Scottish referendum

March 2024 Forums General discussion Scottish referendum

Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • #82494
    ALB
    Keymaster

    Alex Salmond has just unveiled his plan for an "independent" Scotland. What a fuss about nothing. He thinks the problems facing people in Scotland are due to them being governed from London not Edinburgh. He's wrong. They've got nothing to do with where the decisions to put profits before people are made. They are caused by the capitalist economic system which exists all over the world and would continue to exist if Scotland got formal political independence.

    So the referendum is an irrelevance. Even if there's a "yes" vote it won't make any difference to the problems people there face. Not that there's much chance of one. I suspect voters there will prefer the devil they know to the devil they don't. Socialists there will of course be writing "World Socialism" across their ballot paper.

    #98486
    rodshaw
    Participant

    They'll be wanting their own football team next.

    #98487
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Ha Ha ! You have upset a few members. What you should have said is a 'proper football team' 

    #98488
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    " What you should have said is a 'proper football team' " Scotland will get one of those when England does The Socialist Courier blog has carried numerous posts on Scottish independence and the referendum. The latest being yesterday  http://socialist-courier.blogspot.com/2013/11/no-way-nae-chance.html But use the search engine for the extensive list of the anti-nationalist articles, tackling the issue from various angles.  We have a year to produce a pamphlet (or least a substantive leaflet) explaining our case. The betting may be that the No vote vote will prevail but who knows what may happen in the run-up which may sway many voters to say Yes. Does the World Socialist Party of Scotland sound good , or will we be the Socialist Party (Alba)? Maybe The Free Access Movement of Scotland – FAMS. If independence does come we will have to register a party name(s) to stand in elections. 

    #98489
    rodshaw
    Participant

    How about The Real McCoy?Presumably Great Britain would no longer exist – time for a name change south of the border as well?

    #98490
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    Socialist Party of England and Wales is already taken. We do have an alternative already registered World Socialist Movement  with the electoral commission. Adopt for all the regions of the former UK?

    #98491
    ALB
    Keymaster

    Just read the details in today's papers. Part of the White Paper reads like an election manifesto, i.e is full of empty vote-catching promises:

    Quote:
    The Scottish government White Paper sought to attract swing voters with a lengthy list of political promises. The most eye-catching pledge included an extension of childcare provision for two, three and four-year-olds. Also on the list are an abolition of the bedroom tax, an end of the Universal Credit programme, a promise to raise tax allowances and credits in line with inflation, a guarantee to return thé Royal Mail to public ownership and a vow to increase thé minimum wage.

    Voters in Scotland will be mugs if they believe all this. As we've always said: governments propose, but capitalism disposes.There's also this:

    Quote:
    The new military would have a small fleet of warships. including two frigates, an Army brigade and a squadron of 12 Typhoon jets at an annual cost of £2.5 billion, Mr Salmond hopes.

    What a joke. 

    #98492
    alanjjohnstone
    Keymaster

    It is indeed a wish-list of an electioneering party. Independence but same monarch, same currency and same central bank, same membership of the EU, and same membership of Nato and the same bloody BBC!The B of E will determine bank rates etc for an"independent Scotland, English trade performance will still determine the  sterling exchange rates, not the periphary performance of an independent Scotland.There will be promises that some in Left Unity will latch on to…such as the no nuclear weapons…but it will in practice be a don't ask, don't tell policy concerning those, they will still be nukes in Scotland but an independent Scotland will turn  blind eye. The relaxed immigration rules – a points system – still means that only the educated, with skills, who speak English will be welcome, the barrers will remain for the poor. The end of the bedroom tax , well even Thatcher saw the flaws in the Poll Tax in the end. Re-nationalise the Royal Mail…since it has doubled it profits and it is going to cost a bit more in compensation. I was always taught that the concentrated population of urban centres subsidised the delivery to the rural areas and since the % of urban and countryside is wider in Scotland , the cost of mail has to go up – and who will pay that extra…either in price of stamps or the employees will in pay freeze. The retirement age at 67 is only a promise of a review not a promise to lower it. Meanwhile corporation tax on businesses will be lowered. A guarantee that one, i am sure.   But i do get two passports and my price of flights will be cheaper with a passenger tax reduction!!Hopefully, Shetland will go for some sort of Channel Island/Isle of Man status, claim most of the oil revenues, and i'll be eligible for nationality of it on my mothers side…3 passports

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