Exclusive: Angry with Washington, 1 in 4 Americans open to secession...

(Reuters) - The failed Scottish vote to pull out from the United Kingdom stirred secessionist hopes for some in the United States, where almost a quarter of people are open to their states leaving the union, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found.

Some 23.9 percent of Americans polled from Aug. 23 through Sept. 16 said they strongly supported or tended to support the idea of their state breaking away, while 53.3 percent of the 8,952 respondents strongly opposed or tended to oppose the notion.

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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Scottish Independence...

If Scotland breaks away, these 8 places in Europe could be next...

Given Europe's complicated history and cultural diversity, the existence of independence-minded groups and regions is understandable. Even so, the sheer number of separatist movements in Europe may surprise you.

Some of these groups have transformed their desire for separation into successful political movements; others are operating at a far lower level. Some are more violent (even building their own tanks, as was the case in Northern Italy) than others (as in Bavaria, where beer seems to be the only weapon which is used).

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Scotland – The Possible Turning Point...

A number of questions have been coming in about Scotland. Yes, it has the capacity to become the real Switzerland of Europe where capital would be attracted if they are out of the UK and the EU. Why? The EU is looking to more than just tax financial transactions, they are looking to even outlaw short-selling thinking they can support the Euro and their economy that way. Brussels cannot get it through their heads that if you prevent people from selling, you will prevent people from investing.
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Small states are successful states...

The practicalities of Scottish independence

Comedian Billy Connolly on Scottish independence

Scottish Independence v India Independence – Same Debate...

Whenever there is a movement for independence, the classic argument has been that they would fall flat on their face. Yet, in this case, many British believe that Scotland has a lot of socialists who live off the state and therefore Scotland costs Britain money. Support for Scottish Independence may even be higher inside Britain than in Scotland.

A reader sent this in regarding Scotland relating the situation to when India sought Independence:

Kinnoch: With respect, Mr. Gandhi, without British administration, this country would be reduced to chaos.

Gandhi: Mr. Kinnoch, I beg you to accept that there is no people on Earth who would not prefer their own bad government to the good government of an alien power.

Brigadier: My dear sir! India *is* British. We’re hardly an alien power!

[silence]

You just can’t make this stuff up.

There is nothing less attractive than a liberal in service to power.

Have a pleasant evening.

Reprinted from Armstrong Economics.

"No taxation without representation" ...

"No taxation without representation". 

Maybe it should be the more tax one pays the more one should be represented.

200 Years of Swiss Bank Secrecy Is Ending. So, Where's the Money?...

A funny thing's happened in Finland. Scores of its monied elite have filed requests to correct their tax data this summer—suddenly recollecting that they'd stashed earnings away in Swiss banks. Truly, this is the end of an era, thanks entirely to a U.S.-led crackdown on tax evasion. It's also a strange new beginning.

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East Timor secession...

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor) has been described as having "seceded" from Indonesia. After Portuguese sovereignty was terminated in 1975, East Timor was occupied by Indonesia. However the United Nations and the International Court of Justice refused to recognize this incorporation. Therefore the resulting civil war and eventual 2002 East Timorese vote for complete separation are better described as an independence movement.
Source

The European Debt Crisis Visualized

Mt Cook, Canterbury, NZ

Support for Scottish independence surges 4% as ‘Yes’ campaign gains momentum – poll...

Support for Scottish independence is gathering steam three weeks before the referendum, bringing victory tantalizing closer for the “Yes” camp after its decisive debate win and David Cameron’s attempt to make a business case for remaining in the UK.

A poll for the Scottish Daily Mail newspaper released Friday showed that support for independence has surged by 4 percent, to 47 percent – just 6 percentage points behind the “No” campaign.

The Survation poll found 47 percent of respondents would vote "Yes" to independence, compared to 53 percent who would vote "No," excluding people who were undecided.

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