7. Born Honest, Born Clever

How a nation is born – and how it behaves as it is born – matters. History tells us this. A nation born in blood almost always has a future of blood ahead of it. A nation which has to struggle for its freedom builds the love of freedom deepl...

6. Shouting bang is not the same as having a gun

Every lawless frontier town in history has attracted a certain kind of person, the kind who thinks of themselves as strong, virile, cunning and ruthless. These people like the idea of a land where there are no barriers t...

5. No need to beg for pounds

“We do not accept Groats.” This is the pub-window sign of Better Together's wet dreams. Better Together types perpetually call an independent Scottish currency the 'Groat' to much the same effect that British Empire types called the people...

4. The difference between having and using

Is a gun still a gun if you don't shoot it? Is it still a gun if you don't load it? What if you put the safety on when the gun is loaded – is it still a gun then?

What about a chocolate bar? If you have a chocolate bar and you...

3. On unicorns for tea...

 

Last night for my tea I had unicorn. Well, OK, I didn't. It was a burger. But in effect it was a unicorn. You know, four legs, mammal. Close enough. The international money markets will see it as a unicorn and that's what counts.

 

This...

2. A thousand years old and brand new

Independent Scotland walks into a bar. Barman says “Are you a continuing state?” Independent Scotland asks “why?”. Barman says “Because you've got to be 18 or over to be served”.

So, independent Scotland, are we a continuing state?...

1.  Some negotiating basics...

Consider the following story. A man walks into a motorway service station. He gets a packet of crisps and takes it to the counter. The checkout operator tells him that if he wants the crisps he's going to have to hand over more money than...