tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post2738592883131809843..comments2023-12-20T19:39:29.865+00:00Comments on Munguin's Republic: THE ANSWER ISN'T BLOWING IN THE WIND; IT'S IN THE QUESTIONMunguinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16475165830302054002noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-2148626968381129752012-01-13T22:16:30.256+00:002012-01-13T22:16:30.256+00:00Scot Goes Pop is one of my favourite blogs, Wolfie...Scot Goes Pop is one of my favourite blogs, Wolfie.<br /><br />I love James's writing. I look down my blog list every morning hoping to see a new post from him, knowing that it will be at once informative, interesting, written in a fluent coherent style, and frequently peppered with examples of his dry, at times acerbic wit.<br /><br />Without yet having read his article,I've read your response, which I might say was also witty and wise!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-362065085840431152012-01-13T19:19:40.585+00:002012-01-13T19:19:40.585+00:00James Kelly over at Scotland goes Pop is as shrewd...James Kelly over at Scotland goes Pop is as shrewd and sharp a blogger and blogging debater as I have seen.<br /><br />I recommend him <br /><br />HERE is hos latest blog and below is my comment on it.<br /><br />As a biologist I sometimes like to apply evolutionary principles to sociological phenomena.<br /><br />The position of the LibDems and Tories would make a good test so here goes.<br /><br />There was a series of TV advert some years ago which were designed to challenge people as to whether they had the inspiration and ability to meet youngsters inquisitiveness and questioning. Just the right sort for a teaching job then?<br /><br />Clearly targeted to the potential Biology teachers was this question.<br /><br />"What is the purpose of an Eariewig?"<br /><br />Of course the Darwinian answer is that there is no purpose to an Eariewig as there is no purpose to any creature roaming currently or have previously roamed this earth.<br /><br />The question was a trick question. To believe that any creature has a purpose would mean that it was purposely there and who would do that? Not Darwin anyway.<br /><br />Creatures evolve by various mechanisms and those which adapt better to changes in environment tend to be more successful.<br /><br />So the great lesson from Darwin is those who evolve and adapt have a better chance of surviving.<br /><br />Thus what is the bloody purpose of the LibDems? The Tories in Scotland are already at near extinction levels and luckily for us the Pandas are a breeding pair.<br /><br />The LibDems have chosen an evolutionary traject which will ultimately lead to their political sterility and subsequent extinction.<br /><br />I am not going to explore the metaphor of Labour in Scotland except to say they are a parasitic party which has now been found to be just so.<br /><br />The medicine is being applied.<br /><br />http://scotgoespop.blogspot.com/2012/01/cut-lib-dems-and-they-bleed-unionist.html#comment-formAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-51750647273408004422012-01-13T16:32:44.224+00:002012-01-13T16:32:44.224+00:00Good point about the 3 or 4 party system. Yes, it&...Good point about the 3 or 4 party system. Yes, it's true that until recently the Liberals were a major party in Scotland.<br /><br />Whether it was Tavish or nick Clegg that reduced them to a rump, I'm not sure, but I suspect that their association with the hated London Tories had a lot to do with it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-41899419909642166472012-01-13T16:30:24.645+00:002012-01-13T16:30:24.645+00:00Wow Dubs, 92% is a pretty good vote.
Still, I'...Wow Dubs, 92% is a pretty good vote.<br /><br />Still, I'd much rather have the system we have. I just wish teh unionist parties would stop sending their best to London.<br /><br />Why are Alistair Darling, wee Dougie and Spud not in Edinburgh...? Because the big jobs are in England travelling the world poking their noses into stuff they know nothing about. <br /><br />They're not interested in Scotland.<br /><br />Which is why we get the pile of crap that we do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-82132707179820451722012-01-13T16:25:38.466+00:002012-01-13T16:25:38.466+00:00Tris
It is not PC and very cruel, but this is pol...Tris<br /><br />It is not PC and very cruel, but this is politics after all, but I loved this comment in The Hootsmon (I know sad git me) about the dream team.<br /><br />Annabel Goldie, Alistair Darling & Charles Kennedy<br /><br />Auntie Alki and Ally<br /><br />Go on amend your comment on Tory Hoose you know you want to.Dubbiesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14351210091827242674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-22686117586071332212012-01-13T16:25:04.526+00:002012-01-13T16:25:04.526+00:00If that was a dig at her homosexuality Munguin, it...If that was a dig at her homosexuality Munguin, it wasn't in the least funny. Let's judge her on her politics, shall we?<br /><br />But they are a poor bunch. Just as well, it's six against one...<br /><br />I think Alex's up for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-41422263494764210472012-01-13T16:19:44.055+00:002012-01-13T16:19:44.055+00:00Re BBC bias on tonight repeated tomorrow about Pac...<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01986s4" rel="nofollow">Re BBC bias</a> on tonight repeated tomorrow about Pacific Quay.cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-47763633183759236752012-01-13T16:11:59.393+00:002012-01-13T16:11:59.393+00:00Tris
Another thing worth considering re votes cas...Tris<br /><br />Another thing worth considering re votes cast for the SNP in May is that the SNP gained that share of the vote in what at that time, effectively a four party system. Tavish has just about managed to give Scotland a three party system. I think that Rennie may finish the job Tavish started.<br /><br />Comparing it with Westminster's three party system is not a proper comparisonDubbiesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14351210091827242674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-87317065227130962212012-01-13T16:06:09.502+00:002012-01-13T16:06:09.502+00:00Munguin
"I’m waiting for her to bed in.........Munguin<br /><br />"I’m waiting for her to bed in......but so far no cigar!"<br /><br />I should hope not what would the blue rinse brigade think.<br /><br />Tris<br /><br />I saw some work on the numbers by some uni prof (not Curtice)for the May election, I think on Newsnet which reckoned the SNP votes cast, in a first past the post election would have resulted in the SNP gaining 92 out of the 129 seats.<br /><br />Just as well Dewar gerrymandered the Holyrood voting system, it disguises just useless the opposition, particularly Labour really were in May.Dubbiesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14351210091827242674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-41675209150408813282012-01-13T15:55:56.456+00:002012-01-13T15:55:56.456+00:00Oh sorry Munguin. I didn't realise you'd b...Oh sorry Munguin. I didn't realise you'd broken the Mail's story. Even for the Mail that is bad. I'd have guessed it was the work of one of Dirty Des's comics.<br /><br />Yes. I believe that the Chinese Premier and Alex Salmond get on very well.<br /><br />I didn't know they were nick Clegg's Pandas. I hope he's paying for their upkeep then. He's got more money than Scotland!!!<br /><br />Yes Cameron's relations were soured by his lecturing on human rights. I think he was advised to 离开;带走,拐逃Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-68778313454289942902012-01-13T15:51:06.498+00:002012-01-13T15:51:06.498+00:00CH: Thanks for the figures and the link. Most usef...CH: Thanks for the figures and the link. Most useful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-74467628167208945242012-01-13T15:50:27.249+00:002012-01-13T15:50:27.249+00:00Yes pa, they are all over the place, waiting for t...Yes pa, they are all over the place, waiting for their masters to tell them what to say.<br /><br />I hear the latest is that the Pandas will have to go back to China, because they were a gift to the peoples of the UK.<br /><br />Not like we are going to ban the Irish the Welsh, the Cornish and the English from coming to the Edinburgh after independence.<br /><br />But heigh ho, I'm pretty sure that the Chinese intelligence services would have had an idea that the Scottish government was pre independence when they made the deal. They could have sent the pandas to Bristol!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-90032275564743582942012-01-13T15:46:22.945+00:002012-01-13T15:46:22.945+00:00Wolfie. Thanks for posting that great letter from ...Wolfie. Thanks for posting that great letter from a person who has to be politically unbiased.<br /><br />I wonder what Call me will make of that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-58742036750178961272012-01-13T15:45:17.751+00:002012-01-13T15:45:17.751+00:00Well George, it did win more seats than anyone els...Well George, it did win more seats than anyone else, and got more votes than anyone else, and although it didn't make the magic 50%, as the figures on the Wiki site show, they total more votes than the three unionist parties together (and that's before you add the Greens and Margo. (There are mathematicians who say that, because some of the parties do not stand in constituencies, but only lists, that figure is wrong, but it's too complex for an arts man to understand.) <br /><br />Of course there were many parties and individuals who got votes that, even in the PR system that we use, remain unrepresented. Some of them certainly are independence minded, and certainly others are not. <br /><br />Short of trying to find and read their manifestos (which would be a Herculean task) I don't know who has the upper hand on their votes.<br /><br />I'm sure that you will agree that the voting system is fairer than Westminster where a VAST majority can be gained on a small difference in the votes.<br /><br />But I don't need to give you lessons on PR! :)<br /><br /> I'm divided about whether or not there should be a third option. The opposition seems to want it, there is reason to believe the people want it, would prefer it to independence. OK, I don't, but fair dos. Alex has said that he will listen to the people and of course to parliament.<br /><br />I don't think you can say fairer than that. Maybe he's not an extremist! ;¬)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-21338320466546329562012-01-13T15:37:52.294+00:002012-01-13T15:37:52.294+00:00Good old Ruth, she clearly spends so much time sha...Good old Ruth, she clearly spends so much time shaving before FMQs she has never it seems managed to do her homework properly and so always looks like a bit of an idiot. I’m waiting for her to bed in......but so far no cigar!<br /><br /><br />As for Lamont we she was the shrill high pitched banshee I was expecting in her first outing. It was necessary to go and rub my finger nails on a blackboard while playing a badly tuned violin with a hack-saw afterward in order to relieve the tinnitus!<br /><br /><br />As for Rennie...he does that hand wringing Mr Micawber act so very well, just watch and enjoy and insert any old white noise soundtrack and you got him in a nutshell (along with his entire party as well).Munguinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475165830302054002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-62942777517766708132012-01-13T15:31:58.216+00:002012-01-13T15:31:58.216+00:00As for the BBC, it is so patently biased that it i...As for the BBC, it is so patently biased that it is a disgrace. I've given up on them, except of course I have to give them £144 a year!<br /><br />I see no reason to have a public broadcasting organisation the size of the BBC. Chop!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-46652360462038833922012-01-13T15:30:28.224+00:002012-01-13T15:30:28.224+00:00I’m wondering if it would not be a good idea for t...I’m wondering if it would not be a good idea for the Unionist to keep something back for nearer the referendum! Osborne is telling us that we can’t have the pound, I assume he will come up personally and collect them all up himself. While the Daily Mail trumpets that we wont be able to keep the Pandas as China made clear when they gave them to Nick Clegg that they were for the people of the UK to enjoy! Never mind that Alex has such a warm and close relationship with China and its leaders, while Nick Clegg?? and David Cameron don’t. Because they always feel the moral obligation to lecture the Chinese about human rights. Did they not tell Cameron to mind his own business in rather a rude fashion last time last time he brought the subject up? <br /><br /><br />By the time the referendum comes around we will all have heard every argument they have for keeping our oil in their Union, and we will probably all be pretty sick of the same old carping and moaning....so much so we will all vote “yes” just to have an end to it.Munguinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475165830302054002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-38248042074477379472012-01-13T15:30:24.388+00:002012-01-13T15:30:24.388+00:00I certainly agree that Ruth is not politically sop...I certainly agree that Ruth is not politically sophisticated Wolfie. But then, who in their right mind elects a leader who is still finding her way to the canteen? It's not like there wasn't a decent choice and a far better option. How bright she is I'm not sure, but as I believe that Cameron will play her like a fiddle, I'm not sure that we will ever find out.<br /><br />Johann isn't up to the job either. She's a convener of a council at best. Her homely hand wave, as if to say "auch awa" to the first minister was cringeworthy.<br /><br />I didn't hear Willie's contribution. He's brighter than either of the others I would say, but now that they have become a rump in parliament, no one much will listen to him. And he spoils it (as they all do) by playing to a set of unsophisticated MSPs (in every case except the SNP, they send their best to Westminster), by being negative about everything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-82914799151665250402012-01-13T14:30:34.681+00:002012-01-13T14:30:34.681+00:00pa_BROON 74
Changes underwear, are you sure abou...pa_BROON 74<br /><br /><br />Changes underwear, are you sure about that and how so you dirty rascal?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-53863612494212371312012-01-13T14:24:38.151+00:002012-01-13T14:24:38.151+00:00By my reckoning Dean more people didn't want i...By my reckoning Dean more people didn't want idAVE than did; 10.7 millions to 15.6 millionsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-26614087566952158152012-01-13T14:20:52.175+00:002012-01-13T14:20:52.175+00:00Ruth Davidson & Johann Lamont represent partie...Ruth Davidson & Johann Lamont represent parties that seem to change their position as often as their underwear, same goes for Willie Rennie.<br /><br />AS has stuck by what he said he'd do in their manifesto and things he said in the run up to the May election. Even although I wouldn't expect any politician of any party to keep all their election promises (being realistic, things do change) at least he's doing what he said he'd do with this.<br /><br />Also, we just know that if AS said "Aye alright then, we'll have it in 2013." The politicains currently baying for an earlier election would then switch to baying about AS lying about his plans.<br /><br />As for the majority the SNP have, in terms of the parliament and how it works, it is what it is and no amount of weak sophistry can change that; the mandate is there.pa_broon74https://www.blogger.com/profile/01915208411019621104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-49820600247426168872012-01-13T14:16:20.727+00:002012-01-13T14:16:20.727+00:00George W. Potter
Scottish Parliament general elec...George W. Potter<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Parliament_general_election,_2011" rel="nofollow">Scottish Parliament general election, 2011</a><br /><br />SNP 44.4% + greens 4.4% + Margo ?% = <b>48.8+%</b> Indys<br /><br />Lab 26.3% + Tory 12.4% + LDs 5.2% = <b>43.9%</b> Unionists<br /><br />I was in favour of 16/17 year olds to vote but am having to question my view on that!cynicalHighlanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06034325908473006163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-54104887078589986182012-01-13T14:06:49.259+00:002012-01-13T14:06:49.259+00:00@Lupus
Technically the PMs have been legitimate, ...@Lupus<br /><br />Technically the PMs have been legitimate, as they command a majority in the commons, but the government has not been for many, many years due to never winning a majority of the vote. The exception to this is the current government which represents just under 60% of the votes cast in 2010.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07182217326137612970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-22890086442274851742012-01-13T12:56:32.492+00:002012-01-13T12:56:32.492+00:00So, the SNP have, as in their manifesto and variou...So, the SNP have, as in their manifesto and various public declarations decided to have a consultative referendum on the Scottish public's opinion on indepenence.<br /><br />The SNP do usually keep and certainly try to keep their promises, unlike all the other unionist parties why use elections to create later unfulfilled aspirations.<br /><br />The Scottish people can break the Treaty of the Union, unilaterally and of that there isn't a scintilla of doubt from anywhere.<br /><br /><br />What the Scottish people. the Scottish Government or the SNP is take further powers from Westminster, It is for Westminster to give up their reserved powers under the existing Treaty. <br /><br />Thus it is for the parties who cherish the Union to come forward and define whatever they wish to propose in terms of increased powers. So far, I have been deafened by the silence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2092475090824666694.post-55451088945188448192012-01-13T12:55:50.204+00:002012-01-13T12:55:50.204+00:00By Kenyon Wright, Chairman of the Scottish Constit...By Kenyon Wright, Chairman of the Scottish Constitutional Convention<br /><br />Dear Prime Minister<br /><br />The superficial nature of your proposals on the referendum simply proves that you have little understanding either of Scotland's constitutional tradition and history, or of the mood of the people of Scotland.<br /><br />There are two major reasons why most Scots will, I believe, firmly reject your ideas.<br /><br />The first is constitutional. In the 'Donald Dewar Room' in the Scottish Parliament there is an important document from 1989. It bears the signatures of the great majority of Scotland's MPs and of our local authorities, of representatives of civil society, the trades unions, the churches and much of the business community. Signed at the first meeting of the Scottish Constitutional Convention in March 1989, it is the fundamental principle on which the Scottish Parliament is founded. It is called 'A Claim of Right for Scotland' and states simply: 'We hereby acknowledge the sovereign right of the people of Scotland to determine the form of government best suited to their needs'.<br /><br />It is clear and unambiguous, and reflects a principle deep in our history, that the people, not the Crown in parliament, are sovereign. The nature, questions and timing of any referendum are matters for the Scottish people and their parliament.<br /><br />The day before the new Scottish Parliament met for the first time, I handed that document over to Donald Dewar and David Steel. I said then that one day that Claim of Right would come into its own if any Westminster government attempted to impose any constitutional development on Scotland. That day has come.<br /><br />Second, there are important democratic reasons to reject your proposals. Despite the fact that the electoral system in Scotland, which I had a hand in devising, was intended to be proportional and therefore to ensure that no party got an overall majority; to our surprise the SNP achieved that. This means quite simply that the present Scottish Government is more democratically representative of Scotland than yours is of the UK.<br /><br />As early as 2009, I proposed to the then SNP minority government that any referendum should include a third or middle option, which I defined as 'Secure Autonomy' rather than 'Devo Max', on the grounds that 'power devolved is power retained'. There are many views, but the point is that there is a growing debate in Scotland over all these issues, and the details of the referendum, whenever it comes, will certainly reflect that debate. It is not for you to<br />pre-empt that process.<br /><br />The Constitutional Commission of which I am president, which is politically non-aligned, has published a draft constitution for Scotland, and is initiating a nation-wide discussion not just of the referendum, but on the very different kind of democracy, already partly embodied in the present Scottish Parliament, we aspire to be. We hope to ensure that the options in the referendum are clearly understood as involving something more than simply a shift of political power. The people will, I believe, understand the full implications for Scotland's democracy of each of the options, be they two or three.<br /><br />Yours sincerely<br /><br />Kenyon Wright<br /><br /><br />Kenyon Wright is president of the Constitutional Commission<br />This letter is reproduced courtesy of the Constitutional CommissionAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com