Poul and Karen Anderson's Gratillonius was stationed at Hadrian's Wall before he became the last King of Ys. SM Stirling's post-Change characters refer to the disputed territory between England and Scotland where, for a while, no one's law was enforced. I grew up in Border country and now live just south of it. When I revisited the English Lake District, the guy in a gift shop had a Scottish accent but, when I commented, "You're not local!," he replied, "All this belonged to Scotland years ago!" Good answer.
Manse Everard of the Time Patrol, talking to Mongols invading North America, claims to:
"'...belong to the border guardians.'" (
Time Patrol, p. 138)
It is good to know that our humble border has a temporal equivalent. Now that Britain is leaving the EU, the Scottish First Minister is requesting a second Independence referendum. The chaos continues.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Meaning the former counties of Westmoreland and Cumberland used to be ruled by Scotland?
And I disagree with the Scottish First Minister. Any serious attempt to reverse the anti EU vote of last year would merely enrage parties like UKIP, who might become convinced their opponents are unwilling to play by the rules of democratic politics. That can't help but WORSEN chaos.
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Wait, I misunderstood. The Scottish First Minister wants another referendum on Scotland seceding from the UK. IMO, a very bad idea on many levels!
Sean
Sean,
Yes, a 2nd referendum for Scotland to leave the UK - then rejoin the EU! Extremely confusing.
Paul.
Sean,
Those Northern English counties were at least claimed by Scotland.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood, re a second vote on seceding from the UK. Which I think would be a very bad idea. For one thing, who will pay for the kind of expensive "welfare" Scotland currently has ABSENT the taxes raised in England/Wales? Do Scots really want to depend on the grudging charity of an EU de facto dominated by a Germany increasingly fed up with bailing out the deadbeats of Europe? Also, who will maintain the military defense of Scotland if not the UK? I don't think Scotland has the economic and demographics to pay for both!
And since a majority DID vote to remain in the UK any effort at enforcing a secession which either had a narrow margin of victory or was won by dubious means would only anger pro-Unionist supporters.
And anther complication about these northern English counties was how many Scottish nobles held fiefs in them from the English crown. Meaning they had DUAL loyalties or obligations in both countries!
Sean
Sean:
In at least one discussion of who would pay for Scottish independence, someone said the Scots would claim the UK's North Sea oil platforms as theirs.
Whether they could make that claim stick, I can't judge. I'm too long away from my old Intelligence job, and that was never an area I focused on anyway.
Kaor, DAVID!
I actually wondered about the UK's North Sea oil platforms. Like you, I am not sure if a seceded Scotland could take these oil wells over. Also, I have my doubts, given the current low oil prices, that Scotland could get enough money to maintain its current welfare standards and the other expenses of gov't. Lastly, could a weak, independent Scotland PREVENT an aggressive, stronger nation from seizing these oil wells?
Sean
Post a Comment