Thursday 25 March 2010

UNSPEAKABLY NORSK THING - INDEPENDENT THOUGHTS

407 years ago yesterday Scotland’s King James VI, Jamie the Saxt, succeeded to the throne of England, thus becoming James I. This heralded the start of the Union and ever since the arguments for and against this Union have raged, boiled, bubbled and gently simmered, but have never evaporated. As we now have a Scottish Government in addition to the Westminster one, the discussion continues. And every so often, the eyes of various Scots politicians slid across the sea to an oil-producing Scandinavian utopia.

How very differently things turned out in Norway. Having become a Danish province in 1537, the country remained under Danish rule until 1814. In the same year, a Union was formed with Sweden. It was not until 1905 that Norway gained complete independence (albeit with one horrifying interruption in the form of five years of occupation during WWII). 

The later part of the 20th century saw a welcome change for both Scotland and Norway as the discovery of black gold boosted our economies. So, with both countries having similar sizes of population, perhaps it is inevitable that the non-independent Scots look to Norway.

So yesterday, when a friend asked me to reflect upon what might have happened if King James VI had not succeeded to the English throne in 1603, I felt unable to concentrate on the historical aspect of this question. It was a day when UK ears were tuned into Westminster and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling (a Scot) as he presented his latest UK Budget. As a pre-election Budget, it was always going to be more of a crowd-pleaser rather than a dose of medicine, and sure enough, it turned out to contain few shocks (unless one happens to be a multi-millionaire property-dealer with a fondness for cider). Consequently, my mind leapt from 1603 to the present day and I was awash with the current differences likely to strike any Scot who comes to live here.

The list is, of course, endless, but to spare you, I have allowed myself only a moment’s reflection, as though answering under pressure. No doubt my thoughts might be a little different tomorrow, but here is what springs to mind.

Norway has :

1. More land per head of population

2. A far smaller gap between the wealthiest and the least well off

3. A lower rate of crime

4. A far greater general understanding and use of the countryside

5. Far lower speed limits for drivers

6. Tougher rules on drink driving

7. Heavier fines for driving misdemeanours

8. More road tolls

9. Higher VAT

10. Higher taxes

11. Compulsory Military Service for men

12. Very expensive food, especially meat

13. Horrendously expensive booze

14. A functioning, means-tested and affordable childcare system

15. Greater equality between men and women at work

16. Shorter working hours

17. Better insulated homes

18. A fondness for basements

19. More snow

20. A very cold bit called The Arctic

These were my first 20 immediate thoughts. I am now left to wonder if things would be so very different if Scotland were indeed an independent nation.

3 comments:

  1. Still enjoying your observations and comments, RS. When you get the chance, maybe have a look at this blog - even though I don't agree with it, it's certainly interesting: http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2010/03/norge-og-skottland.html.

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  2. I've finally had a quick peek at this, but need more time...thanks for the suggestion, and indeed for sticking with us. Most encouraging!

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  3. 12. Very expensive food, guild wars 2 gold especially meat

    13. Horrendously expensive booze

    14. A functioning, means-tested and affordable childcare gw2 gold system

    15. Greater equality between men and women at work

    16. Shorter working hours

    17. Better insulated homes

    18. A fondness for basements

    ReplyDelete