The UK Government has created a Tax Trap for Scotland. @RichardJMurphy explains in 2 minutes pic.twitter.com/gz8068mxKW
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) June 23, 2017
The UK Government has created a Tax Trap for Scotland. @RichardJMurphy explains in 2 minutes
Talking-up Scotland 
O/T
Since the 2014 Indy Ref. Our opponents have campaigned tirelessly against Independence.
We have to start campaigning for Independence. Otherwise the fruits of the YES campaign will continue to dissolve. Frittered away by inactivity.
It’s not a case of pushing our leaders for Indy Ref2 next week. We need to work to build support for Independence.
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I think the unionists have ramped up their propaganda and anti-everything fear campaigning, not just carried on campaigning since 2014. It is fear that seems to drive them – fear of what exactly though? if the fundamental change brought about by leaving the EU does not scare the most ardent unionists, then THEY cannot be scared by an independent Scotland – they are just playing it, to induce fear into the population for their own greedy nefarious desires. All arguments they made during the indyref campaign are now moot due to Brexit, so they are resorting to howling at the moon.
But, they have money, and the media backing them. Look how many MPs the Tories managed to buy in Scotland. Spend spend spend. I wish there was proper legislation to prevent the Tories cheating. Have they no ethics. (Rhetorical)
We (collective scots that believe in self-determination) just do not have the same amount of money to spend on campaigning, I don’t believe there is inactivity, it is just that there is a relentless bombardment of the MSM not allowing any voices to be heard – there is not even a pretence at balance any more from the BBC – and we have to make do with what we have got. Sneaky tactics might be the answer.
I don’t believe there is any less support for independence, if nearly 20k people can go on a wee walk in support of it – with poor advertising (I didn’t even notice any traffic warnings, but I don’t watch tv so maybe ?? there was a mention) – without any campaigning – then nothing is being dissolved. It would be good to have proper debate and an outlet where people everywhere can listen to reasoned arguments – where they can see it IS the best way forward, and the only way forward – there is heap upon heap of evidence that says so – it is just getting people to be open minded enough to listen. Shoving it down their throats when the MSM tells them to hate and fear is not likely to work, battling against the onslaught. All the independence blog sites are absolutely invaluable for this, and so are the people commenting on them. Reacting with fear when the MSM tells you to fear is not the way to go. Building up a solid base, ensuring the budding media outlets, like phantom power, are thriving for when they are needed seems to me to be a good way to keep things going. My offshore tax haven account is unfortunately dry at the moment though, so I am not much help.
I watched Richard Murphy, along with 3 others, being questioned in a committee meeting and they all basically agreed with his assessment, that without tax information and with just a couple of tax powers, the Scottish government was being set up to fail. He was good in the phantom power film, and it is nice to see someone with his knowledge putting forward a positive economic case for iScotland. I wonder how many others would if they didn’t fear for their jobs or status?
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“I don’t believe there is inactivity”
We are not campaigning, across the country there are no street stalls, knocking on doors, delivering leaflets. Etc.
“Nothing is being dissolved”
Momentum has dissolved! It’s gone. Opinions are being eroded.
The hard core that marched, is not the measure to be interested in.
We need to reach out beyond social media, start building support for independence.
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I bow down to your superior knowledge in these matters certainly Clydebuilt – I am only talking from the perspective of a non-activist passive onlooker (though take note of a non-hardcore person on the march!), and you are definitely right that social media can only do so much – people have want to seek it out in the first place.
I was reading some comments on Wings yesterday, some suggestions on how to start going about spreading independence is good messages, and now thinking it might be worthwhile putting some leaflets together even as an individual and getting them printed for distribution.
I don’t generally like to impose my opinion on other people (honestly), even though I do like a healthy debate, but in this case there is so much misinformation thrown about by MSM and politicians I feel the need to be a bit more proactive – though my powers of persuasion are not very good, I might get a few people to realise we do not need to be conned forever.
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I have detected a slow-down in good news items in Scotland 🙂 so thought I would try and contribute ,,,
Have you seen this short YouTube piece? The chap is presenting some of those good news stories that we don’t get to hear about from the big broadcasters, but which we all know about, of course, from this site – this is last weeks news but it might be worth keeping an eye out for him for future
And have you ever read Waterford whisper News – it is where I get all my Irish news from these days (much to the consternation of an Irishman). I have no idea where the writer gets his/her sense of humour from but it certainly amuses me – it possibly won’t suit everyone though! This is a link to one article, but do take a browse, some of the ‘breaking > local’ news can be good as well. It helps with getting to grips with Irish politics too – allegedly.
http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2017/06/23/eu-citizens-living-in-britain-for-5-years-allowed-stay-in-post-brexit-apocalyptic-wasteland/
Does anyone know of a Scottish equivalent to this kind of reporting? It would help my understanding of Scottish politics, and maybe clear up the muddle of what is devolved and what is reserved and how it all relates to whatever is being claimed by what kind of politician.
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Contrary, SNP are to start up an Independence website this summer, the ball will start rolling soon. (I hope)
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Is this the start of it?
http://www.mobilise.scot
Just asks for you to sign your name and to give ideas if you want: I’m not sure I have any ideas! The name of the website ‘mobilise’ is suggestive of action 🙂
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It is summer. We reached 13 deg.C, at least, today.
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5 days in Center Parcs near Penrith, not a glimmer of sun
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Sorry about my last post, I was a bit shocked that I had not realised it was already summer.
Here is the next phantom power films in the journey series:
It is always interesting to hear about what the actual trigger point is in people’s unfairness-radar. Before, in 2014, when first asked the question on self-determination for Scotland, it was really a question on had we been downtrodden so much, could we pick ourselves up again? For me, it was never a question whether independence was desirable or not – of course it is, any country would want that! Little did I realise the extent to which people blindly thought otherwise because of some kind of wishful thinking pie in the sky need to be part of something that is perceived to be bigger. It isn’t big or clever to bully your smaller friends. I can only see Scotland’s relationship with England improving on Scottish, and English, independence – wanting to hold onto a relationship just so you can feel superior is not a healthy way of thinking, for anyone. The debate should be around what is the best, smoothest way we can achieve full independence, there will be a long process of establishing all the structures we need to run smoothly, we certainly do not need to be ruled by others like children just because we are related to someone from that country.
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Thanks
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Nicely put. Yes, I think you’re right about the relationship between England & Scotland possibly improving after independence. Several commentators have pointed out that the real problem is with England and how they (or at least the politicians, the Establishment, business and some ordinary folk too) see themselves as a nation now that Empire is in the past and begin to realise that they are nothing more than a (tetchy) middle-sized country off the coast of Europe, where the real action is and countries like Germany and to a lesser extent France are powering ahead and developing relationships.
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Yes, indeeed
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Here is a link to a tweet from the independent living fund – one of the things that I find are reported on so little in the media that you start to think it was all in your imagination, and maybe it was just a rumour:
https://mobile.twitter.com/ILFScotland/status/880764450432839680
So, they were set up by the Scottish government to allow disabled and people with learning difficulties to live independent lives, and just from reading their bio they work across Scotland AND Northern Ireland. One of the many examples where the SNP in government try to do good for the people with an ever-shrinking budget.
It does annoy me that only the negatives are focused on – in the BBC and by the unionist politicians. I watched yesterday’s FMQs, the three unionist parties are a bunch of nasty, cackling, dim witted witches, with nothing in mind other than to further their own wants at our expense. The hypocrisy, ironic hypocrisy, they display is beyond belief: where the Tories accuse the first minister of a lack of transparency, when they still won’t answer the question about talking up for Scotland to the PM >>silencetumble weeds<<. Grandstanding and lies is what we get from Ruth and Kezia every FMQs, but they stand there accusing the FM of being the one to do so. There has apparently been a report on how parliamentary business can be improved upon, and transparency and facts have been suggested improvements (this was from Ruth – I have still to verify it) – but if she is so far gone she does not realise it is HER that needs to improve,,, bah it is all a game to them. Meanwhile our lives get a little bit worse every time Ruth smugly gets in a bit of political party point-scoring. The most remarkable evidence of Ruth being unable to provide facts was when she presented the dreadful statistics for the English NHS as evidence to Nicola sturgeon that she was not doing her day job,,, phenomenal brass neck.
More people need to watch these debates without any media editing!
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And, again, very interesting
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The Parliamentary reform debate was quite informative, though I doubt I will ever read the 75 recommendations. Points I found interesting were that the presiding officer should have more powers (on conduct, speaking times etc); that the format of FMQs should change as it does not make parliament look good (so very true!); that party whips should not be used, to allow individuals more freedom to represent their constituents (it wasn’t put quite like that, but that is the gist). Here are some short clips of the debate:
Neil Findlay on party whip reform
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629_debates?in=01:07:56&out=01:11:08
One MSP on issue of reforming FMQs (didn’t catch his name!)
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629_debates?in=00:32:41&out=00:36:27
Joanne Lamont on FMQs reform
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629_debates?in=01:15:36&out=01:16:56
Colin Beattie on remuneration of committee conveners – just an amusing response to Joanne Lamont’s intervention
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629_debates?in=00:12:57&out=00:13:50
Compare, though, Ruth in the two different kinds of debate:
Ruth Davidson on the reform debate, sounds like she is worried mainly about reforms to FMQs, and by the sounds of it most likely because she wants that position…
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629_debates?in=00:17:00&out=00:22:01
FMQs, Ruth in grandstanding combative mode – note how hilarious all the Tory MSPs find the subject of Scotland’s funding, for, yes, we still have to beg for our own money to be given back to us, and the fact they voted against pay rises for public sector workers. Hilarious subjects, indeed.
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629__FMQs?in=00:02:35&out=00:10:46
Kezia Dugdale, she does this each time, brings up some issue and makes mincemeat of it, bandying about numbers and waving pieces of paper and making wild allegations – hopefully this is something the parliamentary reform bill will sort, because even I have trouble figuring out what are the facts after she speaks.
http://www.scottishparliament.tv/20170629__FMQs?in=00:11:05&out=00:17:10
First minister’s questions are about ‘holding the government to account’, and so it may be more combative than other debates, but the grandstanding implies party political campaigning. If you directly compare Ruth in FMQs and Ruth in the reform debate, you see quite a different person, you would even think her reasonable in the debate, rather than a raving maniac.
It is worth it to look up archived material (debates or committees) to see how your MP and MSP behaves – you may be pleasantly surprised, or not. I like to remind myself that these people are representing me, and vote accordingly when the time comes – you can’t get someone that agrees with all your views, but at least if you quite like them there is hope.
Murdo Fraser is one MSP that is always an arsehole. I know I won’t have offended anyone by saying that, because no one has ever voted for him. (Hmm, except his mother maybe,,, I am SURE he’s sort of maybe okay in private).
Has my careful editing worked?
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Thanks very much for this brilliant addition
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Yay! You are back professor 🙂 . I was trying for a take-over coup there, but wasn’t quite handling it, and too late did I realise the comments do not automatically accept http addresses. It is something I have kept meaning to do (story of my life, you would not believe the number of unfinished projects I have and the vaster numbers of things I keep meaning to get around to) – that is, if I have gone to the bother of watching long and tedious debates why not chop it up into bite size pieces and give my take on? Surely it would be no worse than media outlets. It takes quite a while to do though, and it would be nice to get the clips embedded, would need the big computer for that and a bit more savvy. One day.
Anyhow, your job is safe for now so you can feel safe while away on hols. Who needs the sun anyway? It’s an overrated holiday perk. Unless you like sunbathing & outdoor swimming, or outdoor meals, or lazing in the grass,,, ah well, sometimes it can be nice.
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England shouldn’t be so afraid of being on their own, I’m sure they’ll muddle through by themselves somehow and another country to steal from could come along at any minute or maybe all the countries who have left the UK will be rushing to the phone as we speak longing to come back
Yathink!
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