They DO want to claim powers back "that were so wrongly given".
And they ARE sending out packs to schools, which they admit are not unbiased and even handed showing both side of the argument, but are designed to keep the country in this union.
Always good to hear it from a horses mouth, just in case one of their number try to tell us different?
A perfect example of why I probably won't vote at all.
ReplyDeleteWon't vote Yes, can't vote no.
Why won't you vote YES, Dean? (Seriously)
DeleteFear.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid that I will be a foreigner when I visit my English friends.
I am afraid separation will endanger me enjoying EU citizenship
I am afraid of losing Scottish influence internationally - especially inside the EU (where smaller states historically have less influence over the policies and directives that affect them).
But equally I am unsure about the economic arguments.
Would independent make me worse off? Would it spell and end to our proud social security network? Would we be forced to privatise national assets?
It all seems too much of a leap in the dark. Better the devil you know frankly.
Claptrap personified sums up those wayward thoughts, on the other hand using thought and yourself is like chalk and cheese irreconcilable.
DeleteDo you write the scripts for Johann?
Dean
DeleteWhat is the problem with foreigners? I've relations in Denmark and USA, friends in Greece and Malta. They are still my family and my friends.
As for the EU, your membership is more in danger in the event of a No vote given the plan for a UK referendum in 2017. England is much more anit EU than the Celtic fringe.
Scotland doesn't have any influence internationally because it isn't an independent state. It's hard to have less influence than zero.
'Would independence make YOU worse off. Well, I don;t know your circumstances, but it is unlikely given that Scotland is in a better finanial position than the UK.
As for the end to the proud social security system, sorry but did you miss Eds Balls and Milband's speeches? That ship has sailed.
Forced to privatise national assets, well yes if you stick with the UK. Libdems and Tories, and for all I know Labour, want to privatise Scottish Water. It's the SNP government that is stopping them.
OK, Dean my boy. What on earth is wrong with being a foreigner? I'm a foreigner in almost every country in the world, and yet I've never felt diminished by it? One of my best mates is Bulgarian, one Hungarian, one Malay, one Nigerian, several Indian. I don't care any less about them because they are not British.
DeleteI doubt Scotland will leave the EU. I think the UK will.
THe UK has no influence really. America pulls the strings and Eton boy does what he is told. I noted that he came back from America recently and announced that contrary to prior suggestions, the Uk would go for the whole deal in Trident replacement, not the cheaper option, that might have had a bit of independence in it.
America has run British foreign policy since Suez.
Did you read the independent report from a Labour and trade Union organisation, last weekend?
I think you'll find we are very badly served economically by being in the UK and not being London.
Can I say that Better the Devil You Know, is an expression I would have expected to hear from someone a good 60 years older than you.
AStill, at least you are no longer a no vote... That's progress. We have a year and a half to convince you! :)
Noting is wrong with being a foreigner. But why should I vote to make my English mates into foreign citizens to me?
DeleteAs British, is he any less English, or I ostensibly less Scottish if we share political union?
The case is for you folks to convince me where the benefit is for constructing the normative (if not physical) border between English and Scots chaps.
Now you are really taking the ureic acid there.
DeleteThe case is for you folks to convince me where the benefit is for constructing the normative (if not physical) border between English and Scots chaps.
DeleteI've never tried to convince a static object to cross the road by talking to it.
quick I've got to find fastest way to Scotland ! if the Labour party turn their backs on us voters were doomed !
DeleteSeems that some people can read the runes without having to be spoon fed information.
I'm still wondering what the hell is wrong with being a foreigner, Dean... what does it actually mean?
DeleteI mean if you are Scottish and someone else is English, they are technically already foreign...
Yes CH. I wouldn't want to be in England now with 4 right wing parties to chose from. I'd want to be on the fastest train to Scotland...which of course is a very slow, very old diesel train, the likes of which hasn't been seen in France of Germany for 40 years.
On the topic of international influence, it is possible to have less than zero. Specifically when a neighbouring country's parliament control your foreign policy and use it to their benefit and your detriment.
DeleteStill, in the face of incontrovertible photographic, empirical evidence, why let that sway your view.
Sometimes I think there are those who are reluctant to change to a yes because they're worried about being seen or admitting being wrong for being such a staunch no voter.
You'll get no criticism, opprobrium or told-you-so's for changing your mind here. All we have are warm embraces.
:-)
That's a good point, Pa. I completely agree though.
DeleteThere would be no, "I told you so's" here, dunno about that opprobrium though. Isn't lack an illegal substance? :)
I had to look it up before deploying it, I had an idea what it meant but thought I'd better confirm before I engaged in a terrible social faux pas.
Delete;-)
:)
DeleteHappened to me a few times. I just check how you spell **(*&^(, so I look it up and find out it doesn't actually mean what I thought it meant. Then I thank heaven that my spelling is so crap!
We certainly don't want social faux pas here ! :)
Is it just me, or does one have to vote yes to have a chance of safe guarding the points listed above? If you vote no, they're out the window definitely, the only chance you have of saving the points which are not baseless scaremongering (being foreign in England, no Scottish representation internationally - because we have so much of that right now... etc) is to vote yes.
ReplyDeleteBesides that though, neither side should be going to schools. If schools want to hold debates on the other hand, then fair enough, they need to do it without any interference though.
As for the tone of the messages in the image - one assumes its coming from BT yet it seems to have been written by a non-Scot: ...resist giving Scots any more powers... ...strip them of any powers...
Its all a bit sinister really... And a good reason to vote yes... It seems to me, the only reason not to, in this context anyway, is unionist dogma - the fear has already been instilled in some it seems.
;-)
Dean,
ReplyDeleteDear me, when I first read your post I thought it was a micky-take especially the first two sentences which appear to be straight from Darling's "Gazette for the Gullible".
My old lady is Irish, my daughter lives in Richmond and my son in Bristol and I would never regard them or their friends as foreigners.
As far as membership of the EU is concerned you are more in danger of losing that under the present UK regime.
Scotland currently have no influence internationally and have to rely on the UK, whose interests are not geared to Scotland, to advocate on our behalf. Coming from a family of fishermen I am well aware of the inadequate nature of this advocacy.
As for the economic situation an independent Scotland could not do any worse than successive UK government and you can bet your life that any decision regarding sterling or otherwise will be on terms to suit Scotland or an alternative will be sought.
Your proud social security network is under attack as we speak and both main-stream parties have further restrictions in their sight and mind.
You should be aware that the present Tory Government are the masters and originators of privatisation with Labour a close second. NHS or Scottish water are attractive targets for their close business friends, are they not?
When you say "devil you know" you should be aware that devil is the operative word in your sentence. If the devil you know was in any way effective or in any way geared to Scotland's needs then you might have a case but, sadly, I do not think you have.
Must apologise, guys, for repeating the points you've already made so much better. I forgot about the new fanged reply thingy and went straight onto comments.
ReplyDeleteChan'eil mi glic!!
Actually, I see we have all made these same points... so I'm sorry too that I just wrote more or less the same as everyone else.
Delete:)
Chan'eil mi glic!! What indeed!
No, I disregarded yours as usual. I was addressing my Pa!
Delete"Chan'eil mi glic!!"
DeleteSorry whit? Monolingual here :-(
Translates as "I'm not wise" but more commonly "I'm not all there"!
DeleteHmmm John. I have feelings you know! Oh no, being not all there you probably didn't know!
DeleteDean,
ReplyDeleteWhat a cop out! Aren't you supposed to be interested in politics? Weigh up the arguments, take yer baws in yer hands and make a decision FFS (when the time comes)! You have a brain, you have an education, you have access to the internet (and so the facts) and you have 16 months. I suggest you use them and take seriously your responsibility for shaping our country and it's future. Whichever way your earnest deliberations conclude to be for the best.
Braco
Bravo Braco...
DeleteThat's exactly what he should do.
Thanks min!
DeleteBraco
The whiff of suspicion over the Chilcot Inquiry grows stronger
ReplyDeleteI'll scratch your back if you scratch mine says the Westminster main parties and we can then both kick the butts of the voters together, Carry on corruption starring Tony and Dave with supporting cast.
Unbelievable CH, and yet, what else would it be.
DeleteIs there nothing and no one in the Westminster game above the gutter?
Dave and Tony... one day Dave thinks he may need Tony at his back.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTris
ReplyDeleteThere is a huge part of me that thinks if the vote is a large no vote, I am thinking like 70%, then we need to seriously look at ending devolution and allowing those that want to to just go for the British thing big time. I would abolish the flags, the sport teams etc and just consign Scotland, England etc to history and demand changes to show only Great Britain.
It won't happen but if it's a no vote I will feel like a man without a country. Scottish when potentialy most deny it and never British. Saying that I just can't believe anyone would actually vote no.
Bruce
Well Bruce, it would certainly be a lesson to those who think that a predominantly English parliament is best suited to look after how much tax we pay (more) and how much we get back (less, despite Barnett), if we let them charge us for education, and privatised health and water.
DeleteThings aren't perfect in Scotland but there are a good deal better for most than they are in England. I have Labour voting amtes in England who are now frightened of the future because Labour has adopted Tory policies.
In case of a no vote, I think I'll ingratiate myself with my mate who lives in Switzerland. He has a spare room and je parle pas mal francais!
Like you Bruce, I can't imagine why anyone would vote no. It just seems mad to me to go on voting for more of this shit.
Bruce,
ReplyDeleteI've always felt that the vote should be between independence and a return to Westminster rule. That should concentrate minds one way or the other. If there's a no vote I'll be campaigning to free the Hebrides and the Northern Isles from the cold clammy hands of the Westminster mob. If the rest of the Scots are too frightened then hell mend them! - that includes you as well, Niko, unless you want a job as my chaffeur/butler/sock remover?
Sock remover, John? From where do you want them removed?
DeleteErm... have you got any more jobs in independent Northlands?
I could pick up Gaelic pretty quick...
If that were the choice, we'd have independence no doubt, which is why it would never have been allowed.
PS...Interesting news about an opinion poll over at Wings!
Delete£29.96
DeleteLOL ...There you are John. Plus transport to the isle should come in at under £60!!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI seems that according to a couple of think tanks these austerity measures will continue until 2020 at least which leaves the scenario of vote No and things can only get worse with no get out clause choices choices.
ReplyDeleteYou'll of heard of the latest opinion poll as it has been spread far and wide to of completely missed our daily propaganda media. Yes 35% No 24% with Undecided on 21% it seems people are getting fed up with the continual peddling of lies from the BT team.
Yeah CH...I did hear of it, but as you say, no thanks to the MSM in Scotland or Britain.
DeleteFunny, when the last poll from that company came out it showed a far worse picture for YES and I seem to remember it being spread over every paper and 'The Wifie fae the Bunker' using as evidence that we were better off together.
There are now three main parties in the UK, influence wise (Tory, Labour, UKIP).
Each is right wing or right of centre. They all think that we have to be harder on the poor despite there being no jobs and no houses for them.
They all miss the fact that most people collecting benefits are at work, or retired.
This would probably be because the UK wages (and pensions) are the most unequal in the developed world (except for USA) and UK housing stock of affordable/public housing is tiny as compared to demand; plus rents are much higher here by comparison to other countries.
Even in Jersey and Guernsey the pension is almost double the UK pension.
Yes, I think they are getting fed up of hearing one thing from BT (or the UK government...Gove and IDS seem to live their lives in one long lie about statistics) and then discovering that it was a pile of lies.
Hopefully there will be enough bright ones to know that the future with the Uk is grim, unless you are royal, a lord, and MP or very very rich by some other means.
King George’s message to American Subjects: The 13 Colonies of the United States must remain part of the UK
ReplyDeleteHistory repeating itself.
Excellent spoof on the Eon Boy's speech :)
DeleteIs Dean not being satirical?
ReplyDeleteI only ask.
dougie
Hey Dougie... I didn't think of that LOL.
DeleteYes, I suppose you could be right...
Well Dean?