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"I don't understand why the North would want to be independent.  If their lords would just stop getting them involved in the southerner's game of thrones, they'd be better off as part of the 7 kingdoms.    \n\tIn times of Winter, the North needs southern food.  That's pretty plain I would think.  You're more likely to get good trade deals for southern supplies if you're able to petition your fuedal lord, the King of the 7 kingdoms, than you are trying to buy from fat merchants #1-50.  If the Iron Isles are raiding your shores, you can petition your King for redress.  If the wildings overwhelm your defenses, you can call for support from your King.\n \n\n\n\tAt worst the King might be requesting taxes or military service from the north.  But we don't hear them complaining about that.  The only complaint they seem to have is that the South killed Ned, and then a lot of them died in the resulting war.   Thats all Ned's fault for sticking his hand in the box of vipers that is King's Landing. \n \n\n\n\tAn independent North has to worry about Wilding invasion and southern raids.  Their lands are far too wide and empty to effectively defend, I don't see their indpenedence lasting or benefiting them in any signficant way.  They don't seem to have a raiding culture of their own, so what gain is there in independence?\n "
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