tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post7447978518214577941..comments2024-02-11T08:44:50.489+00:00Comments on Peter A Bell: See no evilPeter A Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14204261467942498747noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-84519356453758137942012-06-19T21:43:00.095+01:002012-06-19T21:43:00.095+01:00Yes its like "Sign here you Scottish dogs, an...Yes its like "Sign here you Scottish dogs, and we will throw you the usual bone when we see you are getting a bit miffed about our deal.<br />Its time we did the right thing for Scotland and took control of all the decision making process which is the Government of Scotland. Only scots with backbone and determination can see this through and as I have said in other posts, "Anyone who really believes that they are better off in the union should up-stakes and go and live there!" They really have no place in a country as great as Scotland once we have full autonomy. But I bet they will be only too happy to stay and reap the rewards when they see (finally)how much better off they really will be after independence!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-50523747835020200182012-06-04T19:42:30.151+01:002012-06-04T19:42:30.151+01:00Peter,
I would agree with your assessment that Al...Peter,<br /><br />I would agree with your assessment that Allan Massie is naive when he says things like, "the Labour Party in Scotland is every bit as Scottish as the SNP". The Labour party in Scotland is not separate from the British Labour party or its aims and Johann Lamont is a regional leader not a party leader however much the media try and portray her as an equivalent to Alex Salmond or Patrick Harvie. The same goes for Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie.<br /><br />Then there is his idea that there should be a devo-max/devo-plus/devo-something question on the ballot paper but that no-one is under any obligation to define what that actually would give Scotland in terms of financial, executive or legal powers until after the referendum. That's not what I would call simple naivety. That is when you put your head in your hands and wonder how on earth someone could be so utterly stupid naivety.<br /><br />Allan Massie would never accept a job where his employer would unilaterally decide what they would pay him, what hours he would work, what travel expenses he could claim, what holidays he could take, what his employment rights were and what his pension would be only after the signing of the employment contract. He would want all these details sorted out in advance so he would know what he was signing up to.<br /><br />But this is exactly the scenario what he wants Scots to be offered with the devo-something option. Vote for devo-something and the unionist parties will work out what it means later.DougtheDughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02952281599715356995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-80281888412407793662012-06-01T00:26:54.829+01:002012-06-01T00:26:54.829+01:00I didn't think to submit this one to NNS. But ...I didn't think to submit this one to NNS. But thanks for the kind comments.Peter A Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204261467942498747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-30034038763679465582012-06-01T00:05:34.955+01:002012-06-01T00:05:34.955+01:00"And the British state is not benign. When it..."And the British state is not benign. When it had the power, it would casually crush nations and peoples in the pursuit of its exclusive interests. The nature of the power may have changed. The nature of the British state has not." <br /><br /> The empire may be dead but the establishment which ran it lives on. Timely article Peter and bang on the target. I hope that it is published on Newsnet Scotland.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-84140556534957549122012-05-30T20:20:19.243+01:002012-05-30T20:20:19.243+01:00An independant, prosperous Scotland might make our...An independant, prosperous Scotland might make our southern brethern restless, and want change too. The British state would not like anything that upsets their apple cart, and as Peter says, will do anything to protect their position.<br /><br />Nice article.<br /><br />Juteman.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-25479909192202836812012-05-30T19:34:43.935+01:002012-05-30T19:34:43.935+01:00In my own, naive, view of the union I look upon it...In my own, naive, view of the union I look upon it like this.<br /><br />I consider the union to be much like a cotton plantation if you like where the MASTER is Westminster and the SLAVE is Scotland. That, in my view, is how it has been for 300 odd years. We have now reached the point where Scottish Independence is akin to freeing of the slaves on the plantation. The Masters didn't like it then, they screamed and yelled and threatened all sorts but in the end the Slaves won their FREEDOM! <br /><br />In Scotland's case we have something very similar. Our "Master" a.k.a. Westminster will scream, yell, threaten etc but in the end they, like the Cotton Plantation Masters, will HAVE to surrender FREEDOM to Scotland. Failure to do so will only bring MORE pain upon Westminster in the long run!Arbroath1320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-22928985007806908522012-05-30T18:23:12.399+01:002012-05-30T18:23:12.399+01:00I would hesitate to use the term "naive"...I would hesitate to use the term "naive", but would suggest you may be reluctant to acknowledge the realpolitik. If it serves the interests of the British state that Scotland should fare badly then there will be a tendency for those who serve the interest of the British state to take decisions that will tend to bring about that outcome.<br /><br />I stress that no formal conspiracy is necessary. Only that a sufficient number of people with a sufficient aggregate amount of influence should share a common purpose. It is only in hindsight that it looks like a cunning plan.Peter A Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14204261467942498747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323167987164959411.post-6975109492960675782012-05-30T18:05:22.979+01:002012-05-30T18:05:22.979+01:00Thank you. I only take issue with one point.
&...Thank you. I only take issue with one point. <br /><br />"And the harsh reality is that there is a strand running through the unionist cause which not only doesn't "want what's best for Scotland" but actively wishes us harm."<br /><br />I am not sure that there is a conscious aim to "wish us harm." Of course I may be naive in this belief. I think rather, that Westminster generally thinks that "they know best." It's not that they hate Scotland, they simple do not THINK about Scotland.<br /><br />Otherwise. a good piece, thanksTonynoreply@blogger.com