one could say the same about Quebec in the context of Canadian confederation: they demand independence, but are happy to bludge off the rest of the country for welfare payments. Maybe the Quebecois have suffered enough 'humiliation' by the English since their defeat on the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Since 1970, they've been going through a period of 'revenge' where over 300,000 anglos have fled to other parts of Canada, mainly Toronto. And now it's back to square one, so they've settled for autonomy and being 'maitres chez nous' with a vengeance.

Spite and revenge are not ennobling features for any ethnic group, but for some it seems to be the only game in town.