The Scottish Government

#15. George Steel - Fife
Monday, September 17, 2007 15:33

If you want to make party political points I'm sure there are more relevant forums to do so than here, but fire away you're only making a chorus of yourself and your position.

The conversation is asking you for your ideas on how to develop Scotland as a better place to live, work, and bring up our families.

I take it from your contribution that all is milk and honey for the Steel household and Fife?

I understand the Kingdom these days is so mobbed by folks just queueing to get in that they're having to get rid of the bridge tolls and build more bridges to get them all in, its that good.

What did you make of Chancellor Darling's allocation of the Holyrood budget for 2008 and John Swinney's subsequent budget speach outlining his minority government's spending program for the first year of their first term in power?

Personally I admit to suffering from a clairvoyance deficit and missed it.

Dead easy isn't to say what you're against?

#18. McNumpty - Invergordon

You said a bibful pal.

A son of the Numpty, from a long line of Numptys, going back over 300 years I'll bet.

I see absolutely no value in having a famous person such as Sean Connery entering this debate. He has chosen to live elsewhere and makes no secret of his intention to never live in Scotland again. So why should we listen to him. He hasn't a clue what he is talking about.

I would like to know if (not what)steps have been taken to prevent, or at least minimise and counteract, the UK security services interference with Scotlands move to independence (one wonders about the spoiled vote fiasco).
It has never been in Englands interest to have an economically viable Scotland on her northern border. To feel secure they have perpetuated and sustained the myth of poor Scotlands dependeacy on rich England for centuries.
we would be naive in the extreme if we were to assume that there wes no contingency plan (worst case scenario) to ensure the continuance of Englands dominant position, and the continuance of the UK in its present form.
It would be heartening to know that our government was aware of such a probabillity, and that the appropriate protocols and methology were being put in place to counteract any machinations by Westminster. These are probably ongoing right now, and more actions against us can be guaranteed when independance looks like becoming a reality.

It is likely that there are many senior government officials, and Officers of the Crown, whose loyalties will be divided, and it would be nice and cosy to think that they would declare this openly. Perhaps some will, but given the history of betrayal of this country by Scots in positions of authority. I am sure that there will be others who will keep their true loyalties secret.

Peter Barrett - Perth post #13

"If this is a real conversation why 4 days after posts 1 and 3 is there still no answer?"

This is OUR, the People's, conversation Peter and you are welcome to join in. Posts #1 and #3 received answers from participants in the "national conversation". This is not an SNP Government conversation WITH the People. It is simply a forum where everyone can contribute their views and debate with others in a national context rather than in our own narrow local circles. The SNP Ministers start a thread and that is it. It is just a way to facilitate discussion. If you have suggestions on how it can be improved send them to the moderator.

#23. David Glen - Glasgow
Saturday, September 22, 2007 01:06

Even after independence we'll still have this sort of thing to put up with.

What encourages me is the progress we have already made inspite of infiltration of unions, public bodies and political parties, agents provocateur and other dirty tricks by elements hostile to Scotland controlling her own resources.
This example from the Americas rings chillingly true to our own experiences in the UK:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article17637.htm

Indeed we can do as well as other independant nations that surround us and are of similar size; Ireland, Norway and Iceland. And while we are working towards that, we should be putting emergency powers in place that allows companies of all descriptions that currently cannot get through the red tape or restrictions of the current set-ups to be able to access financial assistance. Currently the Head of NESTA, The National Endownment for Science Technology and the Arts has stated quite clearlt that far too much of the Scottish Economy is one basket wre 95% of all companies employ only 10 people. That there are too many Spin out comapanies getting free grants that not repayable. At any interset rate. While we need help to set-up new companies it needed be free. I would gladdly pay back any assistance i recieved in setting up a high growth highy employment company.

I was downloading copies of the Declaration of Abroath for an American audience -- America is deeply in need of fundamental concepts these days -- and happened to wander over to Scottish websites, vaguely wondering whether "co.uk" had been superceded by ".sct" or some such. Apparently not. All things in their time....

Subsequently I read the comments on this blog.

I have spent little time in Scotland; in fact I've probably spent more time reading Scottish history than actually wandering the land, thus my thoughts might be dismissed out of hand as those of an ignorant interloper. For a' that:

1. There seem to be two socio/political elements in conflict. First is the concerted front shown at Stirling (it helps to have an Edward or II, of course). Second is the backstabbing politics of Killicrankie and other dubious ventures -- whether the Bonnie Dundee was stabbed in the chest by a Englishman, or the back by a Scot, it was not pleasant to hear a Scotsman take glee in the latter theory when I last hoisted a glass in Edinburgh. Perhaps intrigue is outworn?

2. Scots are hardly lacking in the skills needed to thrive in the modern world. Literacy was common in Scotland well before England. Mechanical and social genius -- though now platitudes -- are also fact. (Using "genius" in the old sense, as in "a genius for [a particular thing]".)

3. Scots possess the key characteristics of the oft-named trinity of Norway, Iceland, and Ireland: a certain stubborness couple with a different point of view. ("Work ethic" is a different concept in the four countries, but there is little doubt that Scots "gots it".) Please note that I use the word "stubborness", and do not call Scots "pigheaded". Pigheaded can only be judged by history, and when pigheadishness succeeds, it is properly called genius.

An independent Scotland would be pretty much on its own. In fact you are pretty much on your own anyway; the Magna Carta and the Auld Alliance are not what they used to be, in fact they never were. In my opinion this is more good than bad for Scotland.

Another ludicrous suggestion, by the ludicrous SNP. And we thought Labour were narrow minded & bigoted.

Scotland's society has been in a steady decline since this sham of a Parliament was put into force.

(28)

Is that the "royal" we ? and with even the conservative "peeple" for a devolved parliment what "ludicrous" party do you follow follow?

#23 David Glen - Glasgow.

Most of the discussion about Scotland's independence seems to revolve around her future economic prospects. While this is important, so also is the general morality of our politics and our sense of well-being as a nation.

Policies emanating from London, to which we as a nation have been an unwilling party, have been foisted on us, resulting in unnecessary bloody conflict, decreased social mobility, a wider poverty gap, a discredited criminal justice system (record jail population, increased crime), and reduced democratic freedom and surveillance through powers gained by the propagation of exaggerated public fear.

Not many mention the freedom Scotland would gain in throwing off the shackles of the sometimes less than moral politics coming out of Westminster.

We have at Faslane in Trident, a weapon which has no role in the 21st century in our defence. If defensive, it would be fixed on our soil as a deterrent, and not able to roam the oceans of the world, a threat to others. We also have refuges in deep sea lochs for a fairly large fleet of warships and an estuary used for naval exercises.

This is all very strategically important to London. So, yes, I agree. Watch out for dirty tricks from the Establishment. It has already started with the not-so-subtle diss-ing of SNP policies and aspirations by the press and electronic media. Watch out in future for the sabotaging of the democratic process and digging dirt on candidates.