14 Sep 2014 01:32:58
ED

Can you tell me of any one thing that has been specifically driven or implemented by "Westminster" in the LAST 20 years that has unilaterally and exclusively been directed towards Scotland whereby the implementation has disadvantaged Scotland (and by default advantaged NO, Wales and England); just one thing or a "list" if you have it.

I am unashamedly "undecided" and have read your piece that predicts Scotland being ultimately destroyed and rendered totally obsolete (emotive language I'll give you that), but in the interests of probity, can you kindly answer the question in para 1.

I am read up on all of the "campaigns" and I have read all available literature and still remain undecided; my "yes" vote will not be driven by (a) economy (2) prospects (3) social justice because I don't think ANY person can confidently predict (in the short term) a certain outcome on currency, deficit, surpluses, tax revenues, services, jobs, inward investment, balance of payments, exports, competitiveness etc etc etc; it is all guesswork notwithstanding a "united" Scotland (not Britian!) if it rallies, awakes, applies itself, invests PROBABLY WILL be successful but we don't know.

But back to para 1, you are a clear NO voter and you have used very emotive language to explain why, but I would like to know how the Union has conspired unilaterally against Scotland to Scotland's detriment.

Oddly, I think the UK (like the US) is messed up generally where the rich get richer and the working class get compromised with the resultant distribution of wealth inequality "gap" forever widening; I do not think "Scotland" is alone in seeing the consequences (and being disillusioned as a result) of a one-way-traffc rich get richer "policy".

{Ed007's Note - Even though not 1 inch of track will touch Scottish soil Scottish tax payers taxpayers will contribute £4.2bn to the HS2 project - taxpayers will also subsidise the crossrail project to the tune of £4.2bn..... There's one.

Imagine Scotland was already independent and we were about to have a referendum on whether to join a union with the rest of the UK.
Could the Pro-union side convince us that getting together would be better when we were told what would happen to Scotland after such a union? Some bullet points from the campaign…
-Your main Parliament will move 600 miles away, and your MPs will be in a tiny minority & will therefore have limited ability to effect policy on your behalf
-Scotland will get a government it didn't vote for.
-All of your oil and gas revenues will be handed over to the treasury in London.
-Even though not 1 inch of track will touch Scottish soil your taxpayers will contribute £4.2bn to the HS2 project.
-Your taxpayers will also subsidise the crossrail project to the tune of £4.2bn
-The biggest nuclear weapons facility in Western Europe will be built on the river Clyde, just 30 miles from your largest city.
-Even though you only have 8.2% of the UK’s population you will contribute 9.9% of the UK’s total tax take yet will only receive 9.3% of that tax take back to spend in Scotland (you will lose £4.4bn per year to the UK treasury)
-You will devolve all of the economic levers you have used to shape your economy directly to London and will now only have control of 7% of your economy
-Even though 79% of your MP's voted against it we will privatise your publicly owned mail service
-Even though 91% of your MPs voted against the bedroom tax in your parliament, we will impose it.
-Even though 82% of your MP's believed that a VAT increase would be detrimental to your economy, we will impose a VAT increase.
-You will join a country whose health and education services are rapidly being privatised.
-Now and again you’ll get dragged into an illegal foreign war.
-An austerity budget will be imposed from London cutting jobs and threatening vital public services even though 81% of your MP's voted against the cuts.
-The financial regulation system will be so weak and so lax that your whole economy will be brought to the brink of collapse.
-The most weak and vulnerable in society, instead of getting the protection and support they deserve will be interrogated and humiliated in an effort to get them off the meagre levels of support to which they are entitled.
Who in Scotland would vote for such a package?
Who would vote for that union?
So why would anyone vote to remain in such a union now?
This is about democratic ownership, social responsibility and the fact that Scotland on its own will be economically stronger from day one of independence.....

Why are the English so keen to keep Scotland under their rule? To supply even more young men to die fighting in illegal wars, to keep North Sea oil under English control? Over the years English governments (Governments we never voted for) have decimated our mining industry, our steel industry, our ship-building industry. They have battered and kicked us down for 300 years and now they are in a panic because we are kicking back. Britain didn't invade Iraq in my name, Britain isn't supporting Israel in my name, Britain didn't make the streets of Ireland a war-zone in my name, British governments haven't covered for and protected paedophiles in power (the BBC, Government ministers and members of the Royal family) in my name. What kind of government pulls the wool over it's own people's eyes and manipulates people by orchestrating incidents like the Lee Rigby 'murder' to stoke up racial tension, all to get people on side for their next illegal war.
I could go on and on, but just to finish up, Scotland don't want to be a superpower, we have no interest in warmongering, we have no interest in ruling the world, all we want is to control our own affairs and our own destiny. England needs Scotland a lot more than Scotland needs England, the British Empire is on it's last legs and the world will be a far better place when it does finally expire.}

1.) 14 Sep 2014
ED you had me all the way until you suggested that the government were complicit in the brazen murder of Lee Rigby

the reverse …IE why be part of the union was clever…very clever ….

I do like a lot of that you say…but I will counter it …in the interests of fairness

{Ed007's Note - Try reading the actual facts, Chris Spivey has done extensive work on the Rigby false flag op, look at his website. What jury has never seen any pictures of the murder victim? When have witness statements been read out in court instead of them being sworn in and not allowing cross examination? Why was Rigby portrayed as a family man yet he was seperated from his wife and engaged to another woman? Why are all the pictures of Rigby photoshopped? Why were pictures of other soldiers used as pictures of Rigby? Why were the 'killers' never charged with any terrorism crimes? Why did the press say Rigby had sisters (not step sisters) yet his real dad said Rigby was his only child? Read the facts, not what the media tell you, in North Korea they think Kim Jong-un completed a round of golf in 34 shots because it was reported by the media, does that mean that happened?}

2.) 14 Sep 2014
Have a read through this, you'll see how it doesn't add up:

www.chrisspivey.org/the-drummer-man

www.guerrillademocracy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/headless-chickens-woolwich-hoax-exposed.html

www.chrisspivey.org/family-friends-and-neighbours-the-complicated-dynamics-of-the-rigby-clan/

I'm trying to free your mind - but I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.}

3.) 14 Sep 2014
A Scottish government based in Scotland, made up of Scottish people, in control of ALL of Scotland's income, putting it towards the things that the people of Scotland want it to be used for. How can that be negative? We have the chance to do an amazing thing on Thursday and we can't let it pass by because the No campaign have tried to use scare tactics! Although, being employed in a Faslane it's not the end of the world for me if the vote does go to the No side, it's a win-win for Scotland due to the fact that 97% of those eligible to vote decided to vote. This means that a UK or Scottish government now knows that they can no longer pass bullsh*t legislation without the consent of the people because the people are watching and will stand up and be counted!

4.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 06:57:40
Outstanding Ed. Simply outstanding. You forgot tye decimation of the fishing industry, the poll tax and the fact nobody actually owns anything in the UK. ;) Everything including the land is equitable rights only. Ie as Queenie would say. One is allowed to use it without paying a rental fee. Why do we have to register our cars? Why do we need birth certificates? What is Liberty actually? Were does money come from? Can a bank lend money? Who controls the money supply? What is the definition of 100% tax? What was the the war against Napoleon really about? Did the French revolution actually do anything for Liberty? Was Hitler a socialist? what does the left mean and right mean in politics? is fascism actually on the left?And finally if it was not for George Washington all of us would long since have disappeared under the iron foot of collectivism and fascism. Just a few things to research. If anyone canbe bothered:)

{Ed001's Note - some nice points in there mate. I had to check which site I was editing then! I hope a few people will take the time to read and research these things. Hopefully they will all take note of the quotes made by the founding fathers in the US and then they would realise that every country needs a fresh start.}

5.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 07:53:00
Ed I never even considered Rigby as a false flag op but whilst on holiday (Hawaii🌞🌴) I read 2 9/11 books that blew my mind. The facts and operational anomalies are astonishing. Excellent post about the reasoning for a split pal.

{Ed007's Note - The lack of blood at the scene and the way the story developed 'flagged' it up right away. If you're interested in that kind of stuff you should check out this page that Ed033 runs.}

6.) 14 Sep 2014
Ed, how would you have reported the Lee Rigby incident?.

{Ed007's Note - The truth would have been a good place to start, or if the situation hadn't been engineered there would be no need for any reporting.}

7.) 14 Sep 2014
Hi ed. Nobody in England wants HS2. I think if any party vowed to scrap it they would be certainties to win the next election.
Looking at it from afar, it seems to me, that whether we like it or not big business and bankers govern the country, whatever they want they get. These are the only people who want HS2.
The problem I see with an independent Scotland is that although England does better at the moment, after independence. England would crush Scotland financially, as they would no longer even have to pretend they care about us.
They would make sure that all the major investment and job creation would go south, London is one of the major financial centres in the world. Scotland would not get a look in.
I accept it would be great to take our own decisions, but if these decisions leave us worse off is it worth it
The haŕsh reality is it seems to me is that if Scotland goes it alone, there will be a permanent tory government in London, and they would make sure that England gets everything.
I know it sounds very negative, but what you would like a thing to be and what it will be are two different things, and sometimes you just have to hold your nose and accept the least worse option.

8.) 14 Sep 2014
Its amazing how the Yes campaign neglect to mention the fact shetlands have more of a stake to North Sea oil and many people have been quoted as saying they would not accept rule from Edinburgh as they prefer westminister. (Articles freely available on internet supporting this claim).

It is also interesting to note that Shetlands were part of Norway untill the 15th century. Just thinking outside the box here, but say scotland got independence surely shetlands would be entitled to a referendum on who they want to be a part of?

9.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 12:32:02
Some great reading. I find myself in agreement with both sides, if that's possible!
Scotland could do it, Norway has, with much greater state control. But the demographics of the two countries are vastly different. Taxation is higher, labour costs are much higher. And of course they have their own currency and have built up their own currency reserves.
Having the £ is not going to work.

10.) 14 Sep 2014
To be honest I think the unrealistic picture some of the Yes voters are painting is doing as much damage as the scaremongering from the No camp.


My only hope that after this vote - whichever way it goes, Scotland stays awake. If we don't want the NHS privitised, then we have to fight should any changes be brought about by any future government. Sadly the cynic in me doesn't see this happening and most will just fall asleep again.

11.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 15:20:26
Never mind Scotland, Mrs E.
It should apply to everyone in the UK & NI.
My mortgage is with a Scottish bank. Is there going to be a run on the pound next week?
Or a run on Scottish banks?
Is my interest rate likely to change?

12.) 14 Sep 2014
Mrs E, how can anyone ever think that the NHS "as we know it" can only ever stay the same. EVERYTHING CHANGES just as sure as I am that Monday follows Sunday change is always afoot.

with health deteriorating and poverty stats unchanged and an ageing population, sure we can keep the NHS free at the point of use and "universal" but there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that an unchanged NHS MUST (and can only!) mean one thing; something else has to "go or be cut" unless we operate for all time a "surplus" and not a deficit.

The NHS need to adapt. Society needs to adapt. Self harming (wittingly) through drug and alcohol abuse, bad diet, general laziness etc will take its toll. Preventative health advertising, education and a social contract between user and service provider is inevitable UNLESS we can keep the cost of NHS in check, but that means every single citizen (with the moral and intellectual capacity) to understand that it works both ways….if there is no disincentive to push back against poor lifestyle choices, the NHS will only ever become more expensive….

I love/admire and have benefitted from NHS intervention …incidentally

{Ed007's Note - You missed out blaming the amount of immigrants coming into the country.}

13.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 16:05:02
My biggest issue has been the same one going back years. How is getting shot of Westminster and hooking up to Brussels, independence? To me, that is just a change of ownership. True independence would be to be like Norway, but I think Salmond is an ego out of control and he wants to play with the other egos in the EU, pretty much the same reason Cameron and Milliband want to be part of the EU.

14.) 14 Sep 2014
Hi ED

you wrote

"I'm trying to free your mind - but I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it…"

I keep walking in to it …:(

{Ed007's Note - Kick it open, trust me, you'll feel a lot better for it :)

15.) 14 Sep 2014
@13.totally agree with you about Norway, but not about Salmond, as I understand it there will be elections after independence, and then maybe, whichever party that wins can push for Scotland to be like Norway, outwith the EU, but with special trading status or whatever its called.

{Ed007's Note - The Scottish Government proposals are that Scotland’s Independence Day will be on 24 March 2016. That will ensure that the elections scheduled for 5 May 2016 will be the first elections to an independent parliament, there is a UK wide general election on 7 May 2015 where Scottish MPs will be voted in for a 10 month term. It's all explained in here if you want to find out more.

16.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 16:53:38
http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2013/12/12/the-shetland-card/

Have a look into this article. An interesting read regarding oil rights and the shetlands.

17.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 16:56:42
Come on Ed your not being totally accurate there. We both know once you kick the door in. Its a week of sleepless nights. 6 months of total shock and amazement mixed with incredulousnessness(new word to emphasise the amount of incredulousness) A year or so of checking your back, trusting no-one. After a while you settle down and realise if you are interested in the truth you will be sailing close to the wind and that's the way it is. Better by far than ignorance and sleepwalking zombie like to infinity.

{Ed007's Note - The sleepless nights were tough going, and the nightmares, but it'll be all worth it in the end.}

18.) 14 Sep 2014
Juicer if you have a fixed rate then it won't change, there could be a currency conversion cost if we don't use sterling though. Obviously when your fixed rate period is over then that's another story, there will definitely be a period of financial instability if its a Yes vote. Incidentally i'm not in favour of any currency union, Bank of England independent of Westminster - nae bother. When we bought our first house in the early 90's the interest rates were 17% so there is no guarantees with staying in the Union either.

Paradise, folk are having major heated exchanges over how we can keep the NHS from privitisation and is being used as part of both sides campaign. I know the challenges facing public services are not as cut and dried as what we like to believe, human nature does play its part. I was going to have a rant about this but as its the Sabbath I won't lol

19.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 17:23:04
Sorry Ed I forgot about the nightmares. I find an iodine supplement helps.

20.) 14 Sep 2014
14 Sep 2014 18:27:12
OK ok, less of the neo.

21.) 14 Sep 2014
ED you won't have to worry about the sleepless nights and the nightmares, as you will be nation building in dubai.

{Ed007's Note - I will still have family and friends who I care about and who will have to live with the consequences, some of us care about the bigger picture. None of my extended family will ever have any money worries, does that mean I shouldn't care that there are foodbanks in Scotland in 2014, that people working aren't making enough money to feed their kids, should I just turn a blind eye to the amount of kids living in poverty, that's the classic Tory outlook, 'I'm all right Jack, f**k you'.
There are people living in squalor all over Scotland through no fault of their own, kids who are starving and scraping by in life, who have never known what a good hot square meal tastes like, whose parents have had their spirit broken by a system who doesn't care what happens to them, kids who have been systematically abused sexually/mentally and emotionally but nobody believes them or if they do the perverts close ranks to protect each other, this is all going on under our noses, look at Rotherham just now, Elm Guest House, Haut de la Garenne in Jersey and Kincora Boys Home in Belfast. These are the people running our 'cuntry' and have been for the last 50/60 years. Have a look at this website or even this one and tell me everything's OK, we're better together!
How many victims of abuse during their childhood become alcoholics and drug abusers because they're level of self-worth is so low they don't care if they live or die, they feel it was all their fault, if it wasn't surely someone should help you? People feel that no matter what way they turn for help another door is slammed in their face, their drink/drugs are their escape, if nobody helps them what do you expect them to do, they don't know any other way of getting through a day.
In saying that, everything I've mentioned, poor diets, drugs and alcohol, self harming etc you say they're a burden on the NHS....

'The NHS need to adapt. Society needs to adapt. Self harming (wittingly) through drug and alcohol abuse, bad diet, general laziness etc will take its toll. Preventative health advertising, education and a social contract between user and service provider is inevitable UNLESS we can keep the cost of NHS in check, but that means every single citizen (with the moral and intellectual capacity) to understand that it works both ways….if there is no disincentive to push back against poor lifestyle choices, the NHS will only ever become more expensive….'

With the Tories plans for the NHS who's going to pay the medical costs for some 15 year old girl who has ran away from home , even from social care, to escape abusers and ends up on the streets begging for money, drinking and jagging smack just to welcome the oblivion they bring, who's going to help her? Our current government aren't, so what good would your 'Preventative health advertising, education and a social contract between user and service provider' do for the thousands of youngsters in that situation?

Can you even put a price on helping today's youngsters have a better and brighter future? No matter where you live the safety of kids worldwide must be a high priority, it's your kids and grandkids they are failing and who face a bleak future, the system is broken and they only way we can fix it is by major change, we won't get that change under Tory rule.}

22.) 14 Sep 2014
If you are that concerned why don;t you stay back and nation build here then

why are you going elsewhere >>>

{Ed007's Note - To get away from people like you.}

23.) 15 Sep 2014
Ed I value your judgement in many things . What do you think the outcome of the Ind. Vote will be .?

{Ed007's Note - It's too close to call, buddy, it really is. If you look at the people on the ground and a look at the public consensus YES should romp home but that's not going to happen. I'm quietly confidant that intelligence will take over fear and swing it to YES.}

24.) 15 Sep 2014
Hi ED

I care about the bigger picture, IE I would be happy to pay more tax if I thought there would be better crime statistics, better health and education outcomes and I would dearly love to see redistributive taxation and a closing of the equality gap

we turn a blind eye to poverty every day and pursue personal goals and from time to time reflect on those less fortunate and from time to time make modest interventions (modest because the majority of us are scared about having nothing ourselves so we hoard a little more just in case)

You call it a TORY outlook, IE "I'm all right Jack", sadly I think it is now cross party as they are central (to right. ) in the pockets of big business…

There are people living in squalor in scotland but there are people living in squalor in england and wales and NI too, so Scotland is not alone and the rUK is not immune

kids systematically abused (news wise) has been more evident down south than up north and before you say anything my good friend is head of sexual crimes unit in scotland so I know the stats on that (and don't need to do any research), as above these abysmal statistics are geography blind

these "people" running our country…we had 59 MPs then that were complicit and PMs and labour leaders who were scottish (!)

So ED if I understand you correctly, according to you every poor lifestyle choice can be linked back to sexual, mental and emotional abuse and thus there is no such thing north and south of the border as a lazy b***** who is happy enough with the benefits they scrounge?

I have explicitly said that those who cannot help themselves need all the help and high level intervention

I hinted (IE NHS) that the costs of NHS will only ever go up (continually) unless we find a way to disincentive people to make better decisions re health, diet, fitness, and the like …


Your story re the 15 year old girl (and I note they exist) is shocking, truly shocking and we agree on that ….you blame the TORIES and I blame the system generally and the pursuit of greed, power and influence whereby we have lost sight of what is important in a "society" that (incidentally) as you allude to, haven't witnessed the deterioration of all of those things that we (thought we held) dear to our hearts IE social justice, fairness, good health for all, protection from baddies etc

you have turned my little rant about the NHS in to something different, very cleverly

the 15 year old should ever be in that position
she/he deserves better and as a society we should be thoroughly ashamed but the abusers were / are part of our society
I used the NHS story as a means to highlight a very smile FACT, the costs will not come down any time soon and so unless we can afford to spend more and more, something has to give elsewhere…hardly a breakthrough statement

you think the CHANGE that we need will come through Independence which means that you actually believe that ONLY TORIES or those who think in a TORY way are responsible for these miserable outcomes re abused kids. Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds. Could you look a tory voting school teacher on £30,000 a year in the face and blame him/her for the reality that the 15 year old girl in rotherham faces

that is too simplistic, even for you ED

you think Independence in Scotland will fix all of this even though you have listed controversies in belfast, jersey and rotherham …. everywhere but scotland

I know I am in a minority with my public declarations but why don't we probe ourselves a little more RE what we would be prepared to go without to create a fairer society in scotland….

we could be part of the UK and volunteer a % of our take home (after tax) and become (per capita) the most generous and charitable citizens on earth….that would be interesting to see how many would give of their time and their money too make a material difference

you think that ethos exists today and that independence will guarantee/delivery it…


forget governments and politics, if that were true we would be doing it right now but we are not ….

{Ed007's Note - Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalise, ignore and even deny anything that doesn't fit in with the core belief.}

25.) 15 Sep 2014
Mrs E

I want a free NHS that is universal with no caveats

it costs money

we can ring-fence, absolutely and we can take away from some other budget line or line)s)

we can of course grow our economy exponentially and have this extraordinary national utopia …possible yes, timeframe unknown?….

it ain't rocket science. we live in a bedevilled world….whether we like it or not we are part of it, complicit in it, need to survive within it and will stand or fall by it…

I wish I had lots of land and was handy with food growing technologies and knitting …then I'd be fine

26.) 15 Sep 2014
Oh dear…big price to pay and some would say "too far" LOL and what do you expect to find in Dubai…ROFPML

Dubai…aye that makes sense PMSL

Are you at the wind up?

{Ed007's Note - Ed001 and Ed033 moved out there earlier this year, it's where our offices are now, and it's some difference from Tewkesbury!}

27.) 15 Sep 2014
LOL :)

28.) 15 Sep 2014
Paradise that's the question though - what other budget lines do you take it away from, education, welfare benefits, housing or do you raise income tax?

You have to vote how you feel is right for yourself and your family. I have very strong views on why mine is a Yes vote but I've spoke to a lot of folk in work and socially, there is genuine fear of the unknown which I have to respect.

Not everyone is a raving Royalist and Unionist and it's not right to stereotype this way.

29.) 15 Sep 2014
Agreed Mrs E

30.) 15 Sep 2014
As an outsider looking in a yes vote is only the start, next move would be to remove Salmond and any other slimy politician owned by Murdoch

31.) 15 Sep 2014
Uk wide the nhs loses 800m per annulment due to theft and corruption from within! Good place to start?

32.) 15 Sep 2014
Per annum!