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What do you think of the islands of Anguilla, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, and Martinque. Do you think any less of them for still being under their mother countries? Do they want to gain freedom, or are they content with their current status. Do you think other "independent" islands are no different than the situation in which they are in? . . . un-emancipated from mental slavery ? . . . does that even play as a factor?

Lets talk about it.

vi/ bvi

I think they may want freedom out of pride alone but

are content after seeing how the independent caribbean and african countries became impoverished and full of problems (cayman bahamas barbados....excluded)

I think in the past too many nations were driven primarily by pride and didn't develop enough of a long-term plan for prosperity under independence. Independence should certainly be a goal, but we shouldn't trade dependence for poverty.

Economic independence is the hardest of any other type of independence to obtain, and doesn't happen in days or months. Leaders of these islands should be developing a long-term economic strategy where the nation can slowly move towards becoming more and more self-sufficient, particularly through it's own means of production and it's own natural resources. Only after that happens, which could realistically be years and decades, then we could look towards cutting the navel strings.

good post

These islands are useful Military Landing Strips or Playgrounds for the White Ruling Class of Britain and France. A rest stop for their Navy Ships and Aircraft Carriers. A useful stepping stone to South America if there is a need to engage someone there.

The local population can be rounded up evacuated or conscripted at a moments notice to serve the needs of their Colonial Masters.

If these islands were a economic burden to the Colonial powers, they wouldn't think twice about cutting them loose and setting them adrift in the Caribbean Sea.

No western country is economically independant not even America. The only country that is economically independant is Communist China.

When you refer to countries like America not being economically independent, what exactly do you mean?

xtremist... good post

I guess it depends on the pluss and minuses of the situation
will they be well enough off not to have go right back to those countries they just broke off from and now borrow and be in depth?
I think even they they would be called independent it would only be a title and not much more.
Are there any dicussions in the works on this issue?

The chinese government owns a lot of US bonds directly and through party friends. The japanese government and banks also owns US bonds.

That is called commerce, not financial dependence. The US government does not depend on China to buy it's bonds. Buying someone's bonds does not make them dependent on you. As a matter of fact i would argue that it is the other way around because since the US already had China's money I would say that China is dependent on them to not default and to provide China with the income which they will probably be depending on to either reinvest or finance projects in their own country.

I am not too sure what natural resources Anguilla and Martinique have which will allow them to stand on their own 2 feet. Can someone enlighten me????