Cameron, Miliband and Clegg. Just typing the names is depressing. As part of their long matured and carefully prepared campaign plan (founded 9 September 2014) they are coming together to Scotland tomorrow to campaign. In a brilliant twist, they will all come on the same day but not appear together. This will prevent the public from noticing that they all represent precisely the same interests.
Nobody in Scotland feels the slightest warmth towards these people, except for those paid hacks whose income depends upon their feeling such warmth (and there are too many of those, but still only a few hundred). One thing I can guarantee is that this rush of “superstars” will not meet my challenge of seeing 300 Better Together supporters in the same place.
The truth is of course, that if the range of potential political policy alignments lay on a two dimensional scale from 1 to 100, then Cameron, Clegg and Miliband occupy the range from 82 to 84. They offer no actual policy choice to voters.
They all support austerity budgets
They all support benefit cuts
They all support tuition fees
They all support Trident missiles
They all support continued NHS privatisation
They all support bank bail-outs
They all support detention without trial for “terrorist suspects”
They all support more bombings in Iraq (and are planning to launch British raids there before 18 September to ramp up jingoism – you read it here first)
They all oppose rail nationalisation
They all oppose free prescriptions
They all oppose free personal care
They all oppose rent controls
They all oppose bankers bonus cuts
They all oppose legalisation of cannabis
The areas on which the three amigos differ are infinitesimal and contrived. They actually represent the same paymasters and vested interests.
It is hilarious that after a campaign of hammering away at the fact that nobody can guarantee every last detail of what will happen in a an independent Scotland, the Three Amigos are now trying to convince us we should vote No in exchange for some powers, which nobody has the slightest idea what they will be, except they will not include Scotland being allocated any of its oil revenue.
Meantime Gordon Brown, the man whose banking liberalisation almost crashed the world, and who then gave 60,000 pounds from every family in Britain straight to the bankers as a gift, is undertaking another invited audience only tour of Scotland. He has secured a commitment to debate new powers after a No vote; a debate in which Brown has opposed powers for Scotland his entire political career. The Brown suggestions consist of an increased right to vary income tax, but only upwards, and with extra revenue balanced by cuts in the amount of Scotland’s own revenue which London hands back to Edinburgh. Scotland might also be able to vary slightly the rate of housing benefit and attendance allowance (only).
The idea that the popular exuberance at taking sovereignty back into the people, can be swept away by the three amigos and Brown’s “offer”, is ludicrous. Nevertheless the BBC, Guardian and other paid unionist hacks are pushing this unpalatable mess down the throats of voters in the hope something might work. It won’t.
This CM blog, being a microcosm of the big world out there, it appears its going to be a YES vote, as the only brave troll left standing here is habba, the rest can bear pigeon “pies” from posters here, but not egg on the face it seems !!
Unlike habba, numbers dont lie, (thanks to Fred/wikipedia) this may be the “pass mark” – 2.465m voters/64% 2010 turnout x 80% expected referendum turnout x 50% winning margin = 1.541m YES votes required to win the referendum.
Trader
For somebody that pretends to be a “trader” you have nil grasp of economics.
That pathetic article conflates debt and subsidy. In fact, Scotland’s revenue paid in to the exchequer is a larger sum per capita than England’s (when you include the revenues from Scotland’s hydrocarbons).
Nevertheless, as your article states, Scotland’s spending still exceeds its revenue. There is a deficit. But both Walayat and yourself are too stupid to observe that the UK also runs a huge deficit – and that the UK annual budget deficit is greater per capita than Scotland’s. So the deficit is no way a subsidy – it is met by UK borrowing which Scotland contributes more per capita to pay off than England.
Was that too complicated for you?
Oooft!
The trolls are out today 🙂
We’re getting sword imagery too now.
At this rate all we need is some Bullingdon buffoon to make a gross analogy of Scotlsnd ‘decapitating’ the UK…
Oh hang on…hi Boris!
All these idiots have is fear to sell.
And as for the oh-so-predictable bankers crying ‘disaster’ should Scotland leave well…those same bankers know all about creating disasters that almost ruined the global economy.
Stupid bastards.
Vote YES! Scotland.
“Time you developed an imagination, then. Some of us – even non-Scots – can speak, from personal experience, gained over decades, for areas other than a Caithness croft. Kindly remember, your opinion is as worthless as anyone else’s here, and moderate your omniscience.”
Excuse me, what opinion did I give?
The fact is that three people are coming here who 2 million Scots have said at the ballot box they want to represent them. That they want the parties they head to be in control at Westminster.
You are the one with the opinions. I am the one just posts the facts. I don’t claim to speak for the Scot, I just show what the Scots said for themselves.
Trader,
Shouldnt your sort be away rigging LIBOR rates or selling sub-prime mortgages or ‘dead peasants insurance’?
Or somesuch other egalitarian,honest and humane ‘policies’?
I hear that Cameron is putting a plan together should the Scots vote ‘yes’ whereby the people who vote for independence are declared terrorists and are subjected to shelling, air-raids and accusations of murdering airline passengers.
I don’t see why it should not succeed, it’s going so well in Ukraine, especially with the complete, total and *unquestioning* support of the corporate media. Particulary BBC News, which seems to have become a propaganda arm of the U.S. State Dept.
Bill Oldroyd: I doubt any system could be as tax avoiding as the one at the moment.The corporations that sponsored the Olympics pay a tiny fraction in tax on massive profits. The same goes for other corporations and Banks.The Banks can involve themselves in criminal activity with impunity,and receive no other punishmnet than a fine.Their tax bills are laughable.Look at their reaction to & kerfuffle over the Tobin Tax.
I believe any changes in this area would be an improvement.
And what makes anyone think Salmond would not be forced into exactly the same policies, only on a larger scale?
There is no evidence Scotland would be financially better off after independence. Even excluding the grave economic risks that any new country faces, we know that UK public spending, which disproportionately benefits Scotland, would end, and that the likelihood is that much private sector money would head South. So where does the money come from? You’re being deceived because Salmond speaks with a plummy Scottish accent rather than a plummy English one. His pledges won’t amount to a row of beans.
Now if only they’d brought Ian Duncan Smith with them to tell the people at foodbanks in Easterhouse that we’re Better Together and All In It Together then it would have been the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse rsther than 3 amigos…
Dont see IDS round Easterhouse much these days tho.
Funny that,kinda…
Thanks for that Ba’al Zevul (For Scotland)- best belly laugh for the week. In a political sense, the YES vote winning, will engender analogous pain. As for getting Queen Lizzie involved …all the Kings horses and all the Kings men….
The boy dun good. From Tory Central Office to Bell Pottinger and back to the Tory partei and now to the EU in easy leaps.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Hill,_Baron_Hill_of_Oareford
Juncker announces European Commission team
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29140543
Register of Interests
2: Remunerated employment, office, profession etc.
In receipt of ministerial salary
4: Shareholdings (b)
Huntsworth plc (international public relations business)
http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-hill-of-oareford/4144
SCOTS INDEPENDENCE HALL OF FAME TOP 100 (alphabetical and advisory)
William Wallace
Robert The Bruce
Robert Burns
Alex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
Scottish Intellect (Adam Smith,Bell,Fleming,Baird,etc-incl crude oil tech)
Scottish Artists (Connery,Karine Polwart and like)
Craig Murray
Bibi Netanyahu (for the very timely recent Gaza sheeple eye-opener, conspiracy theorists say its his plan to make George Galloway redundant !)
Feel free to add personal favourites
You know they’re in deep trouble when they let Gordon Brown out of his darkened room and off the lead to meet and greet the public (invited audience only) and brow beat us all to death. Just what horror will they pull out of the bag next ? Blair ?
Or will it be treats; free deep fried Mars bars every week and a bottle of Glenfiddich on you birthday.
“And as for the oh-so-predictable bankers crying ‘disaster’ should Scotland leave well”
But they haven’t, have they? Tne No campaign has referred to the currency issue in only quite general terms. It has conspicuously failed to spell out the practical implications for every Scot who has an account with a UK-based bank. The notion that political independence is the main thing and that currency is a secondary matter that can be sorted out at leisure appears to remain the prevalent view in the Yes campaign.
Another of Salmond’s fatal errors is in not having reached a formal agreement with Westminster regarding a timetable for UK withdrawal in the event of a Yes vote, thereby handing the UK all the trump cards in that regard.
If the Yes campaign doesn’t have a healthy ten point lead by Monday, watch out for Cameron dressed in a kilt and proclaiming “you Scotch peoples, you belong to England”, on Tuesday.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/uOZ2bVv-3LUybK5GJQ–DMoJvfgUzI6fP75gdrKT7aPELDKXqZN3cuYzJW2inDvxSoyGcXrD3aI1xeQNRxXkl8KzV50Am9ws=w1342-h49088
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/scottish-independence-is-it-good-or-bad-for-the-jews/
Looks like the Israelis are suggesting Scottish Independence will be the start of an anti-Jewish pogrom , and suggest Scottish Jews ‘ pack their bags ‘ . Has hyperbole and chutzpah got no limits in the Zionist mind ?
Sorry, try again:-)
http://t.co/aAW9v4rXvr
” How can anybody know what policies an independent Scotland will pursue? ”
Don’t you think it’s time somebody came forward with some suggestions?
In passing –
Excuse me, what opinion did I give? (Fred)
This one.
All these people claim to speak for the Scot. All these people claim they know what the Scot thinks and what and who the Scot likes.
My pleasure.
Just what horror will they pull out of the bag next ? Blair ? (Parky)
I think we may be spared the undead’s contribution –
“A Scottish Labour source said there were no plans for Mr Blair to appear for the pro-UK campaign between now and September’s vote. ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10980546/Tony-Blair-I-believe-Scots-will-reject-independence.html
Mainly because no-one in Scotland can afford his fees any more, I guess.
“That pathetic article conflates debt and subsidy. In fact, Scotland’s revenue paid in to the exchequer is a larger sum per capita than England’s (when you include the revenues from Scotland’s hydrocarbons).”
“both Walayat and yourself are too stupid to observe that the UK also runs a huge deficit ”
craig
10 Sep, 2014 – 10:06 am
I’m certainly aware that the the south run a huge deficit and maybe you’re right about it being pro rata higher then Scotland’s, but the real ‘elephant’ issue you seem to miss is the cost of servicing the debt, anyone’s debt, the point Walayat clearly makes is that the splitting up of this country will increase that cost with terrible repercussions on both sides of the border.
Try to imagine a ‘normal’ interest rate, like 7%, then apply that to the present economic reality, ( on either side of the border if you like) try to imagine how that would translate into everyday reality for 70 million British people.
Uncertainty and huge fundamental changes are a sell, they tend to drive up interest rates and drive down currency. Calling someone stupid for pointing out such realities is a bit ..um..stupid imo.
The ‘yes’ campaign is primarily an emotion driven phenomenon, when there’s money at stake it’s better to use pure logic and reasoning.
There are plenty of ‘unintended consequences’ to consider over this issue, Walayat does just that, you might not like what you hear but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong.
With time we will know for sure, that’s when it becomes more legitimate to spit out the venom, or go very quiet..
And as for the oh-so-predictable bankers crying ‘disaster’ should Scotland leave well…those same bankers know all about creating disasters that almost ruined the global economy.
Stupid bastards.
Vote YES! Scotland.
Jives
10 Sep, 2014 – 10:57 am
Indeed they do, let’s remind ourselves about two of the prime players at the time and their legacy of over £2 trillion of liabilities
Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS)
The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond
“In 1978 he entered the Government Economic Service as an Assistant Economist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland, part of the now defunct Scottish Office. Two years later he joined the staff of the Royal Bank of Scotland where he worked for seven years..”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Salmond
It’s just rubbish to claim that the “terrified” Queen is above it all.
While she has not tried to change the voting herself, she has clearly put the establishment political leaders on notice to get out the No vote, as their dropping all their traditional duties to do it show.
If it doesn’t seem to be working soon, expect the worst.
Craig
“How can anybody know what policies an independent Scotland will pursue? Nobody has the right to say what those policies will be, as it will be for the people of Scotland to decide. Which will be a very refreshing change.”
_________________
You’re being evasive, aren’t you.
1/. Like it or not, the SNP is in the van of the pro-independence movement. One is its main arguments – at least if you believe what’s being relayed in this blog, in paerticular by you – is that an independent Scotland will be a more moral, more ethical nd above all “better” place.
In your lead-in post, you have identified 14 policies which you would obviously like to see reversed, presumably with the intention of making an independent Scotland that “better” place.
I should have thought it entirely reasonable for voters to demand to know – and be told, at least by the SNP – what policy in an independent Scotland would be. And that includes the policies you have yourself chosen to highlight.
2/. Of course the people of Scotland will decide, in the same way as the people of the UK decided at the last general election.
And while on the question of the people deciding – do you feel that there should be a general election in Scotland very soon after a Yes vote?
In order to (1) to let the people have a say on what the negotiating position of Scotland should be, and (2) to let the people have a say on, for example, the 14 policies you have highlighted?
Trowbridge
“If it doesn’t seem to be working soon, expect the worst.”
_______________
Are you putting your money in an earthquake with its epicentre in Edinburgh or Glasgow, or a tsunami, or an explosion at a nuclear reactor?
Or perhaps all three?
No, Habby, still favor an earthquake and eruption in Iceland around the Bardarbunga volcano – what one of the US Navy’s Sea Wolf Class subs, most likely the USS Connecticut, could cook up with sea bed lasers in a few days, thanks to radar help from a Boeing X-37B.
Dont see it causing any crucial tsunami.
Could also create an earthquake along the Highland Fault line, but not near heavily populated areas.
“she has clearly put the establishment political leaders on notice to get out the No vote”
That’s not my reading of it. In saying that the question was a matter for the Scots alone she appeared to be distancing herself from Westminster and subtly encouraging a Yes vote in my view.
Habbabkuk,
By your usual deeply twisted ‘logic’ are you suggesting Salmond was responsible for the global financial crisis?? And the Scottish banks were amongst many worldwide banks that suffered.Suggest you look across the pond for the real culprits.
Yet apparently you dont have a dog in this fight but Salmond might be blamed for the financial crash??
Lol Habbatroll…desperate-even by your tawdry standards.
Back to your bowling club and stale cake.
Youre a waste of internet.
Too bad that London does’t have Lord Chancellor Brougham, even if drugged, in its speaking contingent.
He could make such a positive impact on any YES vote, as he did in the summer of 1834, that the three Amigos would be risking their positions in a constitutional crisis in which the Queen would be obliged to get involved, like William IV back then.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4567371,00.html
With the Royal Navy reconsidering Faslane Submarine Base I wonder if this fleet of nuclear weaponed submarines need a new base to protect ‘ its citizens ‘ under threat of pogrom as mentioned in my post at 12.24pm .
“Unlike habba, numbers dont lie, (thanks to Fred/wikipedia) this may be the “pass mark” – 2.465m voters/64% 2010 turnout x 80% expected referendum turnout x 50% winning margin = 1.541m YES votes required to win the referendum.”
Last time they got 1,230,937.