RANDOM THOUGHTS

That intellectual colossus known as Richard Baker has said that Charities which operate across the UK will have to split up if Scotland becomes independent.

Not one single charity has backed up this statement.

Still the Scotsman gave him a headline about it.

But let's just for a second move into the realms of fantasy and imagine that Richard two brains Baker is right about this.

So what?

Is there at present a Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA)? Isn't there also a Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)? Are there not other charities just like this?

Does the fact that the two of them operate separately in two different countries mean that they are not doing a good job?

Is the Red Cross headquartered in Geneva? Does the Croix Rouge operate in France? Does it work in co-operation with the Red Crescent? 

Is it pretty effective inasmuch that any of these charities are effective?

Actually one of the things that strikes me about these large charities is that they seem...at least the UK ones... to have massive offices in the centre of London.

That indicates to me that a great deal of the money that is given goes on the upkeep of these offices. That is not what I give to charities for. I know, of course, that they have to have premises, staff, and all the other expenses that any other large organisation has... but I've often wondered why they have to be in one of the most expensive cities on earth.

Separate Scottish charities with offices in smaller, less expensive cities, may well be able to put a greater proportion  of their money to the purpose for which it was donate.

Oh yeah, one last question:


Is Richard Baker a complete dick?
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Tony Blair has had a good year it seems. While the rest of us got poorer, he appears to have got very much richer.

He has banked over £13 million making this his most financially successful year since stepping down as prime minister.

Blair's wealth, including a London home, a country estate and numerous other properties, is estimated to come to £70m. 

The former PM has built up his fortune over the years as an official adviser to investment banks and insurance people. He also advises governments such as the Kazakhstan regime and earns as much as £250,000 a time for private speeches and appearances.

The bumper financial results for the 12 months to April 2013 have been revealed in the latest accounts for Blair's two firms, Windrush Ventures and Firerush Ventures, which were lodged with Companies House last week.

Falling out with Rupert Murdoch over whatever was not, however, a particularly bright thing to do.

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The idea of commemorating the centenary of the start of the first world war in 2014 in a public fashion, was crass and tasteless and typical of David Cameron and his government of spivs. They all have plenty of money but absolutely no class adn boy does it show.

Those of us in Scotland are not in the least puzzled by the fact that he has decided to hold the if state do, led by the Queen and her hangers on, in Glasgow, rather than London where every other national event has always been staged.

The start of the war is very close to the date of the referendum. Cameron has said that he wants this to be another occasion (like the Olympics and the Jubilee) where all us Brits can get together, wave our flags and rejoice that the Lord made us British instead of foreign...well, not his exact words, but as near as makes no difference.

Clearly he hopes that the enormous amount of red white and blue and butchers' aprons everywhere, which will doubtless be paid for by the state and supplemented by the generosity of Glasgow councillors will persuade us against the reckless adventure of running our country for ourselves, thereby depriving London of the wherewithal to continue in the WWI tradition of popping off to war.

The trouble is that this is not an Olympic Games (the best in the history of the world ever), nor is it a celebration of an old lady having the same job for 60 years, a rarity nowadays, although working till 87 will soon be the norm.

No, this is a marking of the start of a dreadful and pointless war which killed millions of ordinary mainly working class, mainly men, or boys so that some really seriously rich people could grab a bit more for themselves. 

If some mark of the beginning of it was to be made, it should have been low key and probably personal to each family who lost people. Maybe the Queen could have said something on television, from her home in Balmoral quiet, sombre and subdued, preparing us for four years of mourning.

Then there could have been a commemoration of the end of the war in 4 years time... 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month. It has served well as remembrance day for 99 years now. 

Clearly however, it won't do now, because Cameron has seen an opportunity, just weeks before the referendum, to hold a big bash, costing untold millions in security in Scotland. Just to remind us that, had we not been part of the British Empire, we might very well have avoided the deaths of the disproportionate number of Scots who were dragged into this war.

He wants flags to be waved.

He will use the monarch and her entourage to do this, and (I'm not sure if this is wise) doubtless he will have to trot out his spivvy cabinet of people whom we didn't vote for, to look suitable solemn. 

I just hope that little fool of an English Education Secretary has the presence of mind to keep his idiotic mouth shut on the subject of patriotism and how sweet and fitting it is to die for one's country. Given that he thinks so much of that idea I'm surprised that he hasn't volunteered for Afghanistan, where I'm sure some poor squaddie would be happy to let him take his place and make the ultimate sacrifice.

Anyway, additionally, with their customary lack of good taste, they appear to have commissioned a £2 coin from the Royal Mint with the WWI imagine of Kitchener on the obverse.

I have pledged that every single coin that comes into my possession with that image will be given to the YES campaign. 

I hope to encourage  my friends to do likewise.