"From time to time I hear that some little-bitty place wants its independence. I suggest they calculate the costs of the following:an air force a health system a good educational system, from pre-school to post grad."

Leeniea but Scotland already pays for its own seperate educational and health systems. The fundings for those come out of the current Scottish Budget and all the figures show that Scotland still pays in slightly more to the pot than is taken out! As to the Air Force well what we contribute to that is calculated on a per head of population basis - so we currently pay our share of UK Armed Forces. What spending would be done in a future Scotland as far as defense goes would be up to a future Scottish gvt. One can't surmise what future policy would be but I can't imagine an indepedent Scotland would wish to strut the world stage, or pay for nuclear arsenals etc, like we do at present as part of the UK forces. No reason to surmise spending on defense would be more than it is at present surely?
As to the little-bitty place thing well Scotland would be as large or larger than many European countries. By population it would be about 25th out of 40 plus odd countries. So by no means large but also not one of the very small countries!