From the warm embrace of passionate citizen activism, Scotland’s future passed to the cold hands of hardened political hacks in closeted rooms. It is a physical impossibility that all 14,000 submissions from the public received by mid-October were even read, led alone properly considered. I am willing to bet most were not even opened.
No, this was the very worst kind of deal-making by callous political operatives, where party interests came first, second and last. I do not give a fig for the result. Income tax devolution is of minimal use if other major taxes are set from London and most income still comes from a Westminster “grant”. Revenue from oil and whisky will still be treated in government accounts as “UK” rather than arising in Scotland. It is far short of the quasi Federal powers which No voters were promised and the Lib Dems pretend to believe in.
Actually, I do not give a fig for the Smith Commission. I want to live in a country where the Westminster establishment does not send our children to fight and die in illegal wars, and which does not harbour weapons of mass destruction. I want a country where governance is decided by citizens and not cooked up the way of this sordid, sordid deal.
That is not to say we should not take advantage of any minor opportunities for increasing social fairness in Scotland that may accrue. But given the continued Westminster stranglehold on overall funding levels, they will be minor indeed.
Nor will I disdain the amusement afforded by the total intellectual mess into which the Labour Party has landed itself. If non-Scottish MPs in Westminster cannot vote on Scottish levels of income tax, it would be absolutely wrong for Scottish MPs to vote on English, Welsh or Northern Irish levels of income tax. That is unanswerable, yet the Labour Party cannot bring itself to acknowledge it. This should be fun.
For those wanting a detailed analysis, we have the excellent Stuart Campbell.
Nevermind
Here is some with sound…Sorry all and Craig for missing the start of the speech, two of the kids we Had along wanted to Climb Arthur’s Seat…Bugger.
Great to see Rainbow’s Rising ( numbers at Faslane protest )
Craig Yesterday at 45 rally.. AGAIN soz about Start 🙁
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLK2k-DaPI0
Sorry, I asked a rhetorical question from Fred, he’s most likely a dapper limey rather than from Belfast.
Hey Brian, thanks for that speech of Craigs, so happy for you getting some exercise in up Arthur’s…., your kids are keeping you in shape alright.
A great few minutes of recording with very audible sound.
Re oil price. OPEC is not a club that is impregnable, would not be surprised if there a re moves afoot to break it up, it is not much more than a price fixing club that tries to hold us consumers for ransom.
Then, far more importantly, I welcome alternative energy plans for Europe and the world if it so chooses to. Many, not just me, would love to see a cooperative plan with the Magreb countries work. Concentrated solar power plants could one day power Europe and the middle east forever, with a bit of backup from hydro and gas.
With more over capacity more water can be pumped up a hill during the day/sunlight, which could be released at night to drive the turbines and also water the fields, when evaporation is at its lowest.
Desertec is an awesome project and it has been stopped by the futile wars in Libya and Egypt and Tunesia. CSP also offers Saudi a future for when it does run low on oil.
I welcome massive turbines that are driven by powerful sea currents, simple mechanical electrical/hydraulic energies which we have ignored for far too long, which could provide energy independence to local towns and villages, Britain’s coastal communities could generate their own electricity and by their actions strengthen the whole grid, minimise the need for nuclear.
If you play pool and never play a doubling up shot in your life, you’re unlikely to win the game by attempting it out of desperation, but if you try the shot in most of your games, sometime succeed, then one day you will become so confident in trying, that its a 70/30 given that you will pot the ball.
One big score for Scotland is its currents, are its waves and tidal lifts. Engineering always has been top notch so its very likely that some can carve out a global niche in just that, [providing sustainable benign energy.
“Sorry, I asked a rhetorical question from Fred, he’s most likely a dapper limey rather than from Belfast.”
So fuck off and die retard.
Anybody out there not a retard and interested in the real world here it is.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/comment-north-sea-oil-puts-finances-on-slippery-slope-1-3598889
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/low-oil-prices-burying-hope-174424281.html
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/28/crude-facts-why-the-plunging-price-oil-not-all-good-news
i appear to be locked Oot.. From Sqounk
i shall therefor Weep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqhOVY58zIo
Em.. That was Ment for Next Door Soz
Today (Our Son’s Girlfriend) did what any normal English Girl would Do..I have been watching Lucy..and she did it..She caught the Mouse,,and I Shrieked at Her..Let it Go..and She did..Lucy Dropped The Mouse..and it ran away…
I said to My Wife…Blimey You Girls Don’t Half Know How To Catch Them..
Lucy is our little baby Cat
She is Not a Teddy Bear..she hunts and kills and eats…
which bit didn’t you get??
Us Cats haven’t Gone For The Rats Yet
Tony
The Labour party can’t answer the ‘English question’ (currently the term of art) because they have no imagination or verve whatsoever.
I could answer it for them, but I’m biding my time.
Sorry Brian. Should all be fine now.
Actually the social-democratic answer to it should be fucking obvious…but…I’ll reveal it when the time is right…
Thank you Sqounk..Got ya.
God i wish i was with you guys, with that Scope..Lol
Well the Labour party can’t really answer any questions anymore.
Particularly the key question:
At what point exactly did they turn into rabid Tories?
Answers on a postcard to the Blair Witch Project PO Box-or the local champagne wholeseller in Islington.
Ok yah?
Woww… this is worth reading, while it’s still available. It’s a webcache, and might not last long:
“Nine Parallels between Palestine and Ferguson”
(Robert Wilkes is a Seattle writer and a leader in the pro-Israel community in the Pacific Northwest)
They are a list of gems, such as this:
”
And this…
Racism at its finest – from the Zionists and white supremacists, to the Zionists and white supremacists.
Nevermind
I agree with all you say about renewable energy. It also seems obvious to me that humanity is a renewable resource if the financial sector was not extracting so much from our pockets in insurance and interest. What is an economy in which no one can afford housing?
On this blog we are never allowed to step beyond the economic reasons for war, oil and natural resources. But in reality wars are carried out in order to destroy other religions and cultures which our nobs can see are more ethical and dangerous to their own scammy systems and threaten their criminal liestyle piggybacking on us.
It has turned out that ISIS was originally a USUKIS tool to fuel sectarian warfare in Iraq, now drawing in major players such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, who decided to ( in bookmaker parlance ) get involved.
Let’s hope the oil price finishes UK fracking once and for all. The short-sighted policy of bleeding the natural resource of human beings, and the natural resources of the earth, must stop.
@ Glenn
Did you have knowledge about Squanto?
As many things are, Civili society is cultivated.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squanto
Supporting Nazi sympathizers is nothing new for Perfidious Albion;
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/30/athens-1944-britains-dirty-secret
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tXb5YkQeDM
Why Putin is winning the new Cold War
The US wants to bring Russia down but it can’t get past Vladimir Putin
by Rakesh Krishnan Simha
There are 7.2 billion people on this planet but the United States fears only one man — Vladimir Putin. That’s because on virtually every front of the new Cold War, the Russian president is walloping the collective challenge of the West. Fear can make you do strange things — for the second year running, Forbes magazine has named Putin as the world’s most powerful person.
It is said about the Russians that they take a long time to saddle their horses, but they ride awfully fast. After patiently nursing the collapsed Russian economy back to health from 1999 to 2007, Putin started pushing back against the western encirclement of his country. In Syria, Crimea and Ukraine, the West has faced humiliating setbacks and melted away at his approach. In the high-stakes game of energy, it will be Russian — not western — pipelines that will dominate the Eurasian landmass.
But instead of scorekeeping, a more instructive exercise would be to try and understand how Putin has managed to keep Russia ahead in the game.
More than any other leader, the Russian president by virtue of his KGB experience understands how the US operates. The American modus operandi — in sync with the British — is to organise coups, rebellions and counter-revolutions in countries where nationalist leaders come to power. Iran, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama and Ukraine are the classic examples.
http://www.tehelka.com/us-russia-relations-cold-war-barack-obama-vladimir-putin-sanctions/
Two days ago Courtenay explained some of the corruption taking place in the Turk and Caicos Islands’ fight for independence from the Crown. I mentioned Haiti and its human rights’ abuses and the banning of masses from voting. This last month people in Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, have taken to the streets in protest against the Martelly-Lamothe regime. They want voting rights. Ever since the Clintons went there to advise this government by stealth thinks have got much worse for the poor. Thirteen human rights groups have signed a petition to grant government by democracy rather than government by decree.
http://www.dadychery.org/2014/11/04/haitis-human-rights-organizations-say-no-to-dictatorship/
Where are the English and French voices in opposition to US imposed
Two days ago Courtenay explained some of the corruption taking place in the Turk and Caicos Islands’ fight for independence from the Crown. I mentioned Haiti and its human rights’ abuses and the banning of masses from voting. This last month people in Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, have taken to the streets in protest against the Martelly-Lamothe regime. They want voting rights. Ever since the Clintons went there to advise this government by stealth thinks have got much worse for the poor. Thirteen human rights groups have signed a petition to grant government by democracy rather than government by decree.
http://www.dadychery.org/2014/11/04/haitis-human-rights-organizations-say-no-to-dictatorship/
Where are the English and French voices in opposition to US imposed autocracy which is in control of the judiciary.
Note: This comment posted itself without any input from me. See above.
Republicofscotland
30 Nov, 2014 – 3:00 pm
“The lad was also assaulted at the Royal Family’s Scottish retreat Balmoral, according to shocking Home Office files, reports the Sunday People.”
……………………………..
Could Prince Charles have been involved?
I’ve heard rumours that he’s a kilt-lifter (that may not be true of course).
Fred
30 Nov, 2014 – 3:12 pm
“Craig, you are analytically naïve. You’re just too emotional.”
“He isn’t the only one.”
“Brent crude $70 and falling.”
……………………………………………………………………………
Fred, using your undoubted analytical skills, can you tell us why Brent crude is falling?
Citing references and links to back-up your answer of course.
“Fred, using your undoubted analytical skills, can you tell us why Brent crude is falling?”
Because they exist in the real world governed by real things like supply and demand.
Not a pretend world based on blind faith and wishful thinking.
The anti-Semites are coming; the anti-Semites are coming, deep in the heart of Texas!
http://whatreallyhappened.com/node/370370
I wholeheartedly agree with the idea of a Jewish state, whether or not it’s racist (there’s nothing wrong with racism – it’s a normal human condition that drives such things as the Scottish independence movement, and attracts such carpet-baggers as yourself, Craig).
It would have been better, though, if it had been established in Berlin. But for obvious religious reasons, that wasn’t going to happen.
We already have a two-state solution. Palestine was divided long ago: the Arabs got east (Jordan) and the Jews got west (Israel).
You’d spend your time more profitably making friends in Scotland. Buying an expensive home there doesn’t cut much ice.
If you get selected as a SNP candidate, I’ll eat any hat you choose.
The man who knows too much….
“Why, then, is Shaker Aamer still waiting? The United States has approved his release and the United Kingdom has been calling for his return since August 2007, under both Labour and Tory governments.
We know that Aamer has been an eloquent defender of prisoners’ rights from the moment he was handed over to the U.S. by bounty hunters in Afghanistan, where he had traveled with his family to provide humanitarian aid. We know that he has been a leader in the prison, because of his outspoken criticism of conditions at Guantánamo, and has tales of torture and abuse to share with the world.
Perhaps this fear of embarrassment is the only thing preventing the United States from ending Aamer’s 13-year imprisonment and allowing him to rejoin his wife and children in Britain. Governments must be forced to respect higher standards of justice and transparency than that. They must be forced to release Shaker Aamer and the thousands of prisoners just like him.”
http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/11/shaker-aamer-guantanamobaydetaineehumanrightsjustice.html
@Jives
“Well the Labour party can’t really answer any questions anymore. Particularly the key question: At what point exactly did they turn into rabid Tories?”
I agree they can’t answer that important question. But there is an answer: 1994. That’s when, with Blair as leader, the party announced ‘New Labour’ and explicitly adopted Thatcherism. Maybe they should have a 20th anniversary celebration in Upper Street? 🙂
Where the fuck was the left? I don’t mean the little Trotskyoid groupuscules. I mean the traditional left of the Labour Party that supported an effective welfare state, proper public services, strong trade unions, highly progressive income tax and at least some redistribution of wealth away from the rich – and even land reform and doing something about the disgusting elite private schools which operate as ‘charities’ (i.e. with state financial support)?
If there were strong unions now, ones which took a clear anti-xenophobic line in the workplace, you wouldn’t get so many working class people voting UKIP.
The left should have broken away in 1994 and stood its own candidates, e.g. maybe under an ‘Independent Labour’ banner.
Their idiotic prostration before the great goal of ‘getting Labour in power’, even on a THATCHERITE platform, was pathetic. The best among them were just…inactive and lazy.
The US embassy in London really got its way. Turn the knob, bye bye ‘Old Labour’.
N_ : “Where the fuck was the left? …. The left should have broken away in 1994 and stood its own candidates, e.g. maybe under an ‘Independent Labour’ banner.”
There is no leftist party in Britain because if there were, people would vote for it.
“Sorry, I asked a rhetorical question from Fred, he’s most likely a dapper limey rather than from Belfast.”
So fuck off and die retard.
Whats your f…..g problem now? you moody sod. Nothing wrong with dapper or limey, and your points to oil are global, however much you like to have a dig.
“There is no leftist party in Britain because if there were, people would vote for it.”
A Node, I half agree, but Left Unity is working for left party expansion in the way Podemos and Syriza have dome in Spain and Greece respectively. However I’m not sure people would vote for a left party. If Greg out of Crossroads stood they’d vote for him. There probably is no Greg in Crossroads, but I think you know what I mean.
N_
” little Trotskyoid groupuscules..”
Tu es français?