Scotland’s referendum – help for the undecided and even the NOs or don’t care’s

I have decided to change the whole tone of my blog.

Since I began blogging, just a few weeks ago it has been great to receive positive comments (a few less so) and loads of people agreeing with me.  That feels good, but it does not meet my objective to inform people on Scotland’s referendum and help them make up there minds, one way or the other.

If anyone asks me a question, I will answer or research that question and publish the answer in my blog – even if that leads to a NO vote – that is my promise.

So, my first comment is, if you appreciate my blog, refer it someone who has not made up their mind, someone who simply does not care about the referendum or even someone who has already made up their mind to vote NO.

I have been totally convinced in the past, only to change my mind completely, I feel that is absolutely normal.

OK, one of the first topics I feel passionate about is the way that Scotland’s referendum has been hijacked by POLITICS.  Politics is almost exclusively reactionary, almost never altruistic.  Why would any politician ever fix something that was not broken – where’s the kudos in that.  So, generally, politics is about fixing problems.

I believe Scotland’s referendum is much more fundamental and far more important than politics.  Politics is about ‘what, how and when’.  The referendum is about WHY

 

Some might say that Scotland’s lack of independence is a problem.  OK it is, but let me distinguish between problems and let’s say, super-problems.  Let me further say that politics rarely fixes super-problems.  It was not politics that ended apartheid, it was people and their will to right an injustice.  It was not politics that got women the vote, it was years of struggle by ordinary passionate women trying to right an injustice.  You will know many more examples.

So what is a super-problem.  For example, if I am not getting regular meals that could be a problem.  However, if that is because I have been kidnapped, then that is the super-problem.  Fix the super-problem and the problem(s) may be resolved.  You could say that super-problems are root causes rather than symptoms.  I like to think of super-problems as simply fundamental problems.

In context, the devolved Scottish Government can resolve some problems, but it has a super-problem and that is called Westminster, who has ultimate control in just about everything.  If that super-problem is not resolved there is a fundamental limit to the problems that a Scottish Government can resolve without the concurrence of Westminster.  In the extreme, without concurrence from Westminster there will exist problems that a Scottish Government cannot fix.

Indulge me.  When I was a kid, a mate of mine wanted a catapult.  It cost 5 shillings and he got two and six pocket money every week  (sorry this is old money – it was a long time ago).  Simple, save one week and buy the catapult the next – he could do what he wanted with his own pocket money.  His dad found out about his plan and did not want him to get a catapult, so he stopped his pocket money!  No catapult.

The Scottish Government has lot’s of problems it could resolve.  It has the power to improved childcare, aspects of the NHS, invest further in developing employment etc, etc. Unfortunately, the Scottish Government get ‘pocket money’ from its dad, ‘Westminster’.  Basically, that is how Scotland is controlled.  If you ‘pay the piper, you call the tune’.

The Barnett Formula is one such example where Scotland gets back some of its oil revenue.  The Barnett Formula is under review, and may even be scrapped.  Gee, thanks dad.

The purpose of Scotland’s referendum is to resolve the super-problem.  However, Westminster and the Better Together campaign constantly bring us back to the problems, because they know they have ultimate control over them.  That is their strategy for gaining a NO vote. How many times have you heard Lamont or Davidson ‘explaining’ to the Scottish Parliament that the SNP Government have the power to improve child care or resolve food banks etc.  Yes, it has the POWER, but IT DOES NOT GET ENOUGH POCKET MONEY. I was on pocket money for about 8 years – SCOTLAND HAS BEEN ON POCKET MONEY FOR 300 YEARS!

Scotland’s referendum is the wee boy or girl who turns 16 and gets a job, their own money and can now decide what to spend their own money on – it really is that simple. All the bluff and bluster is because YES SCOTLAND want to solve the super-problem and WESTMINSTER wants their kids to stay at home forever, bringing wages into the home, so dad can afford his ‘carry oot’ and mum can get to the bingo twice a week. I apologise if all this sounds very simplistic.  It does, because it really is that simple.

Let me end this on a positive and perhaps a familiar note.  When you remain at home with your mum and dad you will always have an unequal relationship – in a way you remain a child and they, your parents.  Leaving home and moving on with your life can be a wrench for all parties.  You are not confident you can cope on your own.  Your parents have become so used to having you around they feel a reluctance to let you go (well ok, sometimes).  Nevertheless, you go.  Over the years you learn to cope with everything the world throws at you.  Your parents get over not having you around and eventually enjoy having their own space again.

However, there is one very big development that you may not have expected.  Gradually, you begin to develop a more mature, more adult relationship with your parents.  Suddenly, you realise you have grown up.  You have kids of your own – but of course, they are NEVER going to leave home.

Scotland is about to leave home, about to begin the process of growing up.  In time, a new and better relationship with Westminster will develop that was better than the one we left behind.

So, you see Scotland, it was not that difficult.  It just took a little bit of faith, a little bit of courage and a lot of hard work – and the process starts with just one little tick – how amazing is that!