"calmc - all these numbers show you is what has happened over previous months/years, I would argue that extrapolating these into the future falls into "best guess" category rather than fact - particularly when you include major constitutional change into the equation."
I agree, though I do think that looking back over the past 30 years, and looking at the economic performance of similar countries, is reasonably good evidence for the future, at least in the short term.
And I think some of the claims of the No side are completely laid bare by real facts.
In the end I think it comes down to this: independence is a radical solution to a problem. Whether you think the solution will work and whether you think there's a problem in need of a solution that radical, comes down to your own reading of the evidence.
My view is that virtually nowhere in the media has there been a reasonblae attempt to set out the facts as they stand in a comprehensive and meaningful way. I hope that'll be remedied over the summer as the middle ground really start to make their minds up.
Also, I have been given some insight into how Scottish GDP figures are worked out - and it is less appealing than the filling of most Scotch pies.
Indeed, and GDP is a very rough measure anyway. I prefer GNI PPP, I think it's more realistic in terms of measure actual growth rather than activity. But the effect is much the same - Scotland has been, thus far and for a while, a wealthier country than the UK.
Public finances are so unfeasibly complex that any calculation of what is truly "Scottish" is in itself a very well founded guess.
I think it's well enough founded that "guess" is harsh. "Approximation" is probably a fairer word.
This is one area where close attention to the detail really is required. Some spending obviously cannot be attributed at any bit of the UK, like expenditure in Afghanistan, or international development or whatever. And some things have wider benefits. But the UK government decided that the Jubille line extension was a UK project - we paid for part of that. Same with the Millenium Dome. HS2 will be a UK project, and our share will be £4.7 billion over the course of the construction. This stuff is pretty arguable.
I love seeing the yes and no claims tested to destruction. It just grates a bit when conjecture is presented as fact - regardless of who is doing it.
Me too - to quote my union-supporting friend, I dreamed of a great debate, and instead I got this.
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