> It is amazing that you aren't able to distinguish between your opinion and reality.

This is snark, and is not welcome here.

> my politics postgrad most certainly did not "include" the clearings (I am not even sure what this means

neffy is referring to the Highland Clearances which were a brutal and iniquitous time for tenants in the Highlands. I'm quite surprised that given your chastising tone and appeal to authority by bandying around your politics postgrad studies you hadn't heard of this.

> the result of the Civil War for Scotland was imposition of govt from England.

Whilst there may have been some ripples down through history as a result of the Civil War, there are more conclusive reasons why Scotland became governed from England. Perhaps you should read some Scottish history. In particular the bits about the Union of Crowns and the 1707 Act of Union.

I'd also suggest grabbing a copy of Andy Wightman's "The Poor Had No Lawyers"[1], he explains land ownership in Scotland and the reasons why it is difficult for ordinary folks to make inroads into fair land ownership here.

> It not only reeks of bigotry but is a self-destructive pattern of thought. Scotland's decline is a function of the nation and it's people. These "stab in the back" myths only help the weak-minded find (empty) solace in their failure.

Hoo boy....I'm shouldn't even grace this with a response it's so ludicrous and ill-informed; and I'd suggest you not accuse others of bigotry as it's downright rude.

Politically (not culturally) England has always been a problem for Scotland. I highly doubt you're a member of the SNP (I am and your claim from the comments above fail the sniff test), maybe you meant the BNP?

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances

[1]: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poor-Had-No-Lawyers-Scotland/dp/178...

I can recommend the book "The Poor Had No Lawyers" for some background on the history of land ownership in Scotland:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Poor-Had-No-Lawyers/dp/184158907...