Constitutional Change

The yes vote is not about 'separation' - its about a healthier partnership in the British Isles and a more prosperous Scotland. I believe in de-centralised government which works for other countries.

This is not about nationalism either, its about constitutional change and about all who wish to live in Scotland  - and for better education, health service and infrastructure and that children will not live in dire poverty in our rich country. We never voted here for our taxes to be used for illegal wars or nuclear weapons in Scotland.  

I believe we can do a better job. If Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries I have to ask why so many of our children live in dire poverty. I grew up in Edinburgh, lived in America ten years and I was shocked by the areas of deprivation in the West of Scotland.

My older son works as a paediatric dentist and he has to do many full mouth extractions for 3 years olds with rotten teeth (they are given bottles with Irn Bru!) Dentists come from all over the world to practice filling and drilling here as they cant’ do so in their own countries!  And yes it is possible for children to grow up now with NO fillings. It really is quite shocking as an indicator of the deprivation and lack of education. What is wrong?  They have tried breakfast programs to improve general health but much more needs to be done.  

Studies have shown that Improved equality works for all and raises standards for all citizens - wheras gross inequality  does the opposite. .   

A society in charge of its own destiny is a healthier, happier and more prosperous one - and we are not in charge with only one Tory MP and a Tory led administration that is privatising health, education and more.

I don't believe that politicians who govern in Westminster and an out of touch Etonian elite do or have done a good job for decades, I feel I have no voice in what Westminster does or doesn’t do.

We know other countries are able to function within Europe - so why not Scotland? Why do we need to be dependent on Westminster making our decision for us? 

Does it all come down to how we see Devo Max or what the difference between Independence and Devo Max is. That's why its a constitutional question.  Women are especially afraid of independence. Do they feel more secure in a UK that enters wars run by war criminals? We will still have a close working partnership in the UK, in Europe and the UN - don't believe the scaremongerers! Scotland is a strategically important country.

London has become a centre for foreign billionaires who are driving property prices there sky high and those such as nurses and teachers can't afford to live there.

Scotland needs to break away from this false bubble and create a healthier, more prosperous country for all - one that prioritises co-operation, integration and shared wealth. 

Could we believe that we can build a better country – improve NHS management, education standards, encourage business, increase social mobility, increase investment in our infra -structure and in research and development. Rebuild Scotland’s fractured fishing industry and ship building.

No other country has such a centralised government. I don’t’ hate London, I just don’t believe London’s government works for Scotland’s best interests. 

The Better Together offer the status quo. If you believe Scotland can do better vote yes.

And the question is perhaps, can a Westminster government work for the best interests of the people of Scotland? Has it done so the past fifty years? These are the important questions before us now – they matter for the kind of future country we might wish for future generations who wish to live and work in Scotland.  

Only a Scottish government can work for the best interests of all those who live in Scotland.  I hope there is a better way, and hope matters, without vision what is there?

What's wrong with the NHS?

The NHS is run by incompetent idiots. 

People will not realise that consultants are selected these days purely based on interview skills (these skills are NOT taught in our schools or colleges) - and that no scores or account are taken of job performance or portfolios such as exams.

What other business or profession recruits their trainee staff based on interview technique alone? 

The GPs - general practitioners, who basically hand out prescriptions - earn twice as much as highly trained hospital consultants!  (In America there are no GPs!)

And the NHS treats their junior hospital doctors like robotic slaves who do not deserve toilet breaks or to eat on 12 hour shifts. How can this be good for patient care when those doing the ground work are close to fainting with exhaustion? 

This is all due to poor management from on high somewhere and the loss of the ward matrons. While there are other hospital staff standing around doing nothing… makes no sense.    

No one wants to complain or say anything for fear of their training positions. 

I'm posting this for all those who are deluded into thinking the NHS is a scared institution. While we do have wonderful doctors. 

I'm pretty disgusted at the NHS have to say.

Backing Research and Infrastructure

It's no wonder our streets in Scotland are full of pot holes - which are highly dangerous for both cyclists and car drivers! .

According to the Sunday Times our devolved Scottish Parliament is only responsible for 15% of its budget! This surprised me. The latest is that Labour, Lib Dems and Tories may 'allow' MSPs a 50% responsibility of the parliament's 35Bm budget and allow MSPs to decide on rates and income tax.

I also hear that English academics claim Scotland punches above its weight with regard to scientific research and as a result gets more than its share of the UK budget for research.  The argument then goes, much as it did back in the 1979 vote, that academics will receive less funding under an independent Scotland?  This is harking back to bribery again and again which has proved false in the past. I don't believe for one minute Scotland is financially better off within the UK. I believe that a Scottish government after independence would offer MORE funding for both academic and industry research and not less!  

Academically we greatly benefit by having our own Scottish education system.    

All makes we wonder greatly.. over the state of our roads and trains! The paper also said that 72% of the money spent on the UKs infrastructure is spent in London

The Big Banks

Its so predictable - now the Insurance companies and Banks are threatening to pull out of Scotland if Osborne won't 'allow' a common currency (which is in England's interests too). I say good riddance to the big banks! They try to claim they rescue us, when actually their financial speculations are what has been ruining the economy! Its not in England interests to threaten and bully.

After an Independence vote the idea is that we all work together for an even more successful economy!  We'd be much better off with smaller high street banks that care about local businesses. I believe in de-centralized government. 

The Financial Times, which is respected worldwide for economic news, has not been putting forward arguments against Scotland's Independence.

I don't like this expression used by some - 'going it alone' - Scotland does not intend to float out into outer space but to work closely for trade with Europe and elsewhere.

The problem is that the 'Better Together' campaign have not been able to come up with any convincing arguments  - so instead they resort to old fashioned scare tactics. If anyone has heard any thoughts as to why we are better tied to London's financial apron strings I'd be happy to hear them!   

I decided to set up a BLOG on the Scottish Independence debate as I have so many blogs on it -  http://yesforscotland.blogspot.co.uk/

 

The Scottish Narrative

With our present system the Scottish Narrative gets lost. I know that many talented young Scottish people – young film directors, young economists, young songwriters, young accountants, young health workers and more – feel they have to move to London for work reasons.  

This can be called a brain drain, which is not at all good for Scotland  

For example – a young Scottish film maker has to attend London pitches and put forward a Scottish story to a London executive who may not understand the Scottish perspective and narrative.  

Much riskier staying in the UK! The vote is not about nationalism or borders, and hopefully for a better partnership with England. The vote is about an economy that suits Scotland, removing Trident, owning our oil, and the hope for a more equal society. Norway and Finland are both success stories of why independence works!   

Years back we were driving through France – we drove through Nice over to Marseille, thru Lyons and by Paris – and I thought France has several major cities and Paris isn’t the largest either. Also with Italy there are several important cities – Naples, Rome, Milan, Florence and Bologna.  The UK has one major city of London.

This Scottish Independence conversation....

This Scottish Independence debate is not about ‘nationality’ but about where power lies.

Both Germany and America have a Federal style of government – that is every state runs their own affairs and the central government decides on foreign policy and roads.  

The questions for me are moving Trident from the Clyde for starters, devolving powers in both education and the health service, and one of confidence and choice!  If we look at the Scandinavian countries Finland and Norway - both have done very well since gaining their Independence from Sweden a 100 years ago. Norway is a sea faring nation very similar to Scotland. 

This is not about 'breaking away' but a new type of government - the UK model is a broken one.

A Conversation. We in Scotland all need to have a ‘conversation’ about Scottish independence and mostly this is not happening.

Also …. perhaps the rest of England needs to break away from Superstate London also.

Those that support independence feel inhibited about voicing their views.