Scan barcode
natep's review
1.0
Published before the 2014 referendum and Brexit, the book provides the arguments for both sides of the issue of Scottish independence, written by what it calls “leading political commentators” who are really just people on the side of the campaigns for and against independence willing to write a full book on the issue. The problem is that the authors in this book obviously have different levels of passion and care over this book, for while the Yes writer, George Kerevan, obviously feels very passionately about the issue, evident by his consistent rounding back to the issue and forceful writing, and throws all possible reasons out to the reader in order to convince him/her to be pro-independence, the No writer, Mr. Cochrane, gives out a few tepid reasons with very little effort to tie them together or explain more about them to prove his point. He mentions that Scotland will have economic problems because they will have debt but does not continue with the argument, showing that Scotland would have a large amount of debt, higher than the normal level, as the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has predicted. This creates a disunity in the book itself, making it lean pro-independence because of Mr. Cochrane’s failure, making it a poor source for anyone trying to make a decision (uneven presentation of sides) or anyone pro-independence (makes anti-independence seem weak and doesn’t provide it very well). The pro-independence also delves into the issue on more sides, countering the arguments of the anti-independence, such as stating that Scotland would put much oil revenue away into a wealth fund, thus countering Mr. Cochrane’s argument that Scotland’s oil will lead to a volatile economy. However, both authors approach the issue in rather general and moral terms, only talking about economy and fiduciary effects in broadest terms without any figures to back up their assertions, essentially making the book a nonobjective appeal to emotions without presenting effects to people’s wallets. Moreover, the recent Brexit referendum renders some of the figures and assertions by the authors (not many, but enough) obsolete because they provide arguments about the EU when the UK’s status is currently in question, so Scotland’s rollover membership to the EU may not apply because of the UK’s undetermined status.
More...