What would Adam Smith think about Brexit?

I was pondering the arguments that dominate the campaign for Britain leaving the EU and was reminded how Adam Smith warns us against negative attitudes towards other countries and recalled how he rebukes those of us who display a 'savage patriotism of a coarse mind enraged almost to madness against a foreign nation from which his own had suffered so much'. I would ask the Nigel Farages and Boris the Spiders of the world to contemplate Smith's words in a quiet moment. I also realise that some may criticise me for quoting this whilst advocating Scottish Independence, but remind you that my argument is based on a rejection of an ideology, of an economic system, and of a political and economic programme that is founded on open class warfare. There is nothing nationalistic about my argument which is founded, not on negative attitudes of other countries, nor any notion of patriotism, but based on the realisation that this ideology is destroying the United Kingdom. The electorates of both England and Wales appear to be content to embrace this poison, and that is their choice, but Scotland has a chance to escape the ruin that certainly awaits them under the neoliberal dominance. I have a choice and I choose to exercise it. I would like to think that Adam Smith would agree with me. What Smith wrote was   

"The love of our own nation often disposes us to view, with the most malignant jealousy and envy, the prosperity and aggrandisement of any other neighbouring nation. Independent and neighbouring nations, having no common superior to decide their disputes, all live in continual dread and suspicion of one another. Each sovereign, expecting little justice from his neighbours, is disposed to treat them with as little as he expects from them. The regard for the laws of nations, or for those rules which independent states profess or pretend to think themselves bound to observe in their dealing with one another, is often little more than mere pretence and profession. From the smallest interest, upon the slightest provocation, we see those rules every day, either evaded or directly violated without shame or remorse. Each nation foresees, or imagines it foresees, its own subjugation in the increasing power and aggrandisement of any of its neighbours; and the mean principle of national prejudice is often founded upon the noble one of the love of our own country. The sentence with which the elder Cato is said to have concluded every speech which he made in the senate, whatever might be the subject, “It is my opinion likewise that Carthage ought to be destroyed” was the natural expression of the savage patriotism of a strong but coarse mind, enraged almost to madness against a foreign nation from which has own had suffered so much. The more humane sentence with which Scipio Nasica is said to have concluded all his speeches “It is my opinion likewise that Carthage ought not to be destroyed” was the liberal expression of a more enlarged and enlightened mind, who felt no aversion to the prosperity even of an old enemy, when reduced to a state which could no longer be formidable to Rome. France and England may each of them have some reason to dread the increase of the naval and military power of the other; but for either of them to envy the internal happiness and prosperity of the other, the cultivation of its lands, the advancements of its manufactures, the increase of its commerce, the security and number of its ports and harbours, its proficiency in all the liberal arts and sciences, is surely beneath the dignity of two such great nations. These are all improvements of the world we live in. Mankind are benefited, human nature is ennobled by them. In such improvements each nation ought, not only to endeavour itself to excel, but from the love of mankind, to promote, instead of obstructing the excellence of its neighbours. These are all proper objects of national emulation, not of national prejudice or envy".

I think that Smith would have approved of the EU as a common superior to our disputes with each nation sharing the prosperity and improvements we see from each nation state. Despite all its failings this cooperative collective of nation states has witnessed peace and prosperity since 1945 and has been the one institution that, whilst adhering to the fraud that is the free market, has at least mitigated its worst excesses, those excesses that the Westminster pigsty wishes to allow to run rampant. In addition, it has been the EU that has stood between Westminster and the complete destruction of British human rights. Should Britain exit the EU this June there will be no single reason left for Scotland to remain part of the UK. You have been warned

Your Servant
Doktor Kommirat