Of course the problem with your “End of Boom & bust” section is that Germany & Ireland excluded, all of the countries listed are expensive to live in. Crucially though most of the population in these countries are better paid than we are here where the average wage is around £20,000.
I would also guess that the Scandanavian countries do not have the huge social problems that we have in Scotland, cronic unemployment problem leading to a cycle of drink/drugs (Minimum pricing will not do anything to solve this problem) as well as poor quality housing stock. Problems that certainly were not fixed in the good days.
You are right to say that there is no love lost here in Scotland for George’s “Scorched Earth” policy, yet there was plenty of love here for Darling’s plan at the last election despite there being not very much (announced) diferences between the two plans (Darling promised to cut slower and after 2014 and there was to be a rise in NI rates). Not so much uncomfortably straddling the left & right of Scottish & Brittish politics but standing firmly on the right of Scottish politics.
Puting aside everything else, the Economy will be the key issue in this referendum. Unfortunately for the yes camp, they show no sign of grasping this.