Before starting this, I would like to make some things clear:

1. I was born and have lived most of my life in Scotland.
2. I consider myself to be Scottish.
3. I would love to live in an independent Scotland.

From the above you'd probably imagine that I would happily put my tick in the YES box when its time for the referendum. However, I'd have to say that, at this moment in time, I am definitely in the don't know group... and I'm definitely not alone there! The question is whether I, along with the rest in the same position, will opt for a YES or a NO when the time comes. Given that it will likely be Autumn 2014 before the referendum actually takes place there's plenty of time for us to make up our minds (and for people in the other groups to be persuaded to change their's!) How this will happen is simple:

The full details of what independence will mean for Scotland has to be revealed!

What the above basically means is that everything needs to be laid out in black and white, in very clear and precise detail. That detail has to include all the facts and figures as well as all the pro's and con's. Its not just enough to say that our future will be funded by natural resources (which usually refers North Sea Oil, but can, and more commonly wil, include renewable energy). We need to see how the actual figures and projections (as well as any risk factors and what will be in place to reduce those) can be achieved. We need to know what measures will be in place not only to safeguard existing employment, but to increase the number of jobs available. We need to know what form our health service will take and how this will be funded. The same applies to our emergency services, our armed forces, even our local councils. Then there's the monarchy: some want to keep the current lot, others want to restore the Stewart/Stuart line*, while others want to go without... or maybe that's just complicating things too much! (* in my opinion this would definitely complicate things too much!)

What we don't need to see are the same tired old arguements that crop up time and time again! Yes we know many people in Scotland don't want to be ruled by Westminster and whatever government is returned by the southern half of England; at the same time there are many in Scotland who don't want to be ruled by Holyrood either (not forgetting those in England itself who aren't too keen on their own Parliament or even those who don't even consider they actually have their own)! We also don't want to be shown a report from the 1970s that will supposedly show us how much better off we could have been if we'd kept all the North Sea Oil revenues to ourselves... the fact is we never and while that report may still have some valid points, it needs to be brought up to date! We also don't need to see how other countries have managed to be independent, especially as some of those very same countries aren't really doing to well just now!

So, if the people that make the decisions (unfortunately that's the politicians) can get together and put forward all the arguements for and against independence in a reasonable manner (that is, without resorting to the petty point scoring they all seem to be good at) AND provide the relevent evidence to back their claims and counter-claims up then the people of Scotland can make a reasoned and educated decision on the day of the referendum. If those in favour of independence do their job properly then I, along with many of the don't know group and some of the no group will probably tick the YES box. If not then support for independence might not reach the level required to split up the UK!

So, is independence the right thing for Scotland? The truth is, at this moment in time we don't really know... but we will hopefully start to find out soon!

It's a funny time alright - an awful lot of people that were pretty set in one camp or the other are now in the "don't know" category. I feel major decisions like this should be made in times of tranquility when everyone is level headed - instead we gallop towards a historic decision on the back of a dreadful recession and world wide instability.

I wonder what the next couple of years will bring - probably not any clear vision...

For now I'm voting "Ah just dinnea ken!"

Andy

I have made my mind up with this whole question of whether Scotland should be independent or not and have decided what side of the fence I fall on. Lets be honest it is all a poor silly fad and as for that Salmond, I spy a droll oaf! Of course, there will be some who say to me that I am wrong and that independence will be the right thing for Scotland; to those people I have only one thing to say: "Poorly lad - as if!"