belonging' are significant , but the Nationalist narrative is that Scotland will have it all financially too as some sort of Scandinavian style paradise .

[@pathfinderfergusfilms6630]

The most clear and informative reality check on this subject I have ever heard. Well said sir! From a Scot!

[@fuzzle9392]

Most of what he said was said in ignorance. Britain is just a bi-lateral international Treaty that was signed up between two sovereign nations. That treaty has Scotland's specific terms, conditions and pre conditions attached to it.

[@ryanprosper88]

​@fuzzle9392 and Scotland has benefited massively because of that agreement. Without it, they are screwed

[@fuzzle9392]

@@ryanprosper88 No, on the contrary England has benefitted massively because of that agreement. You can understand that when you look at the numbers. Scotland currently only gets back 60% of the revenue that it puts into the UK. England does not support Scotland. Why do you think that England so desperately wants to hold onto Scotland. For a kick off Scotland will be taking 61% of what is currently Britains entire maritime area out to 200 nautical miles, that is substantial, then there is all the rest that Scotland will be taking that is non negotiable. Also England had no right under international law to distribute the value of any of Scotland's natural resources on a per capita basis to England.

[@rangerista3933]

​ Talk about ignorance, Scotland and England became a single, sovereign state in 1707, a new United Kingdom of Great Britain. We are STILL one country, go learn some FACTS!

[@fuzzle9392]

@@rangerista3933 No they didnt become a single sovereign state in 1707. The reason that they didn't was because Scotland made sure that its system of Law was kept separate and distinct from English Law. This also kept the two forms of Constitutional Law separate due to their inherent and irreconcilable incompatibilities. Britain is a bi-lateral international political and economic treaty that was about two Crowns. Scotland has standing terms, conditions and pre-conditions attached to its half of the Treaty that stand "for all time coming". You might want to look up the definition of "KINGDOM" in a dictionary, that alone would prove that the treaty was about two crowns. United but not in Law and the Law is where the concepts of Sovereignty remain and they are very different in Scotland compared to England.

[@TankUni]

It'd be great if in every video filmed in the wilds, Peter grows ever more hirsute until he's obviously become a sasquatch.

[@GibsonReview]

He's not a sasquatch? Learn something new every day.

[@lisashafer346]

😂

[@sluggo206]

No, cut the beard and pony tail.

[@yafeters]

“Hey everyone, Peter Zeihan here, and today, we’ll be talking about the mythical creatures of the American West (which I’m totally not a part of).”

[@ryanmullaney9791]

"Hirsute" is a great word, bro or broess.

[@AntGeezer]

Scotland leaving the UK is much like a teenager leaving home. The teenager thinks they have their freedom and independence and that ‘No one will tell me what to do’ And then they find out what their £50 per week housekeeping that they once reluctantly handed over to their parents buys….

[@biddyboy1570]

Except in this scenario the parent is paying the kid to stay at home.

[@smokingrodballs2735]

If Ireland can do it why can't Scotland

[@cobbler9113]

Not really a teenager but someone in their early 20’s who is living at home, working and paying rent (token amount). They think about leaving and realise they live in New York City.

[@cobbler9113]

@@smokingrodballs2735 Oh dear. Different time, mentality and just about everything compared to when Ireland won its independence. Even now the two countries are vastly different to the point that I cannot emphasise enough. Ireland (probably Dublin more specifically) is pretty much Europe’s Singapore. Low social protections, taxes, highly market orientated etc. Scotland has very high welfare protections and taxes would have to increase heavily to fund this. Currently this is mostly being subsidised by taxpayers from England and Wales and if Scotland does become independent, they sure as s**t aren’t getting a penny from us. In fact with Scotland it’s a society that looks to the state to provide rather than to itself. The people who take the latter view have mostly left.

[@smokingrodballs2735]

@@cobbler9113 it would be stupid to assume Scotland would stay the same, obviously things would have to change and if they did, it's very possible to be independent

[@elibennett6168]

As someone whose grandmother was a Scottish immigrant, there are more Scottish in the U.S. than Scotland. Enjoyed Edinburgh but didn't understand the independence vibe since it seemed more like bravado than a workable plan, nor the trust in North Sea oil.

[@davidchristie696]

There are about 5.5 million people living in Scotland and about 5 million people of Scottish descent in the USA. The 'independence for Scotland brigade' are primarily young people. Not as worldly or cautious as their older peers. In the referendum, a modest majority of young people voted for independence. But the vast majority of older people voted against. The total vote was 55% against, and 45% for independence. A decisive majority the winning politicians would love to see in a general election. There is actually plenty of oil in Scottish waters. And the economics of expanding the production aren't significantly limiting with the current price of oil. The major limiting factor is political. Control of the offshore oil industry is reserved for Westminster and current corporation tax of 75% (it's 19% for all other businesses) stifles the industry. Nevertheless, oil and gas accounts for about 10% of the Scottish economy.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

@@davidchristie696 Oil is likely to remain in Scottish (or Orkney waters if they join Denmark). There's no longer a future of pulling stuff out of the ground to burn. Westminster is keen to phase out the internal combustion engine by 2035 - though I presume Salmon and Sturgeon would presume that a dastardly cunning plan concocted in Whitehall! Dreams of oil royalties are fool's gold.

[@gittin_funky]

@@davidchristie696 I think pegging independence on oil has passed. In case you haven't seen it is being vilified by the whole world where we are all being forced to stop using it

[@tonycrayford3893]

Anyone born in America is American and ceased to be Scottish, they may have Scottish ancestry. That does not make them Scottish.

[@biggiouschinnus7489]

@@davidchristie696 Thing is, the oil just isn't viable anymore - because most of those same young pro-independence voters are also staunch environmentalists.

[@TessaTickle]

I support Scotland quitting a union that they feel doesn't work for them. What is hilarious is 1) how they think that they'll be allowed in the EU and 2) how they feel that *that* union will be better for them. Either way, it's an admission that they can't fend for themselves as an independent country at all.

[@manmonkee]

Very true, swapping one master for another isn't about Independance, It's simply a Xenophobic attidude towards the English.

[@robertarisz8464]

1 - They were already in the EU and laws are regulations are still very much aligned. 2 - An independent Scotland will be a sovereign nation within a super-national European union rather than a junior partner in a union comprising a nation. Not really in admission that they cannot fend for themselves - German and France can fend for themselves but are in the EU. More a recognition that there are benefits to being in a union.

[@greigmn]

You didn't watch the video, did you?😆

[@mitchellhawkes22]

Oh, poor Scottish dears. Massive British welfare "doesn't work for them." The Scots apparently think abject poverty would be a far better path. Bring it on.

[@ivancho5854]

​@@manmonkeeBeing Scottish and having spoken to many pro-independence people over the years I am constantly dismayed by how little logic plays a part in their stance. Nationalism is one of the easiest forms of politics - it's easy to convince people that everything wrong is your big neighbour's fault.

[@meerkat7406]

I visited my cousins in the Glassgow suburbs in the late 90s (Cumbernald). Was a bit dismayed by all the young late teen mothers pushing baby strollers and the excessive drinking. I was told that many of the young teens would get pregnant so they could get a government subsidized apartment. The welfare opportunities were taken advantage of. Many of the merchants were also non-Scottish from East Asia. Seemed to be no ambition other than to go to holiday in Spain. I realize this neigborhood was a small part of Scotland. Yet so sad that the younger people in that community seemed unconcerned about their long-term future. On the other hand another cousin of mine who grew up in a poorer community left Scotland , went to the US and learned construction contracting. He came back to Scotland, set up a construction firm and became a millionaire.

[@Itried20takennames]

There are similar neighborhoods in many countries, so hard to say. Visited elderly relatives in Hamilton, Canada, and when chit-chatting with neighbors or others, just about everyone described their job as “I’m on disability.” And yes, disabilities aren’t always visually apparent and it is fair and correct to support those who can’t work due to health….but boy, sure were a lot of them and hadn’t seen that elsewhere.

[@raconteur5195]

There's a very easy life to be had if you don't mind the life style. You don't even need to be a citizen because once you're in you got it made.

[@jimluebke3869]

In the 19th century, Scotland used to supply small-time merchants to the rest of Europe. It's where the "tightfisted Scotsman" stereotype comes from.

[@khalidalali186]

Touché.

[@renaissance17]

there are about 60 million american women who've made that same decision

[@jjpower6769]

Greetings from Ireland (the free part). The EU has a number of countries which have approximately the same population as Scotland. These countries are doing quiet nicely for themselves. There is reason to believe that a resourceful people like the Scots would do equally well, or even better, in the EU.

[@peterdisabella2156]

Is an Irish person really the best person to ask for an unbiased opinion on the UK?

[@davedavey5]

What part of Ireland isn't 'free'? 🤔

[@scottharvey9764]

think u missed the point they would not meet the qualifications needed to join the EU. It was told in plain English very well go back & actually listen

[@ruairiobradaigh9810]

​@@davedavey5the occupied north

[@adtastic1533]

​@@ruairiobradaigh9810LOL! Occupied? Dublin wouldn't take NI if you paid them at this point.

[@captainkirrahe]

Watching Peter make these videos in different places/vistas every time really makes me realize I should travel more and hike more.

[@JasperKlijndijk]

If you are serious about it you have 2 ways of doing it: earn your money in half the year and (low cost) holiday the other half (forget saving up) or find a job you can combine with travel like peter

[@entropy5431]

Thanks, keep me updated on your adventures 😂

[@JHatLpool]

If you pay any attention to this guy, then 'true', you should get out more.

[@captainkirrahe]

@@JHatLpool I take it you just come here to reply to comments in your free time, then?

[@JHatLpool]

@@captainkirrahe Yes.

[@fa5234]

I'm from the EU, I totally welcome Scotland and I'm not the only one who love Scottish people! We have accepted poor countries like Romania and Bulgaria, we will gladly accept Scotland who overwhelmingly voted to stay in the EU! We don't want England back but I can assure you that we love the people of Scotland and will gladly welcome Scotland into the EU!

[@fa5234]

@sisterimapoet1340 I'm from Belgium (Walloon Brabant exactly i've worked in an american company with both scottish and english and i prefer by far people from scottland! In Belgium i can assure we love Scotland so does every french i know!

[@glenbetch6779]

I remember Niall Ferguson’s response to this question not that long ago and he replied something along the lines that if Scotland did achieve independence then they would become the Afghanistan of Europe. I thought at the time that’s a bit harsh, but having seen the SNP disintegrate recently in an orgy of ideology and corruption I can see his point.

[@leonfa259]

So he learned from his mistakes? ;-)

[@ivancho5854]

Wow, that's harsh, but maybe a true assessment. Long live the UK. 🤞

[@DerekYoung1]

you've obviously been reading too much DailyMail

[@booopwappp1323]

That’s insulting to Afghanistan. Scotland is a total shit hole, I should know I leave here.

[@duke9555]

Afghanistan has billion$ and billion$ of dollars 'neath its soil awaiting excavation

[@nm-zl4wn]

An Independent Scotland would be entitled to their Maritime economic zone and all of the North Atlantic Oil that it entails. Some of the most advanced oil-rigs in the world as far as infrastructure goes. Not that England would give them up easily but the path to economic viability is there for the Scottish.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

But as they are owned by BP and Shell, companies registered in London and paying UK tax, how would that help Scotland?

[@gablo1089]

@@Joanna-il2ur Just think about it for a second.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

@@gablo1089 I have thought about it, for more than a minute too. I’m still right. Scotland would like to refuse new licences, in a weakening market. But since the SNP are likely to lose the next Westminster election and probably Holyrood too, their threats are in terminal decline.

[@Itried20takennames]

It is tempting on an emotional level to want “independence” and “no one can tell us what to do in our own country…our tax money is for us.” But the reality is that there is a huge amount of both give and take, and the “independence!” people tend to forget all the take/benefits they receive, and in general, everyone is better off in a larger union and “team.”

[@mitchsvideos]

Except if that Union's name starts with the word "European" of course

[@kethughes8266]

@@mitchsvideos Leaving one union that's devolving to join one that's evolving begs the question why unions are so bad when they end with the word kingdom of course.

[@DerekYoung1]

@@kethughes8266 because one is a partnership and the other is subjugation

[@DerekYoung1]

Except "Union" make's it sound like its an optional partnership when its not.

[@kethughes8266]

@@DerekYoung1 Stop kidding yourself it's a union their rules their laws their currency you get less than ten representatives.Some independence it's just little Scotland sitting on an even bigger boys lap.Have some pride be independent.

[@DylanFM]

Emigrated to the northern coast of Scotland 8 years ago from Australia. Fantastic place for us to start a family and settle down. Working as a software engineer it was a smooth transition. Good to get away from the unnecessary drag of the city and ridiculous real estate situation around Sydney and elsewhere in Aus. While it’s easy to make predictable generalisations about the people here, it’s not completely accurate. Our story isn’t unique and there’s a very healthy layer of people bubbling across Scotland who are grateful to live here and hopeful for the future.

[@mitchsvideos]

Thank you for calling that out. Hope you continue to enjoy living in Scotland.

[@s3p4kner]

Scotlands hopes lie with migrants? I've heard this before about the rest of the UK and Peter alluded to it when he touched on Scotlands demographics, it's the only reason the UK population has grown 10mil in 20 years. If the Scots leave they'll need your salary for the new taxes, or worse, if you're not self-employed e.g work for a London HQ company you may end up being forced to leave if the company closes it's doors [highly unlikely] but literally ... everything ... will be up for negotiation in our divorce, it'll be messy and take decades. Separately, thanks for seeing a future in the UK coming here to start a family, our birth rate in places is 1.2 children per household, so my God, please help and have several.

[@bradleyhiggs3824]

Yeah i'd like to live there for a while, it's very pretty. Feels like it'd be very peaceful for writing code. Also looks a lot like Skyrim.

[@DylanFM]

@@s3p4kner I wouldn't say hope lies _only_ with migrants. I think that would be unfair to the population already living here. We are inspired and learn from people with many different stories and backgrounds here.

[@JR-gc5ef]

Not sure you Dylan (or your single figures Aussie mate ) will earn enough to pick up the deficit or debt and pensions.

[@Gillemear]

Hey Peter, any chance you could give us your rundown of Irish Unification?

[@AAA-gj3rx]

ireland produces Guinness... that's it....

[@tallonj1]

​@@AAA-gj3rx tell us more about Ireland

[@AAA-gj3rx]

@@tallonj1 theres whiskey as well and lots of pubs...

[@stephengriffith7066]

@@AAA-gj3rx And it looks like you've consumed a serious % of it

[@tallonj1]

@@AAA-gj3rx you can be president

[@hardheadjarhead]

From what I’ve read Scotland doesn’t have a legal path to independence.

[@Pipsicle330]

It doesn’t.

[@judewarner1536]

Maybe not at present, BUT all it requires is an Act of Parliament in London following a successful independence referendum in Scotland. The illegal can be made legal at the stroke of a pen, like same-sex marriage.

[@docteurpimousse2117]

A similar analysis about Québec and Catalunya would be interesting!

[@kkostadinof]

Quebec is a basket case. Catalunha is better economically but still too small to exist independently.

[@docteurpimousse2117]

@@kkostadinof whhat do you mean by a basket case ?

[@renegmw]

Catalunya, I think Catalonia in english. Catalunha in portuguese may be? But yes it would be interesting to hear his opinion

[@docteurpimousse2117]

@@renegmw my automatic corrector is guilty for this mistake

[@binivibes]

@@kkostadinoftoo small? It has more population than Denmark and more gdp than Portugal, to give you some quick examples.

[@Daniel31415]

Hahaha. He's right on point here. I'm from Edinburgh, Scotland, 30, education, living in London 😂

[@nickbrown8861]

It seems like Scotland makes nomads out of us all! I am almost 60, went to London the moment I finished school, Australia for a few years, and been in the US for the last 30 years. Only return home to visit.

[@MegaMrWrong]

​@@nickbrown8861to be honest most scottish people hate the weather and want to move south. My scottish grandmother in law is very patriotic but lived in Spain when see moves back she het depressed due to the grey skies and lack of sunshine

[@nightdragonx123]

As an American....just revive the whole British Empire. I want to see wooden ships flying the Union Jack across the Seven Seas and have King Charles III lead a new age of Neo Monarchy 🤣🤣

[@drik1486]

Rule Neo Britannia 😂

[@salguodrolyat2594]

Be careful what you wish for, they will be looking to re-establish the colonies in your part of the world again.🤣

[@Armed-Forever]

@@salguodrolyat2594 lol yh trump tried to subtly, maga, he just dropped the britain part as to not alert anyone, his mother was scottish after all lol

[@georgepantzikis7988]

Yea, don't you just love imperialist murder...

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

That's about all they'll be able to afford soon, wooden ships. 😂

[@danguee1]

I personally would like Scotland to become independent. The massive subsidies that go north of the border, the absurd budget deficit that the rest of the Union covers for them and the dramatic over-representation in Westminster - a party that gets just 3.9% of the vote gets 7% of the seats - sticks in my craw a bit. Especially when the Scots then generally complain about how unfairly they get treated within the Union....

[@Sandysand701]

Yep, wouldn't mind passing the batten over to the EU!!! If they would take it, however, the Scots should be careful what they wish for, the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.

[@229andymon]

Yeah? Well, in 2015 Scotland returned all but 3 MPs supporting Scottish independence. The 3 unionist parties were left with ONE each. In a functioning democracy you just don’t get a bigger majority. Did this wonderful Westminster representation you are so impressed about get us independence? No, let me tell you what it got us - sweet FA, buddy. *That’s* what being Scotland in the shit Brit union *really* means.

[@peterb2272]

Love the video talking about Scotland with the background looking exactly like Scotland.

[@EduardQualls]

Another point is that *Scotland would lose ALL coverage from treaties made with the United Kingdom: no NATO, no fishing rights, no trade rights, no UN membership, no WTO/G7 membership, **_etc. ad nauseam._* Plus, the removal of UK military bases, especially those of the Royal Navy, would slam the Scottish economy at its roots, simply because that revenue stream, and the collateral commerce supporting those bases, would evaporate As for those oil revenues, *Scotland produces only so much oil as the US State of Ohio.*

[@sluggo206]

The UK, US, and NATO can't just leave a military hole in a strategic central location. There would have to be a military agreement, which might end up with a Scottish-UK joint operating alliance in the bases, and the personnel remaining more or less as they are.

[@fs3859]

The median age in Scotland is 42 (Source: ONS). The median age in the EU is 44 (Source: EC). How could it be that would be the "oldest country in Europe"?

[@pablosskates7067]

Is the EU considered a country like Africa?

[@fer38jan]

That includes young expats living or commuting in/to England?

[@mattd8725]

True, but Scotland leaving would still lower the median age of the UK. NI leaving, on the other hand, would raise it, but it is arguable how chronically underutilised those younger Northern Irish people would be in the UK economy anyway, with the region being neglected to the point of being a huge drag on UK productivity. Scotland being a boost to UK productivity. London, getting all the love politically, attracts by far the youngest population and has by far the highest productivity.

[@STOPLIKEBEGGARS101]

Does the median and mean differ?

[@dw620]

42 in Glasgow is the equivalent of 52 in the EU....

[@RR-sp3ey]

There is no country in the world that achieved independence and regretted it. One (not all) of the reasons Scotland struggles is because we are governed by another country. The UK government is and will always be London centric. The only way we can prosper is if we manage our own country. Also Scotland would not be the "worst country in Europe financially". Scotland contributes more money to the UK that is receives - that is just a fact.

[@jackdubz4247]

That is a fact that will fall on deaf ears, because it doesn't jibe with the unionists' "too wee and too poor" narrative. If we are still too wee and too poor after three hundred years of the union then what was the point of the union?

[@sheronasims6783]

Scotland also only country to sell its independence

[@RR-sp3ey]

@@jackdubz4247 if Malta can prosper from independence despite being a tiny island nation of 400k then I'm sure Scotland will manage just fine. I get that there is a degree of uncertainly, however look what Westminster has done for us. Your right though, people listen to the absolute nonsense in videos like this. The man talks like we are some barren backwater with nothing to offer....

[@ParcelOfRogue]

Scotland with it's it's own legal system, the remains of an oil industry and a bit of central belt manufacturing as well as relatively good connective infrastructure might still be a poor candidate for separation as Peter says, but compared to Wales it's at least a candidate. Wales is not even properly connected north to south. Most main roads go to England. It's connected to Hereford, Merseyside and Bristol. Wales has greater poverty, less industry, terrible health and health care. There is even a Cornish Independence movement in Mebyon Kernow.

[@redhatter94]

The Welsh independence movement has always been a laughing stock.

[@thomasherrin6798]

Wales has a right to independence the same as everyone else, it has not seriously tried for years, so I don't see how it is relevant to the Scotland issue, it's not even on the radar, and the SNP has not run Scotland effectively enough to make them ready for Independence as their record unfortunately is worse than the Tories!?!

[@akali83]

This is why devolved governments is so important. Not just for NI, Scotland, or Whales but for the English regional areas also. We need less power in Westminster now.

[@Joker-yw9hl]

Welshman here. What you say is true. I was saying only yesterday how mad it is that Wales isn't even properly connected internally. However there is no serious independence movement here. No serious adult advocates for it at all. We keep the nationalism for the rugby and leave it at that

[@phillbarnes8513]

Cornish independence lol!… the Ooh-Aarr-A 😂 Maybe Ginsters, cream teas & 3 months of annual tourism will keep us afloat down here.

[@cs7th]

The Scots have had their say. If there ever is another Scottish Referendum, it should be the rest of the union voting on whether we want to keep Scotland.

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Let them have their independence. In a few years we can look forwards to the first urgent appeal adverts on the tv

[@229andymon]

@@wodens-hitman1552 Well if that happened we'd be the first of over 60 nations that have told Westminster to FO and never looked back. "let them have"...... Brit arrogance on stilts.

[@229andymon]

Sure buddy, that would work. Think about it - Scotland votes to leave and and England says NO. So - given the fairness void that is the Brit union where it doesn't matter one iota what Scotland, Wales or N Ireland think - we are *forced* against our will to stay in the "United Kingdom". Yeah, there's sensible...! You didn't think that through, did you?

[@cs7th]

@@229andymon Had Scotland voted to leave the UK would have not stood in their way. When they did vote they voted to stay, because the rest of UK heavily subsidise Scotland.

[@229andymon]

@@cs7th OK, here’s the solution. You let *us* decide about Scotland and we Foxtrot Oscar, like the 60 odd nations that have already done the same though history, and you get to keep all that money. What’s not to like? Think about it, billions from us leaving, billions from Brexit (£350m a week, wasn’t it?) - what will you do with it all…? Everyone a winner…!

[@EmsionProductions]

Saying that Scotland is somehow uniquely incapable of achieving autonomy from the UK is short-sighted. It ignores similarly sized nations in Europe which thrive. Look at Iceland, Denmark or Ireland?.. They aren’t utopias, but they’re certainly progressive countries with good standards of living. Scotland could certainly attain or aspire to that?.. If someone pitched an independent Scotland trying to compete with a China or U.S. then… well, they’re dull.

[@judewarner1536]

Iceland, Denmark and Ireland have totally different resources and situations that allow them to thrive. Scotland would require, at least, a Parliament that promulgated realistic policies and a business community that puts community on a par with reasonable profit. Neither of these currently exist. They barely exist in the UK as a whole, which is why our economy is going down the tubes. You cannot have a thriving economy where management believes and acts like it should have the unabrogated power to hire and fire AND to control government policy when the population is become resistant to these ideas.

[@Geokinkladze]

The reason the EU wouldn't let Scotland in is because Spain would veto it.

[@ElGrandoCaymano]

As well the Americans are opposed to it because Scotland (err... the SNP) would refuse to join NATO.

[@dongoldney]

Quite right , Basques and Catalonia would then be able to seed from spain

[@Geokinkladze]

@@ElGrandoCaymano The Americans don't get a veto. No matter how many pipelines they blow up.

[@kareliask]

Re. Scottish difficulty entering the EU, one understated is that Scottish independence is against Ireland's national interests in many ways (additional competition for tourism, industry, tax haven status, etc - obviously Ireland's economic model would be something the Scottish government would consider copying, especially if their initial plans don't work). Publicly Ireland has to pretend to support whatever Scotland's democratic decision is for historical reasons, but privately they will be lobbying hard against any Scottish integration into EU institutions.

[@mikhailphilippov2862]

There will be no competition for tourism at first decade. Why? because business will leave Scotland. Why? because they don't know what is "Scotland"

[@Slydeil]

Absolutely spot on, so succinct and to the point. As a Scot, in Scotland, I have never understood the ignorance and arrogance of those of the separatists persuasion. They just can't process facts and information or appear to be hell bent on a path to the greatest act of self harm for our fellow people.

[@dennisweidner288]

@Slydeil Part of it is socialism. The SNP is a socialist party. Now some 50 countries have tried socialism and in each and every case they have failed to create a prosperous economy. Yet that are countless fervent supporters of socialism around the world.

[@Slydeil]

@@dennisweidner288 Yes socialism is a failed ideology but the SNP are only playing socialism, in a tactic aimed at taking Labour votes in the Central Belt. However they were centre right for the majority of their history and still have a sizable "old school" support base. They have more faces than the town clock and all with the ideological goal of independence at any cost.

[@dennisweidner288]

@@Slydeil Interesting. I love how through the Internet we can learn about other countries. I have spent time in Scotland and love the country and only hope all the best for the Scotts.

[@Slydeil]

@@dennisweidner288 One of the major flaws in the separatist argument here is the huge size of the public sector which would impossible to maintain, let alone improve on if there was "independence". And sadly that's the lack of reality and perspective within the "movement". Facts and rational arguments, which were the bedrock of Scottish Enlightenment, have been lost to populist empty rhetoric and identity politics. But the saddest thing is the division which has been entrenched here since the lead up to the referendum in 2014. This Never-endum has been such a waste of time and resources and the real issues have been left to fester and new ones created by the lack of attention to, and prioritisation as a result (Education, Health & Social care, justice etc.) I hope this period is reaching an end as the SNP have been exposed as the charlatans I have always believed them to be. Here's to a return to "normal" and sanity prevailing 🤞🥃

[@dennisweidner288]

@@Slydeil Thanks for your assessment. I wonder what the value of the public sector is.

[@miwi9883]

I don't understand how they are the oldest population. The mean age was 42 in 2019. Germany and Italy are both older than that.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Everything he said was wrong, but because he's American he was wrong with full enthusiasm.

[@judewarner1536]

​@SirAntoniousBlock Much of what he said was right. Only a terminally ignorant blockhead would make such a sweeping, dismissive statement as yours.

[@martes-2]

Harry and Megan to be declared king an Queen in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 😅

[@SomeGuyNamedTodd]

I think with sturgeon out, Scottish independence is dead in the water anyway for quite some time. Her party is set to lose the majority in the next set of elections due to all the scandals within the SNP.

[@229andymon]

UK is enduring a tsunami of scandals, sleaze, sex, rank corruption, incompetence, lying, cheating, stealing, infighting etc etc etc. So the union is a busted flush for sure then eh?

[@chrisy6707]

Its never been dead since 1707, its always on the go :-)

[@stuartbrand5617]

I love my country but have left long ago. My dad saw no hope for scotland in 1975.

[@markdillon5494]

When the time comes for me to leave (when my parents are no longer around) I'll be leaving too. So many better places in the world to be. I'm not as hateful about the place as Peter seems to be though

[@MaxMustermann-hs7wd]

..."but they'll never take our FREEDOM!" ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Cal_lum]

This is one of the harshest but most accurate takes on independence out there. I wish more people would use common sense and see it like this

[@229andymon]

This is a heap of tired, uber-biased, insulting, incorrect, unionist Brit propaganda spouted by a boring, non-intellectual American nationalist who’s inevitable viewpoint is 100% determined by what he thinks is best for America. I hope any sensible person, especially Scots, treat it as such and dismiss it as such. Since when does “common sense” tell you that it makes any sense whatsoever to outsource the running of Scotland to a bunch of Tory clowns in Westminster that couldn’t run a whelk stall (and that we last voted for in 1955) rather than have Scottish governance in Scotland, for Scotland and by Scots?

[@v4skunk739]

It's only low iq SNP voters that want "independence" but with full open borders, still use the £ and still be bank rolled by the Barnett formula.

[@chiefgilray]

It's filled with mistruths and lies though, not commonsense at all. I mean Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia etc all joined the EU yet Scotland with better standards, economy and already meet the criteria can't... This fella is uneducated on this subject

[@peterincork3121]

Born and bred in the Republic of Ireland, and understanding how economically illiterate we were for the first 40-50 years of the State, I would give Scotland a far better chance at being an independent nation than you are suggesting. Bear in mind the state many of the former Eastern Bloc countries were (and some still are) in, yet were accepted into the EU, and by accepting Scotland into the EU, politically, the EU would be giving the English a good kicking :) Scotland have an awful lot of good going for them, and yes there would be a period of adjustment, it would be nothing compared to the huge infrastructure deficits that the former Eastern Bloc countries had to overcome. Bear in mind too that the very strong Scottish identity binds them better than the suggested United Ireland where you could have a return to violence if a border poll looked to be an imminent event.

[@kommimaniteja7790]

EU won't exist with in decade in current form good luck on betting on eu

[@peterincork3121]

@@kommimaniteja7790 lol, sure comrade 😄

[@kjubone26]

Nice video Peter! As a 35 yo Slovak, I'd love to hear your thoughts about the Czecho-Slovak split. Personally I think Scotland is better prepared than Slovakia was in the 90ies if they decide to go solo.

[@ivancho5854]

How much aid did Slovakia get from the EU? Because Scotland won't get a single Euro.

[@e-cavalier2739]

how are they better prepared. Did you not listen to anything that Peter said in that video? Scotland would be f@cked!

[@kjubone26]

@@ivancho5854 Czechoslovak split happened in 1993 and Slovakia joined the EU in 2004 and adopted Euro in 2009. It was a long way to meet all EU criteria. What do you mean by aid?

[@shelleyscloud3651]

@@ivancho5854what are you talking about!?! Scotland was already in receipt of structural funds prior to Brexit! They’re allocated according to regional needs not national status.

[@ivancho5854]

@@kjubone26 I meant is Slovakia a net contributor to the EU or a net beneficiary.

[@rasmuslernevall6938]

People do dumb things all the time. Now that is a strikingly accurate analysis of global politics.

[@229andymon]

Yeah, the US and UK illegally invaded Iraq. Not just Olympic level dumb, but a moral outrage and a war crime. Zeihan's eyes never look that way, he's a fraud and a charlatan.

[@noelpucarua2843]

Ireland used to have all those things and it's doing very well. Show you what this guy knows.

[@heycidskyja4668]

Ireland's circumstances are completely different to Scotland's. Not remotely comparable.

[@noelpucarua2843]

@@heycidskyja4668 I was being nice. Things were a lot worse in Ireland.

[@IP-zv1ih]

Good summary. Of course, the SNP feeds off resentment and dislike of the English rather than anything rational. Rather analogous indeed to Brexiteers blaming everything on the EU. The transformation of Scotland following the original union in 1707 was astonishing, leading to the Scottish Enlightenment. I speak as a proud Scot.

[@ciarancrossan6481]

Hey Peter, love your videos. Can you give us your thoughts on the Irish economy and where is it going in the long run. Irish Unification would be great but a major problem integrating governments and public jobs financially.

[@dw620]

That depends on whether the UK agrees to pay the NI deficit for 30-40 years post-Unification as requested by Dublin. Very, very wishful thinking indeed...

[@jcynical5672]

@leicesterfromabove8925 stupid response….! Goes with your intellect I guess..!

[@stephennolan2250]

I've a related question for 'Ask Peter' Is Ireland's long term future in the American 'friends and family plan' or the French 'friends and family plan' for the deglobalised era? (To use your own terminology)

[@realitywins9020]

He'll tell you that Ireland shouldn't exist and you should rejoin the UK and put up statues of oliver cromwell all over Dublin!

[@CartoType]

Irish unification would be great if the republic came back into the UK. A chance to sort out all sorts of mistakes.

[@ianworley8169]

As an Englishman, the sooner the Union is dissolved, the better. As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to see Wales and Scotland go their separate way and the island of Ireland, speaks for itself. It should've been a United Ireland from day one.

[@davidcoverdale722]

Maybe give us who live here that decision.

[@normanpearson8753]

How could Scotland possibly go indenpendent ,it hasn't the tax base ! Just running their NHS would swallow up a huge percentage of revenue , but money never gets mentioned .

[@alanreid9385]

Bullshit!! Iceland has a population of 380000 and NOBODY is calling it a third world country. What about Denmark, Finland, Sweden, NORWAY, Switzerland. why don't you people get the facts.

[@229andymon]

You are obviously a stranger to the independence debate. All unionists ever do is tell us what an economic basket case we would be without handouts from the south of England. Oddly, they never question whether the union might actually be the *cause* of the problem. It rests on us Scots basically being incapable of running our own country successfully. Compelling, eh? Especially when we look south and watch the Tory Westminster chimps tea party run UK into the ground.

[@jellebrinkhuis4004]

Scotland is such a great and beautiful country where people live a MUCH BETTER live than in London. It's not all about money, as we should all understand.

[@actionjksn]

I don't really have the position on Scotland Independence because I don't know enough about it and I don't care that much. But while it's not all about money, when you end up in a position where you are severely lacking enough of it, then it can profoundly affect you in a very bad way.

[@dennisweidner288]

@jellebrinkhuis4004 It's all about the money if you want a functioning NHS and other necessities of modern life.

[@dennisweidner288]

@@actionjksn Well said.

[@davidchristie696]

I spent most of my working life living within commuting distance of London. So I've seen the good and bad both down South, and in the land of my birth. The pace of life is slower up North, and the cost of living is lower too. So I have no regrets about moving to Aberdeenshire after my retirement.

[@ArronMurray]

Pretty scenery and dancing round a campfire will not pay for your retirees. I think you should understand that.

[@beefeekeefee]

We were in Scotland last fall. After a hike out of Kinlochleben we were having a drink at a local pub and the bartender, a very well spoken Welsh fellow told us that he had been assigned the job six months prior by a government agency. Not enough young folks in the area willing to take the job. His girlfriend had returned to London as the place was too remote and slow paced for her.

[@einerus]

That proves, that UK failed because London is draining rest of the country. Not that it works as it should and should stay as it is.

[@mitchsvideos]

I don't know about your country, but in the UK the Government doesn't run rural pubs. He was perhaps deployed there by his employer, or (if unemployed) directed to some job vacancies by the Job Centre.

[@dennisweidner288]

@@mitchsvideos I was wondering about that.

[@DerekYoung1]

Was his name James Bond?

[@georgio101]

@@mitchsvideos There are/were various incentives and schemes to get people to move to underpopulated parts of the country. It might be something to do with that.

[@trotro80]

Peter talking about Scotland in the backdrop of misty mountains reminds me of Sean Connery in Highlander 😂

[@thomasherrin6798]

Yes he should have bought his trusty sword of truth taken from the Stone of Destiny!?!

[@elibennett6168]

There can only be one...

[@marcariotto1709]

It dies feel like the quickening is upon us doesn't it then?

[@phillbarnes8513]

Aah yes! The Scottish Spaniard & the French Scot.

[@Donald-McRonald]

Spot on, I'm Scottish and there's lots I love about my country but if independence happens then I'm heading south. Even if we gain EU membership after leaving the union, we’ll be such a small player that it’s essentially surrendering our sovereignty to the big powers on the continent. I understand why so many Scots are sick of Westminster so let’s start pushing for the place to be radically reformed and modernized for the benefit of the whole of the UK.

[@chiselandtonefitness394]

👋bye 👋

[@xb2856]

Boiling things down to demographics is really just not an adequet level of analysis for these kinds of issues. Poor demographics can be improved with immigration. Scotland is really well positioned for wind energy investments, which will grow in importance. Its such a static extropolation of the current situation to a future which does not need to hold. You fail to mention the poor political situation in the UK and how it would be improved with scottish independance.

[@huna1950]

Unseen costs for wind is a disaster for many countries-storage minerals actual funding in the first place etc. Scotland being a bit more windy it’s not as much a disaster. But still light years short of scaling anything economical. Also even places like Manchester and lesser Leeds are getting the Brain Drain now from Scotland. Although-contrary to that is Edinburgh The pilot Al bubble where lots of wealthy English white flight have and are coming. It’s little a coastal bubble same as NYC and Cali on minute scale. Rest of Scotland is sinking fast!!as you know I’m sure

[@JPMW1]

They'd be OK for energy (one of the best places anywhere for wind) but in terms of exports - like fish and seafood which are a £1 billion industry and the basis for many coastal villages and towns - a chunk of this is lorried/trucked through England to the EU so there'd be yet another trade barrier in the way.

[@dougselby7592]

Wind power is another fairytale. Depends on abusing open cycle gas turbines or worse currently. Doesn't produce enough energy to pay for the full lifecycle of the windmills even now, and certainly won't once the rare earths are refined according to European environmental and social standards.

[@JPMW1]

@@dougselby7592 I mean if you look at the stats for Scotland it really, really isn't. They're a net exporter of electricity, are well on the way to be fossil fuel free for generation, with wind being the majority of that

[@sprocket5526]

Problem for Scotland is the cost of wind energy. Its not something you just do. Just like oil and gas ots a highly specialised industry. And unless you have a domestic production to help offset the cost with providing jobs , then the cost of that type of generational shift in infrastructure goes up exponentially. Only reason why we can afford that sort of projects here in Denmark is because of our windmill industry, world leading and largest I think, helps offset that cost. To the best of knowledge, Scotland does not have a windmill industry, they are simply 30-40 years behind so not really possible to catch up at this point.

[@JPMW1]

@@sprocket5526 true they might not make many windmills but they already have more capacity than Denmark? (About 11GW combining on and off shore with a target to double that by 2030 vs 7GW in Denmark with a similar population)

[@gigglehertz]

​@@dougselby7592 Check your fossil fuel talking points. Scotland has so much wind energy they actually export the excess to England. And they're adding more.

[@AstroBioMan]

Saying people are unhealthy in glasgow would be a mighty understatement, been here 10 years and you really notice it when you travel

[@stewiegrffin79]

I've just back to Glasgow after being in Canada for four years, and I gotta agree with you. Walking round the city centre is a proper eye opener.

[@realjprc]

Yeah I did the reverse and went back to Canada and I couldn’t go back even though the people are top class

[@johnrodgers2018]

@@stewiegrffin79 When I was there I thought glaswegiens looked rough, and a lot older then their biological age. But for the most part they are the salt of the earth. I loved em.

[@229andymon]

But is being in the Brit union making that better -or worse? Who should Scots trust to take their health seriously - an Edinburgh government or a London one? I'll take Edinburgh every time.

[@229andymon]

@@johnrodgers2018 Thanks buddy. I agree with you.

[@georgewelsh7088]

Brilliant analysis Peter.

[@AzUniverzumUraesParancsoloja]

I am a romantic, history nerd guy, therefore, I was always a supporter of Scottish secessionist movements. However, Peter is right, damn right…I am crying just a little baby…he is fuckin’ right…😢

[@robbieshand6139]

Calm it down, soppy bollocks.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

No you weren't, you were and are a toady.

[@Alfred5555]

Doing major political movements and breaking 300 year old sacred oaths, just for niche romantic ideals, is not a good reasoning.

[@robbieshand6139]

@@Alfred5555 Sacred?

[@Rasterizing]

That's called emotions VS logic

[@amund8821]

People often value freedom over personal economy

[@kityhawk2000]

And that's exactly why Brexit happened feelings trumped fact. Pride comes before the fall

[@judewarner1536]

​@kityhawk2000 Biblical adages cut no parsley. It wasn't Pride; it was anger and frustration. The Metropolitan elite neither listened to nor understood the people in the ignored provinces.

[@tarkajedi3331]

Never heard of you but now had to subscribe............. Logical, clear-headed and informative....... Excellent.....

[@229andymon]

Actually, biased crap.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Illogical, muddle-headed and erroneous.....

[@ravager3666]

Scottish independence = Brexit 2.0

[@Halbared]

Then there's Sweden, Poland and the Netherlands...there's a storm on the horizon...

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

Peter Zeihan obviously never read the McCrone report - during Thatcher's years Scotland was massively subsidising England. And it was kept very, very quiet. As for energy, Scotland is an energy exporter.

[@booopwappp1323]

He said it made sense in the 80s. Not now. North Sea is finished.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@booopwappp1323 Nah North Sea oil will be around for decades yet. Demand will keep increasing and the price is climbing. Yes the easy oil is gone but there's a lot left and the value is increasing. The point is this report was covered up at the time it only became public decades later. They lied then, why would anyone believe they're telling the truth now?

[@johnmackenzie9028]

Google Rosebank, the monster oil & gas field west of Shetland they kept quiet in 2014.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

@@johnmackenzie9028 Improving drilling technology is making stuff like that more economic to produce. The end of Scottish oil got called decades too early.

[@davidchristie696]

@@johnmackenzie9028 Yes, they are discovering new fields as fast as they were in the 1970s. But they are smaller on average, (Rosebank is an exception), in deeper water, and extraction of the oil would be more expensive. Nevertheless, with the current price of oil the untapped reserves would be commercially exploitable if it wasn't for the political climate. Pandering to the eco lobby, Westminster has set the corporation tax for oil and gas companies at 75%. The politicians want to ensure the UK meets thee net zero target, not ramp up North Sea output.

[@simony2801]

You make a good case for England to get rid of Scotland. 😅

[@fuzzle9392]

The English politicians who know do not want to get rid of Scotland because they know just how much Scotland is really worth.

[@todorkolev7565]

LOL the only thing keeping the UK afloat was Scottish oil. Of course it has bad finances, it's been kept poor and dependant by the UK, as the UK does to all countries they conquer. As for the age of the population - this is just regular urbanisation and when Scotland is allowed its own economy, people will move back. Actually, the IT sector has been moving back in droves already. People who can work from anywhere. The Scottish people are a different people than the English. They are far more sincere and less likely to be scheming against you. They are cleaner and less violent too. Which makes Scotland a FAR higher quality of life place to be in. Scotland's choice is really between: A) Remain in a weird entity that has no legs and is in managed decline B) Join the largest and most diverse economy in the world and fixing their economic performance to whatever the world manages to do. We don't know if the EU will manage to snap out of the economic stagnation but we are very certain that the UK will do worse anyway

[@leyder]

Hey Peter! It would super cool if you could give your opinion on the Flemish independence movement here in Belgium. A good chunk of EU institutions and NATO are headquartered in Bruxelles and this could have a huge geopolitical impact. Thank you for your excellent work!

[@jimm8619]

Question - Is the independence movement in Flanders looking to be a separate country or to join the Netherlands (where they are a shared language)? My knowledge of the situation isn't great, but joining up with the Netherlands seems to be wiser than just going it alone.

[@Joanna-il2ur]

Has anyone even asked the Netherlands? Brussels is a francophone island surrounded by Vlaams. I worked in Brussels for a decade. Brussels would become the Danzig or Fiume of our times.

[@johnfranklin6394]

Hi Peter. I have an "Ask Peter" topic I'd love your views on. Puerto Rico - what is the best course for the island and its people (both on the island, and the diaspora in the US and elsehwere)? Statehood? Independence? Status quo? Some other arrangement? Declaration of interest: I am half-Puerto Rican, but born and raised in England with an English dad. Hence the Franklin thing. Pa'que tu lo sepas!

[@sluggo206]

Good question! Looking from the northwestern US, so it doesn't affect me much, but it's a complicated question that deserves Peter's analysis.

[@billmiddlebrook6477]

Yes great question. Hopefully he see's this!

[@actionjksn]

​​​@@sluggo206 It would profoundly affect you and everyone else if they get statehood. We would all find out firsthand what life is like to have literally a one party national government. We've actually seen it in some other countries and it has never ever been amazing. Actually that's not exactly correct, it has always been very amazing and I mean that in the worst possibleway. For a little sample of how this plays out. California, Portland, Chicago and a few others have a one-party political system. I don't know if you've looked at how things are going in those places but things are not exactly awesome.

[@osb1945]

Independence

[@sluggo206]

@@actionjksn I live in Seattle, so I know Republicans haven't had a chance statewide in Washington, Oregon, and California for years now. It's not as bad as the right-wing media might lead you to believe. The governments generally keep the economy running, elections fair, and services running, which is what we expect them to do.

[@gayleroberts9765]

Speaking of Apple and Silicon Valley, I have a question for the “Ask Peter” series. Could he predict the future of the San Francisco Bay area over the next one to two decades? How should Bay Area businesses, government, and individuals respond to what looks to a difficult time ahead.

[@w8stral]

Simple really: Will SF crack down on deviant behavior or not? If yes, will thrive, if no, then will descend into utter chaos as anyone who can flee WILL flee. It has already happened to Oakland which has become one giant drug infested homeless camp from one end to the other and this malaise is spreading.

[@ike637]

He dosent know. Like most he will take a guess.

[@flyingfox7854]

I’d get the hell out of San Francisco … why ? Because it’ll be San Andreas’s Fault ….. 😂😅😂😅

[@chingron]

Easy answer… stop voting democrat. Problem solved.

[@chiefgilray]

Lol the man is off his head, too much time thinking about weird scenarios in his head. Best avoided

[@TheNerdForAllSeasons]

I think Peter saying "Never let Scotland in ever" was the most aggressive I have ever heard him be in any video ever.

[@Rasterizing]

As an Englishman... if that's even a term now... somebody that lives in the south of the island... whatever. I don't care about borders, countries, etc and I highly respect and love our Scottish brothers and sisters. We have achieved so much together, that we couldn't have done alone. I know London, at times, has shit on you - but it's done that to us all, big time - as has every capital in every country. You're not alone, we're not alone. I have the utmost respect for you all, I really do - please don't do a Brexit #2 on yourselves, it is beyond insanity. If we can all put down the nationalist bullshit and get along, we'll be fine - it's only governments that divide us, and always has been! The people, of any places, very infrequently have issues with one another - only the leaders, and for their own selfish reasons. United we stand!

[@almor2445]

From Wales I couldn't agree more. We need the union even if some of us get romantic stirrings from watching braveheart.

[@KDean22]

POLITICIANS ARE THE POISON OF HUMANITY

[@taforth]

Interesting stats that I was unaware of. Love your executive summary approach 👍

[@ChristopherFodor]

Why did you say whiter like it was a negative?

[@duncustard]

Less young immigrants, point about demography

[@ChristopherFodor]

@@duncustard Like 3rd world immigrants contribute to the bottom line

[@wantanamera]

Because it is?

[@ChristopherFodor]

@@wantanamera Compared to any black country lol?

[@prdalien0]

Yeah why would (((zeihan))) say something like that

[@martinvalentine9228]

Why Scottish independence can only happen. We produce far more energy than we require and import zero gas yet have some of the most expensive energy prices in the developed world, based on the international gas price because we are subsidisng Englands shortfall. We(Scotland) have more fresh water per capita than any other nation on earth. Over 15,000 fresh water lochs. England has hose pipe bans. Scottish whisky accounts for almost 40% of all UK exports and all leaves through English ports. Scotland is funded by the "block grant" which is not a grant in any way shape or form. Its a rebate of approx 40% of tax raised in Scotland but is called a grant to make the politically ignorant electorate in England think Scotland is subsiodised rather than the reality of Scotland balancing and subsidising Englands economy.

[@davidchristie696]

Scotland accounts for about 85% of UK domestic oil production, and about 50% of UK domestic gas production. With 8.1% of the UK population, even though the UK is a net importer of about 60% of the oil and gas it needs, an independent Scotland would still be a major exporter of these commodities, immediately on independence, even with green politics. On average humans use about 55% of all the liquid fresh water available on the planet. In Scotland, that's less than 2% of the available fresh water. Scottish whisky exports are worth about £4 billion per annum. You can add another £1 billion for the gin 'exported' to England for blending and bottling. The value of our electricity 'exports' is of a similar order. But the UK GDP is about £2,500 billion per annum. So please put this in perspective.

[@samforde4665]

Australia 🇦🇺 next in the series any time soon ? Need a decent breakdown on everything

[@ProFishingQueensland]

Especially how Oz and Indo can make friends and $$

[@christuckwell3185]

But we have dreams of being the USA's little side kick on the otherside of the pacific. What's there to discuss? :-)

[@Seethus]

It's a good time for one too, as Australia came out of the China trade ban the clear winner and China the loser. Be great to hear Peter's thoughts on it

[@darrenmarney8577]

That would be Awesome Sam 👌 But unfortunately most people in this country cannot accept the responsibility or reality of their existence !

[@daniellarson3068]

@@christuckwell3185 Should Australia join BRICS? Why doesn't Australia manufacture cars?

[@johnsm.692]

Over 4 minutes of opinion without once asking "should any country be ruled over by their larger neighbour?"

[@dunnowy123]

Really. They've been in union for 300+ years. Get over it.

[@johnsm.692]

@@dunnowy123 They were an independent and successful country long before the Union, one of the oldest countries in Europe. It's really their choice whether they continue within the UK union, no one else's. Ireland's done just fine for themselves outside of the Union as have so many of the once British colonies once free from British control. The people of Scotland just need to get on with it, time to take control of their own future instead of having one imposed.

[@globaltraveller]

Indeed. No better than a pub bore ramble.

[@atb8660]

Last comment I will bring up on this issue is that if Scotland breaks away and the EU is happy to have them. They are going to have to reduce their public spending deficit to 3 percent to qualify. At the moment it is 12.3 percent, they either tax more and drive the wealthy Scots away either into the UK or anywhere really or they do a massive austerity programme which I doubt anyone there would vote for

[@Kaiserbill99]

Slight correction. Scotland would probably have to work towards halving its deficit to be accepted by EU but have to work to halving it again i.e. 3% to qualify for the Euro which would be a prerequisite requirement. But the issues facing Scotland run deeper than their spending relative to tax income and the issues highlighted by Zeihan. The SNP hopelessly underestimates the number of jobs in Scotland reliant on the public sector but equally reliant on servicing the UK as a whole. Scotland is more dependent on public sector jobs and private sector jobs reliant on WM funding than any other part of the UK. Redundancies and a falling tax yield would be inevitable.

[@juliantheapostate8295]

@@Kaiserbill99 There is also the fact that our financial services industry is closely-integrated with London, and it is the main private sector employer in the country

[@Kaiserbill99]

@@juliantheapostate8295 Quite

[@ahdvd]

Scotland is not a poor country, if it were poor then Westminster wouldn’t be desperately trying to keep hold of it. It is nothing but a resource to England. As for things like food, money and goods, Scotland has a booming export of food and goods, which will mean being able to export and import foods will not be a problem. And power? Scotland regularly generates more than enough electricity DAILY from just wind power from all the wind farms, to completely power not only Scotland, but the rest of the country. It just cannot store it all because there is no decent battery storage on a scale required to do so. The real problem is that Scotland cannot export this energy to sell it to other countries because the connection points in the national grid that connect the UK to other countries all pass through the south of England. The tory government intentionally keeps the cost of using the grid to sell it at an inflated high so that Scotland’s energy if sold a road, would incurr additional cost so it appears more expensive to the rest of the world and they instead go elsewhere. This has been done intentionally by the westminster government since before the independence referendum to inflate that electricity price as being able to sell that power to other countries, would be a extremely profitable product that would add to an independent Scotland.

[@phillg27288]

"People do dumb things all the time" he said Then proceeds walking down to the fog 😂😂

[@LDW1961]

You just broke my wee Scottish heart. Damned if we do, and slightly less damned if we don't.

[@DerekYoung1]

Yip proceed's to say how bad our economy health and demographics are and that we're essentially a retirement home but we shouldn't leave. I think he made a sound argument for getting the F out ASAP.

[@cocksniffer3116]

@@DerekYoung1You’re interpreting it wrong. He’s basically saying, Scotland is hopeless and useless. Daddy England keeps little Scotland alive.

[@cerdic6305]

I think the reason why that’s a point against independence is that if Scotland did leave, then young Scots would likely still leave in droves but would no longer be contributing to the economy of Scotland.

[@DerekYoung1]

@@cerdic6305 thats non-sensical. Not sure how doing nothing and just letting it happen is a choice against independence.

[@cerdic6305]

@@DerekYoung1 I’m not saying that, but it seems like it could very easily be made worse by becoming independent. For example, if Scotland left the UK could do what it did with Hong Kong during the protests and say that Scottish people will be put at the front of the line for immigration. If that happened Scotland could very plausibly lose a huge number of young people permanently.

[@finnmccoolio9500]

If Ireland could do it, Scotland can.

[@SirAntoniousBlock]

Ireland faced a lot more challenges and had none of the advantages Scotland will have.

[@callumkenmuir2825]

He's wrong about the EU. The EU would gladly admit Scotland and then use it to damage England. There would be a hard border between Scotland and England for a start, making essential trade extremely difficult. English people don't realise just how much England is despised in mainland Europe, especially the anti-Brexit crowd. For Scotland, being under the thumb of the EU could hardly be called independence and the EU would not provide the same over-generous financial backing that comes from Westminster.

[@wussrestbrook1200]

English people don’t see themselves as european that’s why your hated

[@Vulpine407]

Peter: "People do dumb things all the time." Looks down into foggy valley. "I'm gonna go down there now..." Bear: "Hot damn! Uber Eats is early this morning!" j/k Please don't get eaten by a bear, Peter.

[@thomasclementz8149]

Do you really think that losing this feminized CIA agent would be such a massive loss? 😂

[@Joanna-il2ur]

We don’t have bears in Britain. Or wolves.

[@riccardo-964]

It took 4min to unravel all of this with great conciseness. Sir, you're wise.

[@brianraftery7675]

Would love to get Peter’s views of the viability of the Republic of Ireland absorbing Northern Ireland. After viewing this video, I think I know what he might say . . . .

[@dmerrigan11]

Yep that would be interesting for sure. Would like to see a UI in my lifetime, NI demographics are probably better than Scotland but economically it a heavily subsidised basket case. You'ld like to drink the Kool aid in terms of international goodwill and more FDI but who knows what's around the corner?...Peter maybe

[@Marvin-dg8vj]

​@@dmerrigan11NI demographics are terrible because it has a huge non working population and the biggest public sector in the EU for a region of that size. The gap between money spent in NI and money raised in vast .It is way worse than Scotland

[@DFMSelfprotection]

Last poll I saw on that showed only 30% in the north wanted to join the republic. That means a significant number of Sinn Fein voters do NOT want reunification!!!! The figure for the south was around 45% but dropped to only 29% when asked if they'd pay more tax to fund it! So, it isn't as clear cut as some would lead us to believe. I'm a Catholic from N Irish family.

[@TheThundertaker]

@@DFMSelfprotection Who would have thought that the Northern Irish, including the nationalists, have clearer heads and a better grip on reality and not letting bitterness over their sense of identity being compromised by being in a political bloc they don't like over-ride their material interest than the English when they voted for Brexit?

[@Joanna-il2ur]

Ireland doesn’t want NI. They actually removed the claim to NI from their constitution. NI is a basket case.

[@davemcdave2169]

A Labour UK government and Labour Scottish government can't come quick enough. Peter touched on it, but the capital flight alone would wreck Scotland. The financial sectors in Edinburgh and Glasgow would evaporate. The SNP doesn't have the talent or the inclination to tackle anything that affects the majority of people's lives. Instead, they spoof millions on ferries, replicating existing UK benefit systems and getting caught up in identity politics. Meanwhile we can't get a doctors appointment and Police Officer starting wages are borderline living wage. They want to slap tartan on everything, have us all speaking Gaelic and singing flower of Scotland. But we've got the highest drug deaths in Europe. Depressing reflection of a country that started the eightenment movement.

[@robertg.salisbury676]

Peter needs to do a theoretical Quebec separation. I would love to hear his take on it. So many people don’t realize the insanity of that place

[@BillSmith1]

I grew in Montreal up until age 12, I'm so glad my dad changed jobs and moved us to Southern Ontario.

[@olafsigursons]

Good old Quebec bashing eh? And you wonder why we want to leave. Here a trick, treat Quebecois with the same respect you give to native and we will get along much better.

[@NGC1433]

@@olafsigursons respect is earned, not given.

[@jolicoeur007]

@@NGC1433 And what would we have to do to earn your respect? Speak white (i.e. English) and shut up like my father, as an engineer) was told in the 60s? You don't ask for power, you take it away.

[@magnang]

How do you feel about Irish independence ? Ireland has gone from a poor vassal state while it was ruled remotely, to surpassing the UK today. Likewise Scotland lags England, and Quebec lags Canada today. I'm not pro-independence but you can't extrapolate the fate of marginalized groups in a larger entity to how they would do as a separate political entity.