Scotland, the Barren

RealClearWorld has a link to an article in The Scotsman entitled "Why couldn't the Romans hold and conquer Scotland?" It turns out that was a question they shouldn't have asked, as I'm certain their readers didn't like the conclusion.

It is difficult to believe that the conquest of Scotland would have brought any economic gain to Rome. It was not rich in mineral or agricultural produce. 

In other words, it was too poor to be worth fighting for. Since oil prices have crashed, it is once again too poor to be worth fighting for, and the canny Scots have rethought leaving the U.K. which pays their welfare.