Welcome To Bustamania

Renaming the different bits of the Atlantic Isles could be quite fun.  Last week’s jolly jape by “The Economist”, which I always used to buy for the cartoons and the funny articles called economic forecasts featured a place called “Skintland” on its front page. 

It upset some people in Scotland, especially those attached to the “Brigadoon” (see Wikipedia) concept of nationalism.  But it is possible for Scotland to detach itself from Westminster and be solvent.  The trouble is not on the basis of most of the policies being advocated by the major parties.

Two can play at that game however.  So I introduce a new nation that is called “Bustamania”.  A map is attached and being lazy I will leave it to you to name all the parts within it.  We could all have a lot of fun with this, for example Westminster could become Worstminister and Ealing become Squealing.

The basis of “The Economist” article is that to assume prosperity for Scotland might be misplaced.  As to assume prosperity for almost all the masses in the various nations in the world at present is likely to be wrong the real issue is how much worse might it be anywhere.

It is possible that with wise policies, its own soundly based and managed currency and careful stewardship of its assets any small nation might just about ride the storm that is brewing.  But it will not be easy and may not be popular.  Also, it may require controls over personal finances now absent in the UK as a whole.

The big problem in the Atlantic Isles is The Great Wen, as it was once known.  After a period in the mid 20^th Century when some vestige of control was maintained by the government and parliament it has now been surrendered.  London is now in control of the UK and also essentially under the control of foreign interests.

A choice example of this has been the head of our tax office, Hartnett, cheerfully giving the Swiss a free hand to siphon off our taxes.  On this subject it seems that the Mayoralty of Greater London which dominates the media coverage of local elections is being disputed by two of our pre-eminent tax avoiders.

So Baron Boris of Bullingdon and King Ken of Kilburn are the main men of the moment and none of us need to bother about anywhere else much.  Given the centralisation of UK government they play a larger part in the affairs of almost all parts of the UK and Ireland to an unknown degree.

In the Atlantic Isles there is the potential for a lot to go badly wrong with an impact greater in some parts than others.  It has happened before in the past and can happen again. 

It is not so many generations ago that many parts of the South East were very impoverished in stark contrast to the wealthy parts of London that even there were cheek by jowl with areas of vile slums.

So which part of the Isles may fare better and which may fare worse is a serious question. 

Anyone for an independent Wessex?