The Scottish Government

I dont want independence coz it means i wont be able 2 get free stuff anymore :(

#66 "In my experience some of the clearest thinking comes from the least educated." I'm sure given the news story today about Sir Alex Ferguson, he'd agree. [Joke]

#69 I don't see it as being rude, but to expect people to have regard for "the quality of syntax, punctuation, spelling or grammar," seems to me to be a reasonable one.

On the question of where the bar ought to be set, I think that most people ought to be able to separate in their minds the difference between elections to legislative bodies and national votes on whether or not to implement fairly major constitutional change. This is precisely the reason why in the United States a constitutional amendment needs a 2/3rds majority in both houses of Congress and 3/4 of the legislatures of the 50 States to ratify it before it becomes law. The bar is set higher than for ordinary laws, partly to make it hard to change, but also hard to reverse, the founding fathers as they’re known didn’t want the constitution altered to suit every political whim.

Do we not have a duty to ensure that we are certain? Do we allow a wafer thin majority (I have no reason to think that it will be, but as a thought experiment just suppose) to alter our constitutional arrangements?

I contend that those who want Independence will want it to be fairly low, perhaps a 50% +1 that someone suggested, while those who want us to remain as we are, will want it far higher. The key I think is to mediate between the two.

Either way, surely those on both sides of this issue incur a duty to receive an unambiguous mandate from the people in whose name they want to act?

I also wish to thank you; I now know what you think on a whole range of matters, and of course how you think. I can also I’m sure, be grateful that the particularly dull lesson you were teaching is now over… If only I could remember the point of it?

I support wholeheartedly the push towards independence for Scotland! However, looking outwards into the wider world, the Scottish Independence debate raises the prospect of where it could ultimately lead to in respect of my own country's destiny - Ireland.
Now I'm rightly proud of my country and of what it has achieved since independence from the British in 1922. But that independence alas, is as yet incomplete as 1/6 of the land-mass of my country remains under foreign juristiction.
Perhaps the disintegration of the UK might ultimately lead to the reunification of my own into a proper and sovereign nation. After all, to what will the so-called unionists/loyalists cling to when there is no longer a United Kingdom? Interesting . . .

whether or not there is an economic arguement for independence is niether here or there.if you have teenage children it would make economic sense for them to live with their parents and their rules.but as they grow in confidence they want to make their own way in the world and make their own descisions.as any parent will tell you not always in your opinion the best ones.but you support them all the same.similar with fledging independent coutries as we see across europe.with the support of the e.u.and i include england in that, the transition to an independent scotland woud be so much more pleasant.

I believe that the people of Scotlandhave the power in their own hands.Stop voting for Unionist parties
IE Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats

NOT VOTING!
Soon an election will be taking place to elect a government in London. I will not vote. I have declared myself not fit to- unlike colonial Scots living off the decent folk of England, led by paw broon.

No, it is for England to choose its government and not an occupying foreign legion.

We in Scotland and all living here should be attentative to the needs and wishes of those living here. Not ruling other countries, like the scottish unionists do.

Their sordid defence is they come from a subsidy dependent country. Yes a subsidy of them being elected in one country and running [to] another. Aye their chist too feart to take on the Government of theit own country. Such a parcel o rouges................

I can't understand why Scots think they've got such a bad deal, they get to vote on english issues and england doesn't get to vote on scottish issues and they have a parliament, England doesn't.

Amid all the subtle, and some not so subtle, insults; despite the amount of percentages flying back and forth; and flying-in-the-face of the expanse of quotes being bandied about; may I just add my quiet little voice to the nation-wide (and beyond) squabble going on here? Not that it hasn't been entertaining...

I would like to be trusted enough by my 'government' to be offered the means to record my vote/opinion/wishes on the issue of an Independant Scotland!

Yes, Mr Salmond, and the rest of you politcians if you are paying any attention to us down here, I want a Referendum! Bring it on...!

(Being free of my Student Debt would be a nice touch too...! Hmmm? Worth a try?)

Okay kids... carry on bickering!

#63. Stuart - Glasgow
Friday, September 7, 2007 12:56

Sorry Stuart, in my opinion you are wrong and you are being rude.

We both 'know' that we are both the smartest cookies in the place, so that makes our opinions important.

Trouble is not everyone agrees with us on this. Out of the mouths of babes and fools and all that...
The rest of the world just might be thinking that it is you and me who are the fools.

So why don't we just let every one have their say equally and the majority make up their own minds based on what is said rather than the quality of syntax, punctuation, spelling or grammar?

As for the % thing?
The UK government was returned with a 34% share of a 60% turnout, give or take a point or two.
i.e. Tony Blair was given his mandate by ~25% of the UK electorate and even less of the general population.

This gives the UK PM carte blanche to deploy WMDs on our behalf, declare war on his own behalf, or commission new nuclear power stations with a commitment to store the resulting toxic nuclear waste on the behalf of humanity for thousands of years to come.

In 1979 we had dead men, criminals behind bars, emigrants, businessmen, and holidaymakers all over the world 'voting against' the devolution bill.
In the end it only required 4% of Scotland's electorate to actually record a 'NO' vote and the bill was defeated.
The 52% who went out to vote in favour of a devolved regional assembly were disenfranchised.

The result being that when the next devolution bill was brought forward it was considerably larger and more powerful than that put to the vote the first time.

Here endeth the lesson

63. stuart

the turnout should not be relevant if people cant be bothered to turn out and vote I think you can take it they dont actually care about the result. As for 51 percent yes that should decide it if 51 percent vote no then yeah that should be enough. Wether its a 34 percent turn out or a 60 percent turn out shouldnt matter.