The Scottish Government

Okay all you Unionists out there! I guess you would have been fighting on the English side against William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Instead of going to the Rugby and the fitba games with your Scottish flags and your faces painted why don't you have the same enthusiasm and vote YES for independence - I don't understand you at all - get real.........or are you all talk and NO ACTION!!! (P.S. I had a vote for 10 years before coming here and SNP always got my vote - great to see them in power!).

Why doesnt this site have a poll on independence or a petition of some sort. Now that would be a step forward in this conversation. I would say to everyone on hear why not take the conversation to your friends workmates neighbours. Ask them "what do you think you will vote for in the independence referendum?" Lets get people talking not just on here but over the whole country especially those who dont usually engage with politics.

Hi Friends. What is so wrong with the State funding of Uni training paid for by an increase in income tax for those earning over, say, £50.000 a year? Answer... You got it. We can`t do that because we can`t change the higher rate of income tax.

Barry.

Has any country once attached to the United Kindom and gained its independence ever came back begging to be taken in as independence wasn't all it was cracked up to be?
No...I didn't think so

Gabrielle H,1248, thanks for responding. First of all, I may say that I do not believe that people die in our NHS due to lack of money or our being able to afford it. I also do not believe that illiteracy levels and low educational attainment are to do with funding either. I think I am right in saying that both average mortality age and literacy levels have both dropped even with increased budgets.
To my mind we have been the victim of over-management of our government controlled departments. I also suspect that many of the people in high paid jobs are there on political merit and not ability.Look at the recent envoy job in Malawi and the Middle East and you will get my point. If we become independent then at least the political parties will not have two masters, the main one being outwith our country.
We alone would decide the budget. We alone would allocate it and we alone would determine what we can and what we cannot afford without looking over our shoulder to see if our bosses approve.
Sure, its appalling people die and as Nicola Sturgeon says 'distressing' This is under a unionist flag.I have lost family members to it too, but I do not think personalising this subject is very beneficial. If it were as commercially viable as you suggest to stick with it then it wouldn't be happening now, would it? There is actually no 'tangible' proof' on a projected budget,there cannot be, with or without independence. You seem to want to know the result before the event happens. On that basis we would never step outside our doorstep every day!
We had 'tangible proof' of the projected costs of the Scottish Parliament building and look what happened to that! A big man did it and ran away, apparently. I reiterate, there is heaps of evidence to show that the current set-up is failing us and I cite your claims that people are dying in hospital, falling literacy levels to name but two.They arent dying because we cannot afford it. I will also add the drug and alcohol problems, the brain drain, the under-employment of our own people, the scandalous low-wage economy and an almost extinct cultural base at TV and film level are, in my opinion the 'Union Dividend' I do see your argument and it does have merit, however, to my mind you cannot be half-independent, you either are or you aren't. I for one would welcome the quantum leap. We will not get REAL facts and figures until we control our own purse strings, and I think we shall find that it has been dipped or shortchanged....by that big man who did it and ran away.

Tips for Posters ->>

1) Compose post in 'notepad', save file, then copy/paste into posting form.

2) A few days days later re-post comments or replies plus copy/paste original posting
with the reference number so that we can follow a true conversation thread.
As it stands at the moment, this isn't a national 'conversation'. It's a 'noticeboard'.

Remember the 500 word limit. . .

I think the conversation is a good idea. As long as people have their say no matter what their persuasion is at least they're getting the chance to put their point of view over.

As a member of SNP CND I am angry that, without independendence Scotland can't get rid of the evil Trident missiles in the Clyde.

If the Westminster government thinks nuclear weapons are such a good idea, why is there no consideration given to siting them in England?

It's the big issues like this that make Scotland's independence not just desirable, but essential.

It seems to me that this conversation is less about whether Scotland should become Independent than about the pace at which we should move. There is a specious attraction, certainly to the gradualists, in leaving defence, foreign affairs and monetary policy to Westminster. But these are precisely the powers which have been exercised most to Scotland's detriment. For defence, read Trident and nuclear weapons. For foreign affairs, read Iraq and subservience to the USA. For monetary policy, read decisions determined exclusively by the needs of the South East of England. Further devolution without taking these powers is an empty set.

Wendy ? Just what Scotland needs another Maggi Thatcher.

#1260. David - Paisley
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 11:01

Just because women are not openly posting here does not have to infer that they are not engaged with the conversation.

Many tens of thousands read these bloggs more than commit to post on them.

If the blogg was texted or voicemailed then the proportions might well be reversed.

As it is women may be using non-gender specific nom de plumes or, more likely, remembering that it is better to be thought a fool than to comment and remove all doubt.