Polite Warning: if you read this article to the end you may be shocked!
I went to a rough school – no a ROUGH school. Most of the school kids came from Langholm St in Yoker. The mere mention of that street struck fear into the minds of everyone with a sense of danger. I still remember a headline in the Evening Times ‘Scotland’s Street of Fear’.
In those days, debate was a physical thing; more about who got the first punch in or who could batter who. I knew I liked to debate but in those days I was not strong enough, fast enough or mean enough, so I kept it buttoned.
Growing up I was always in trouble. I’m not sure whether this was frustrated intelligence or more likely the fact that I was simply always in trouble. Back then, my debates were more interrogation or questioning ‘under caution’ but the principals were the same – questions and answers where either party tries to get the better of the other. For me, the incentive was to retain my freedom and I was lucky or perhaps skilled enough to succeed.
Some said I was always arguing; which was probably true. I know I would provoke arguments; sometimes just for the sheer hell of it.
Years later, I realised that this was me learning to debate. I started to respect the people I was debating with and I always felt it was important to close a debate well; usually agreeing to differ. That way you could return for more discourse.
Over time, I realised that there were rules when debating. It was important to match people evenly(ish). You bring to the debate your point of view, your evidence and your best arguments. The other side had to do the same and the scene was set for a good old battle. Just like Ali v Frazier, the bout is at its best when the outcome is not assured.
Scotland’s referendum was like the World Cup, or the Heavy Weight championship of the World. I couldn’t wait to get into the thick of the arguments.
Unfortunately, I did arrive late and I am still behind but catching quickly. I had a massive amount of research to do beforehand and on the ‘hoof’. I feel you must be personally informed, you must have your own arsenal of facts and your own perspective.
As I waded into the referendum affray, I felt like I was a day late and a dollar short. There was no debate to be had?
THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO DEBATE TO BE HAD!
As directed by the Edinburgh Agreement the SNP produced the White Paper and subsequent Executive Summary. This was based on 4 years of the Big Discussion with the people of Scotland.
On the other hand, Better Together produced …. nothing.
(we now understand that WM, not BT, will send their booklet to every household in Scotland at the end of the month. But wait a minute, Cameron would not debate with Alex Salmond, so why has he instructed his Government to release this booklet and who pays? Don’t worry, we will all scrutinise every line, every word and we will point out the lies and deception)
The Yes Campaign mobilised with hundreds of local debates, questions and answers and a steady flow of informative information. To be fair, there was some early confusion between the SNP White Paper and the Yes Campaign. However, this sorting itself out and we have two very clear and consistent messages. The SNP offer their vision of an independent Scotland should the country return an SNP Government in 2016. The Yes Campaign focus is on achieving a YES vote while openly explaining that this is a referendum. A YES vote is not a vote for the SNP.
All parties recognise that following a YES vote there will be a very broad church negotiation over a notional 18 month period that will set the blueprint for an Independent Scotland. In truth, the highest priority decisions and the simple quick decisions will probably be achieved within the time frame. I believe there will be a very substantial number of matters remaining to discussed, negotiated and agreed going forward and they will be properly prioritised. If matters are properly priorities there should be no need to panic, no need to rush – the focus would be on getting it right.
On the other hand, Better Together project said …. nothing.
The very obvious tactic of Better Together or the self proclaimed Project Fear is to simply criticise the YES Campaign, the White Paper and all things SNP. They never criticise the Green Party. Although relatively small, the Greens occupy the moral high ground so far above BT they couldn’t even tickle their toes.
Everywhere I go, everything I watch, everything I listen to, every door I knock and every NO voter I speak to says the same thing …. absolutely nothing.
I find this deeply insulting for adults to behave in this manner. They are offending all the decent people of Scotland. They offend and disrespect our intellect, everything we learned at school. They are a disgrace to democracy and they bring disrespect to their country as viewed from the outside world.
We normally associate statements without any form of qualification with small children. We teach our children that ‘because’ is not an answer.
After a day’s canvassing in Luss on the Bonnie Bonnie banks I got so frustrated by some of the responses I got, that I decided to reflect it back on them. I hasten to add that I also met and debated with some great people.
Hand on my heart, if I got such numb responses to a question from people in a 3rd or 4th World country I would be disappointed. Hearing it in Scotland ALMOST makes me want to give up.
I say almost, because it does not. I believe the majority, and perhaps even the sizable majority of Scots have informed themselves or are still informing themselves and have come to or will come to a reasoned decision.
Reflecting over the past few weeks canvassing where we get to question NO voters directly I thought I would compile a list of the most mind numbing responses I got from people masquerading as regular citizens.
‘I can’t stand Alex Salmond – he’s so smug’. This is a person who would forego a county’s right to self determination and the future of their children and their children’s children because a leader, who may not even be a future leader was ‘smug’. I hate myself for saying this, but this is an inferior being, this is a primate, I make no apology for decrying this level of stupidity. Love him or hate him, he achieved Scotland’s first referendum on independence in history. At least he is not a coward like Cameron,Clegg and Miliband. And if Salmond is ‘smug’ how would you describe them?
‘The oil is running out – then where will we be?’ of course there are numerous economic arguments to the contrary and a very clear opportunity for Government manipulation. However, there is another perspective. You’re 25, you live with your parents, you decide to stay put because if your money runs out you can live off the bank of ‘mum & dad’. YOU ARE A SPONGER, A BENEFITS ABUSER. So when I here that argument, I see people who would rather condemn a nation to sponging off others rather than work harder and smarter to improve your lot. When you meet this argument remember you are staring at a STATE SPONGER.
‘How can we progress as a country – we haven’t even got a currency?’ Spare me from this level of naivety. On 19 September, we all ‘fez’ up and hand in our pounds Sterling?? Is this the person who flys to America and realises they use the $ so they get the next plane home – it really is that stupid. What happens if we simply continue to use the pound, because we have no agreement. We don’t have a say at the Bank of England – we don’t at the moment? has Scotland ever driven a decision at the BoE – No, not possible we are totally outnumbered. In fact we were economically fine in 1967 when Harold Wilson devalued the ‘pound in our pocket. We had no say. Next, we can print notes? we don’t need to – notes are printed as required anyway. We won’t see a tenner from the Clydesdale Bank – but we will probable get twenty for it on eBay as a collectors item. The BoE won’t bail out our banks if the crash and burn. Well, some banks did, such as RBS. Blair, Brown and Darling have yet to answer for their significant role in its demise as attested in ‘Shredded – the rise and Fall of RBS’ by Ian Fraser the acclaimed author and commentator. Put simply, banks failed due to failures or interference in the Financial Regulator by the Westminster Government. That will NEVER happen again. It happened ONCE in hundred of years of banking – an Independent Scotland will be much more vigilant over its banks.
‘I know you can’t believe everything you read in the papers but they say it won’t work’. One woman actually said that. She was admitting that she believed MOST of what she read in the papers. Personally, I would even question the page number? By now and in the light of recent events such as the Leveson Inquiry you would reasonably expect a cynical questioning of the traditional media – most of which is dying out. However, you must look beyond the title and consider the editorial control. Of 1.1 million readers in Scotland a mere 16% are owned in Scotland – and they are DC Thomson – the central belt of Scotland with 80% of the population has no home grown national paper on offer. How confident do you feel about the messages they broadcast? http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-governors-of-opinion/
‘I will lose my pension’. This is actually a very good question – if it is a question. If it is given as a statement of fact or a presumption then it smacks of fear and gullibility. You have paid for your pension through NIC and private schemes. That money has been invested mainly (70%) outside Scotland – That doesn’t change with Independence. However, there is a lesson from recent history about pensions and the £118 Billion raid on pensions by Gordon Brown where in an act of crass stupidity he wiped out an industry and ruined the latter years for pensioners all over the UK. Scotland is a wealthier country per head of population than the rUK and will be better placed to sustain pensions into the future; not least of all because that wealth is not transportable as in oil and gas, tourism, renewable energy etc. Not so the south. For example, if you have ever been to Frankfurt you would see the financial capital in waiting – Germany as the most powerful country in the EU would love to see one of their cities as the new financial centre.
‘We’ve always been together, why change?’ If the historical time line was 24 hours, Scotland has only united over the last couple of seconds. More-over, the Union was not based on a referendum, it was a bail out condition applied to a ‘parcel of rogues’ or should that be a ‘parcel of gullible mugs’ who blew a quarter of the country’s wealth on a scam – where ‘interference from the south’ could hardly be ruled out. Rather than a statement of resoluteness this is one of total submission – which I will come to further on.
‘Scotland is too wee’ If we set the bar at around 6 million , which is not far off Scotland’s population, 60% of countries in the world are BELOW that line. Many of these countries are very wealthy, such as Denmark, Norway and Switzerland. How many of these countries have the wealth of natural resources that Scotland enjoys? Much of Scotland’s true potential remains unlocked as Westminster prefers to nibble away and avoid unnecessary attention.
‘We can defend ourselves better within the UK’. If you ask any company to account for their losses they will tell you that most pilfering is done by their own staff. If Scotland is under threat it is surely from Westminster who have already, for example helped themselves to £1.5 Trillion from the North Sea within Scotland’s international waters. Who else is threatening Scotland. Does Scotland have a history of aggression or interference in other countries – perhaps a throwback from the Scottish Empire?? The rest of the world loves Scotland. We are not a target and no reason to expect ever to be so – as Scots spread out all over the world they are seen as a force for good. YET WE ARE THE BEST DEFENDED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD,EVER!
‘Our interest rates will go up and everything will cost more’. Not according to Standard’s and Poor’s. They predict their highest rating for Scotland – even without oil being factored in. The biggest threat to the economy in Scotland and the UK is the £1.5 Trillion debt. This puts the UK as a whole in a very fragile position. On one hand WM tells Scots they can’t manage on their own and benefit from the backup from this UK ‘powerhouse!’ and then fight with every fibre, adopt every conceivable dirty trip to keep us in the Union – and that does not seem to leave some people in Scotland even a little bit suspicious?
‘It’s not a good idea’. I have heard this from a couple of people. They had no idea why not, they just thought that sounded a clever thing to say – a bit like a 4 year old! This, from an adult, with a vote and at such an important time is deeply offensive to all those people who are striving to better themselves and their community. Society should expect better than such a stupid comment.
‘Look at the numbers, they don’t add up’. I heard this from a woman member of the public on TV. A few months ago the UK was staring into the abyss. Today, we are being told that the economy is in recovery. The economy goes up, it goes down, it goes up again, the weather is bad today, tomorrow it is better the next day it buckets down. The weather, the economy neither are reliable factors when you are taking a long term decision such as self determination for a country. The world is looking in on this level of stupidity and it paints a very poor picture of the standard of intellect in Scotland. You must look at more robust arguments rather than sound bytes.
‘The UK bailed out the banks’. First of all, the Government were so much in awe of the big banks they allowed them to merge, acquire and grow and merge again until some banks were too big to fail. At best this was naive, at worst stupid. The Government then encouraged the relaxation of Financial Regulation to the point where they were offering products more akin to a casino than a high street bank. We irresponsible lending criteria, improper PPI, credit swaps, tampering with the ‘libor rate’ etc. When the house came down around them the Government had no option but to bail them out. This was an opportunity for the banks to be reigned in – however, there is clear evidence this has not happened substantially. In other words, this was an ‘own goal’ by Westminster – this had never happened before in banking history and there is no reason to suspect it would ever be allowed to happen again. An independent Scotland would have a real opportunity to define how Scottish banks would be properly regulated with full oversight to ensure compliance.
‘We will lose out on investment, especially from Westminster’. As an Independent and more prosperous country Scotland will have 100% focus on Scottish inward investment and they will have the funds to back that up. However, it is imperative to understand the nature of investment before you draw conclusions from it. Traditionally, businesses of all size would approach their bank looking for capital investment. Fundamentally, they would be required to demonstrate that their’s was a sound investment before any money changed hands. It is not only in the interest of the bank, it is the business of the bank to invest in sound business – that is how they make money to pay their shareholders and savers interest and dividends. If you have a sound business proposition, you will have potential investors queuing at your door to allow them to invest. Look at the competition amongst the Dragons when a good idea comes along?
‘Many of our companies will leave’. Unfortunately, some people believe that. However, if you consider the logistics you quickly realise how ridiculous that story is and how it has been spun. When a significant change becomes known to any responsible business they immediately consider the potential impact on their company. This is often known as Business Continuity Planning and thousand’s of consultants offer this service. As part of this process they carry out exercises such as Scenario Planning where they consider every possible, albeit improbable option or outcome. I carried out exactly this exercise when I headed up the Y2K threat programme for the Telecom Managers Association globally.
When considering the options of an Independent Scotland one potential option would be to moved their operation down south. However, ridiculous this may sound it is an option.
If someone was aware of this particular scenario being played out, AND THEY KNEW NOTHING OF BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING they may fool them self into thinking this was a an actual plan. Hence that age old expression – A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS THING. Of course it could also be mischief?? If a company like Standard Life decided to move to London – where would they find all those highly skilled and qualified staff? – if they could then that would demonstrate that London had a very,very serious employment problem. What about the massive disparity in operational costs in London? Finally, would they close there business and re-open months or years later when they were set up – only to discover their competitors had long since ‘nicked’ their customer base. Perhaps they could overlap and run two identical businesses in parallel – if that was the case then they must have vast amounts of spare capital sloshing around – and why would that be?
You can apply the scenario above to any company that ‘apparently’ talks about leaving an Independent Scotland. This is a piece of fiction put out their because the perpetrators actually believe that many Scots are incredibly gullible? WE’RE NOT, ARE WE?
‘It would be detrimental to the area’. That’s not even a meaningful comment. That says more about the speaker than the spoke. That says ‘I don’t know what to say, but I better say something even if I don’t know what it means’. That is beyond pathetic.
‘Oh no, dear God NO’. We have actually heard that from some. ‘We are too posh to poll. Have you seen the sorts that are supporting that man Salmond’. To get the voice, first you must say ‘oooooooo’. So they would rather support one of the 3 Eton amigos, Cameron, Clegg or Miliband. Is that because you feel a sense of kindred spirit with these people who don’t know who you are, where you are or whether you exist, nor care less. … and they say that from relatively humble surroundings. It’s great to have even humble surroundings but if you confuse that with dillusions of grandeur then you must expect criticism. it is OK to tell these stories to the grand weans with glint of fun in your eyes – but there is no place for that kind of nonsense when considering a country’s future.
But here’s the thing.
Why do people come out with this irrational and unsolicited comment?
I have a theory. Many yours ago I had the terrible task of placing my mother in residential care, which is the first step to the dreaded nursing home. This was a very difficult decision for me and my brother and sister. However, mum had become a danger to herself and her neighbours because she kept doing things like turning on the gas and forgetting to light it.
At first she liked the place and the company. However, when she realised this was not a short break she began the emotional blackmail, ‘why have you put me in here, please take me home’. I am sure millions of you will have faced the same dilemma. The nursing manager took me aside one day and said, ‘they all do that at first but you would be surprised how quickly and how reliably they settle in’. She was talking about the process of institutionalisation. We all hope it will never happen to us – but sadly, it will come to many of us.
It is terrible when someone becomes institutionalised in a Residential Care Home or a Nursing Home or even a Sanatorium.
How much worse is it when it happens to people in their own home, their own work environment, their own country.
But this is not a new concept, it is part of our human coping mechanism, it is how we deal with adversity. Some are better then others at dealing with it but it can get to us all if we let it.
Over time we stop fighting against it. We start accepting it. We grow to like it. Then when anyone tries to take it away from us, we fight them as we try to hang on to it.
‘It’ in fact could be a Scotland that has been subjugated for 300 years. We are are in a Care Home called Scotland. BUT NOT ALL OF US ARE INSTITUTIONALISED YET. When they come to place us in subjugation, some of us are still strong enough to say ‘get us out of here’,
‘YES, GET US OUT OF HERE, NOW’
If you are in any doubt that is what is going on in Scotland, it is well documented. Click on this link for STOCKHOLM SYNDROME or similar Helsinki Syndrome. This will shock you to the core –
BUT WILL IT MAKE YOU SEE YOURSELF? – THAT IS THE REAL QUESTION
Sadly, some woman (and men) have been subject to a very real, and very personal form of this concept, also known as Battered Wife Syndrome. DON’T LET THAT BE YOU!
WE HAVE ONE CHANCE ON 18 SEPTEMBER TO BREAK FREE FROM SUBJUGATION – IF WE DON’T TAKE IT, WE CONDEMN OURSELVES,OUR FELLOW SCOTS AND ALL OUR DESCENDANTS TO A LIFE IN THE CARE HOME