Wings Over Scotland

Brilliant idea. The fairest system by miles. Also an interesting insight into one’s own mind. My initial reaction was “Hooray, I can vote against everybody I despise” but I then realised I’d be OK with going for the positive side. Thank you Stu.

The sight of the anti-science Harvie being seriously interviewed on his barstool claiming the Cass Report has been criticised for its shortcomings with no pushback from the journalist was nauseating.

We know the people criticising the Cass Report – people like Harvie with no knowledge or interest in either child welfare or science.

To get this passed you’d need to get rid of all the grifters that infect Westmonster.

Good luck with that.

Without a need to change the law, could the same thing be achieved by standing a candidate in every seat who pledged to resign if elected? Thus, anyone wishing to vote in the “Against” column could simply vote for that candidate. Granted, you are automatically voting against ALL the other candidates, not just some. But looking at it realistically, if you don’t wish to vote FOR any of the candidates, you’re most likely to vote AGAINST all of them, not just some.

Think I’d opt for putting ‘Not My Parliament’ on the ballot paper where I don’t have an Independent for Independence candidate to vote for.

It does what it says on the tin… which is pretty much what all the political parties bend over backwards to ensure they don’t do.

A much more sensible approach, yes, indeed, but firstly, widespread voter-disillusionment with politicians and their look and sound-alike parties will have to be dealt with; something which no party is likely to seriously address. With no politician nor party to vote for, it’ll be a spoiled ballot-paper for me, I’m afraid. #END the UNION. Pardon the sloganeering, but I refuse to participate further in the comfy and lucrative employment of the otherwise unemployable.

In England, the only real distinguishing line between Labour and the Tories is gender ideology, and even there the gap is shrinking as Labour pledge to adopt the recommendations of the Cass Review.

There’s more differences between those two parties than that but the issue with Labour is how they’re talking ‘tough’ as if that’s going to win the ‘Red Wall’ seats in England back which may work. That sort of triangulation might well work but I fear that’s more because people are done with the Tories and also, Reform won’t win a seat but they’re going to seriously split the Tory vote.

Labour are trying hard to seem ‘sensible’ though I do feel Wes Streeting has been convinced Trans ‘healthcare’ is a nonsense and Gender Ideology is a threat. It’s whether he’s got enough power and support within the party to swing Labour over completely, yet again, I think they’ll triangulate on this subject now it’s clear they’ll win/save more votes than they’ll lose to the Greens or even the Lib Dems.

The problem with PR isn’t the various types of PR by themselves. Other European nations have worked with these systems for generations and although flawed (all electoral systems have a flaw somewhere) they work. Where it fails in Scotland is that the likes of Patrick Harvie can sit in Holyrood thanks to the list vote knowing that even if rejected in a constituiency vote, he’ll be just fine. List MSP’s should be restricted to two terms then that’s it. Part of Holyrood’s problem is the amount of MSP’s there doing little to nothing, or in Harvie’s case, causing incredible amount of damage in a relatively short time because he’s been given power and influence beyond his abilities.

As it stands, Harvie, Greer and all the rest stand a good chance to remain in Holyrood thanks to the list system even though they’ve shown themselves unable to govern, or even do the basics the Greens were set up to do. They’re now solely a Trans activist party that occasionally talks about the environment while enacting policies that damage it, or privatise it.

I’m in! To address the issue of low turnout (even in countries with compulsory voting as noted above) I vote that all those who cast their vote are entered in to a prize draw with 1 from each constituency getting a cash reward.

That ought to fix things!

I might be having a brain fart. But I didn’t know I could vote for more than one candidate at a General Election.

Perhaps It’s because I blindly followed Sturgeon the Judas and voted SNP.

Fortunately I spoiled my ballot at the last election – thanks to the stich up of Alex Salmond – Sturgeon the ("Tractor" - Ed). The Judas was behind it all. I despise her with every fibre of my being.

I am planning to spoil my ballot but might read this article in more detail. In protest against our political vaccume.

“It’s simple and it’s ingenious. Under Hobson’s Law, instead of a single vote voters can cast votes for as many candidates as they want. But the trick is, they can also vote AGAINST candidates instead.”

I re-read it.

OMG! While i admire your indefatigability Stu, trying to resurrect a shitshow of political ‘choice’, for me, it doesn’t really matter: Shite in, shite out. Plus, me being a simple guy, it was only on my second scan reading did i get that you can only vote in one column! What confusion! Either, or!

I mean i get confused in a building with lifts. If I’m on the 5th floor and want to go to the ground floor, do i press the up button or the down button to call the lift? I am even stressed here, thinking about it!

For me, there are 2 solutions:
1. candidates have to pass an entrance exam to enable them to stand as a candidate. The big wigs can work all that out. Get rid of the shitshow dummies. and secondly
2. my preferred choice. Don’t vote. Stop voting. bring the system down. So that the powers that be stop, sit up and take note that the system is undeniably broken and that they have to replace it with a more workable form of legislature/democratic institutions, because currently it is all corrupt and corruptible.

I am no politician, nor have an education in political systems, but there has to be a better democratic way/method of the governance of a country.

Sorry to go off topic so quickly, but this is important.

This whole “online harm” thing is getting out of control very fast.

In Australia we now have an e-safety commissioner. Last week a guy stabbed a guy in a church. She has ordered ALL footage of that to be censored on social media (even though it’s already been seen all over the world already).

She decided that “X” hasn’t complied because even though they blocked it for Australian users people all over the world could still see it, and therefore VPN users in Australia could also see it.

Therefore, she can make X block it for the whole world!!!

The Federal Court so far agrees and has issued a two day injunction to allow X to argue against it.

I don’t want some shady unelected control freak from my country deciding what I can see on the internet and hopefully you don’t either.

@Rev Stu 4.50pm

How about you do the prize draw, but if the seat doesn’t get won by any of the candidates, the winner of the draw gets the seat?

Works for me. See…the Wings Over Scotland Party idea still has legs! It worked for the Pirate Party in Iceland: they won 5.1% of the Icelandic vote in 2013 and 3 MP’s in the Althing. They gained 6 seats in 2021.

It doesn’t bear directly on the office-holders of course, but Drakeford until recently leader of the Welsh assembly has a son who is a convicted rapist who has changed his name and was last heard of in North Wales; the husband of Sturgeon of the Scottish assembly is facing serious allegations of embezzlement from the party they jointly lead, and now her successor Yousaf’s brother-in-law faces serious charges which seem in some way related to a case involving DunDeefenestration.
Ill-luck seems to dog their every step, no ?

Anyone who wants to be a politician should be automatically disqualified from holding any such position for life.
Instead of voting we could hold a ballot of all those whose names are on the electoral register for each constituency. The name picked out of the gigantic hat has to serve for one fixed parliamentary term – no excuses, no backsies. If the 100 year old picked out at the time of the ballot dies during the parliamentary term then his/her husband, wife, partner, daughter, son, neice, nephew, cat, dug, etc (you get the idea) must serve instead.
Would such a collection do any worse than the hapless, hopeless crew of hypocritical liars and thieves we have now?

This ballot format will have its first outing in Brechin Tuesday evening when 6 people with differing views will present their ideas of how the UK GE can be used to end the union.
SNP, ALBA, Independents and “none of the above”.
Show starts at 7:00 Caledonian Hotel 43-47 Southesk Street DD9 6DZ
Chaired by Eva Comrie -the guests are
Kenny Braes (SNP) Peter A Bell, Sally Hughes (Ind) Allan Petrie, Leanne Tervit (Ind)
and Neale Hanvey (ALBA)
The event will be live-streamed for those of you who can’t be there in person.

We could make it that whoever wins an election gets to sit in the canoe for an hour.

We deliberately did not register to vote,
It is not an election for any candidate for a Scottish parliament, it is not my parliament it is the sub-division of the under Scotland Act legislation of the parliament of.England.

It applies a two tier set of laws over all people in Scotland compared to one set of laws for the Country of England,

Just cannot bring ourselves to vote for continued suppression of Scotland,

Dear Scotland… The Lord tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he’s pretty sure: you’re fucked! Ah-ha!

I would not like to be in Humza’s Chappals now.

Dear old John Major – who’d a thought it eh?

Select politicians on the basis that jury’s are selected, with an opt out.
No old cunts sorry, you’ve had your day and look where we are.
We fucked it in 2014 and there ain’t no way back. Shameful fucking nation.

KT Lorimer
Ignored
says:
22 April, 2024 at 5:52 pm

This ballot format will have its first outing in Brechin Tuesday evening.

I’ll tune in to it.

Like it as its probable in my constituency no true independence candidate will stand.
My choice in current system is not to vote as most of candidates will be useless.

If someone from the future appeared in 2014 and told you about 2024. You would think it was an Ian Banks surreal acid inspired bad trip.

How the fuck did Scotland end up worse than it was in 1998.

“What you DON’T do is just give the seat to the candidate with the most net-positive votes, because then you could end up with some Monster Raving Loony who only got 12 votes but who nobody bothered to vote against.”

As if Monster Raving Loony would be a bad choice at this point!

” NICOLA Sturgeon has pulled out of a Westminster committee appearance after her husband was charged with embezzlement.

The former first minister was due to give evidence at the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday but has now cancelled.

A spokesperson for Sturgeon said: “Nicola is happy to appear before the committee.” “

Should politicians be tested for drugs. Like every other legitimate organisation.

If all the Unis ain’t supplying the next generation of career politicians.
Where are the next generation going to come from now that you gotta be clever and all.

The key issue here is that our politicians, from all parties, and civil service are of such poor quality, it has made our democracy a joke.
If we are honest, there isn’t any senior member of any party that I would want to take over in Scotland, and even if we did, by some miracle find an effective party leader, they would be hamstrung by the civil service, as their only agenda seems to be to make things better for …. the civil service, and they have the ability to ignore any policy they don’t like.

Lorna Campbell
Ignored says:
22 April, 2024 at 8:47 pm
I think that the thumping the SNP is going to take in the GE will have a two-pronged effect:..

Yet another milestone missed because we suffer the SNP becomes the “next Election is Plebiscite on Independence” strategy; Scotland United and all that… Another excellent strategy brim full of potential, just like an ALBA List party augmenting an SNP first choice, but squandered by the SNP’s self centred narcissism and fraudulent stance on Independence.

The next Election could have plunged the UK into an immediate Constitutional Crisis from which Scotland would emerge Independent, but no, we have to endure the petulant SNP’s grinding self harm and destruction, seeing enemies everywhere. Jesus H, who the hell is writing this script? Why are we buying it?

Sympathy came there none, because the SNP under Sturgeon and her intellectual delinquents brought it all upon themselves, and sabotaged Scottish Independence when Scotland had it won. Bastards. All of them bastards. The blew it when we’d actually won. Stop giving these losers our lead! Time and time again, they fail us on every level.

The second huge exasperation is the widespread disillusionment that the current system of UK and Scottish democracy is broken and dysfunctional, and yet again leaves Scotland adrift and bewildered by staggeringly bad choices in every direction, yet SALVO, thank god for SALVO, is standing there in the headlights pointing us in the direction of our Scottish Constitution, the Claim of Right our sovereignty facilitates, and the mechanism of a Convention of the Estates which would have the power to transcend and sweep aside anything which Westminster or our Vichy Holyrood has imposed on sovereign Scotland.

The Union is broken. The litany of charges it couldn’t properly survive spans it’s entire history and crooked foundation, but in Scotland’s Brexit subjugation, we have the most potent betrayal of Scotland’s rights married to our anti-democratic subjugation and calamitous vandalism of our economy. Yet year after year, we leave these stepping stones to Independence to gather dust.

We are tainted, and will find our Nation standing in the dock of International Justice because of our supine complicity with the genocide in the Middle East and warmongering NATO alliance, when instead, Scotland could have been the peace broker, and perhaps uniquely able to condemn NATO’s belligerence and force it’s withdrawal from the Clyde, then promote Scotland as a champion of international peace and justice, (justice of it’s own being secured), with Scotland embracing East, West, and indeed all International trade, with our super- container facility at Scapa Flow.

Granted, the Americans and Westminster would seethe with impotent rage, at first, but I believe Europe and the EU would thanks us, Scandinavia would embrace us, BRICS nations would welcome our participation, and I truly believe that Scotland ending the Union would compel our friends, and yes I mean friends, south of the Border, to rid themselves of the same Neoliberal greed and societal destruction which feeds upon their misery. England would be given back to its people, and the grinding misery of Conservative mismanagement would be held as culprit for ending the United Kingdom’s existence.

Revolution in England would follow. Not the blood soaked head-choppy type revolution, but a wholesome sweeping aside of the grasping Elites, and end to the BBC grotesque disinformation, and utterly deluded and dangerous militarism obliged to see itself in the mirror. The English would get their NHS back, and likely, in time, bring back manufacturing and a modern, accommodating and open minded society which finally recognised the self harming delusions of Thatcherism and Tory greed.

Stop listening to the cretins and losers, the dysfunctional few who make it to the top of the broken and rancid system. This is the system, the blight, we need purged from both Scottish and English society, and SALVO has the mechanism understood which can make it happen. Ok, maybe not all the answers, but more than enough to be getting on with.

So which is it folks? We break out the sand-box with our sovereign Constitution? Or we pin our hopes on a new Gauleiter’s regime in our Vichy Holyrood to supersede Humza and Sturgeon’s Allstars? One more hurl on the merry go round eh?

We can change everything. We can close Holyrood, recall a true Scottish Parliament to sit wherever we tell it to sit, and even remove the word Holyrood from the lexicon of Scottish Government. Let the word Holyrood fade into history as a shabby component of the “dark age” when Scotland was so badly ruled by London.

Life is not a rehearsal. We can make it happen.

@Breeks says: 23 April, 2024 at 3:17 am

“Scotland could have been the peace broker, and perhaps uniquely able to condemn NATO’s belligerence and force it’s withdrawal from the Clyde, then promote Scotland as a champion of international peace and justice”

I’ll settle for the potholes being filled in, a stable currency, and the ability to get a next day doctor’s appointment.

But as an aside, loving those who seek to tear down the “English exceptionalism” they claim to hate so much, and replace it with a new Scottish exceptionalism.

Once we’re Indy, we can remake the world in our own image from Edinburgh? BRICS to become BRICSS, and the PRC and RF to become beacons of peace and justice with us showing them the true path. SA too? I can hardly eat my breakfast here, have a heart.

It’s still not a genocide either. I guess the key to processing Breeks’ post is to realise that his words can’t be interpreted using their usual meanings.

Sorry, Breeks, but if your vision for iScotland is all that’s on offer, I’ll be buying another ticket for the merrygoround. We’ve already suffered enough under the last 10 years of fantasy rule. We Scots already have all the reputation as international laughing stock we will ever need.

Breeks , a hearty round of applause from me!

Breeks, and from me!

The key to reinvigorating democracy is to lessen the influence of the Parties. We need more unaffiliated representatives, whether that be the likes of Martin Bell in Westminster or Margo McDonald in Holyrood.
Participatory democracy is actually under attack from the Parties. Hyperbole? Let’s inquire.

The predominant trend of the last two decades has been the drive from a professional, technocratic, managerial class (we can call this the Permanent State) to micromanage the democratic process. The Permanent State seeks to suffocate mass participation and vibrancy from politics and replace it with a stolid, managerial bureaucracy. We saw this most recently with the triumph of the Blairite, Forward faction over Corbynite, Momentum. The British (and American) Security Services were covertly involved in this.

Control of media and the use of language is intrinsic to this. Once, (certainly the 1920’s) the term “populist” denoted an appeal based on the desires of the masses. The word, Populist has been corrupted in mainstream discourse to imply Demagoguery. This is all very deliberate and clever.

In recent times the “liberal”, “centrist”, Clinton faction in America spat out the term “populism” as a venomous curse. Anyone who wasn’t supportive of offshoring manufacturing (or indeed service) jobs was denounced as belonging to Trump’s “deplorables”.

The high point in true, democratic representation at Holyrood was 2003 with eight MSPs outwith the five establishment parties.
You don’t have to support the political platforms put forward by non-establishment individuals or parties to support the general principle that a multitude of voices enhances debate. By design, we are left with slightly different flavours of our managerial class endorsed, bland menu.

The fall of the Scottish Socialist Party was the result of various factors, but their political posters at election time were a feature of our streets. The ability of the SSP to harness the enthusiasm of their support and promote their message through poster campaigns will have played a significant part in their returning six MSPs in 2003.
By the 2007 election, Margo MacDonald would be the only independent voice at Holyrood. As of the 2016 election, Holyrood was reduced to the five establishment parties.
There was a vibrancy to early Holyrood elections. Our main streets were festooned with a kaleidoscopic display of posters from all parties. This election material didn’t get there on its own, organisation and mass participation was required.

This display of “populism” was intolerable to our managerial class. By the 2016 election, 32 out of 36 Scottish councils has established by-laws prohibiting election posters on council owned street furniture.
The four “hold-out” councils continue to allow election posters on street furniture, proving that any perceived “littering” issue can be managed rather than resorting to prohibition. It’s no coincidence that all four councils are rural and are substantially populated by independent councillors, free from the admonishments of any Party head office.
Is the potential for a wee bit litter too high a price to pay for a vibrant, mass participation democracy? The answer from our permanent managerial class is apparently yes.

There is now an industry in “managing democracy”. The John Smith Centre exists to fill the ranks of elected representatives and support staff with doppelgänger, middle-class politics graduates. Two individuals selected as Parliamentary interns recently, openly referred to “progressing my career” in their introductory comments. Public service and vocation are oh so passé.

The John Smith Centre is itself a sinister entity, refusing to disclose its sources of funding.
Yesterday, the JSC announced that Michael Gove had joined its Board. Gove is often dismissed as an oddball, curious character. This is a clever scheming camouflage. Gove has for decades moved in the covert, Anglo-American circles characterised by blandly titled, Right-wing, Think Tanks. On investigation these are invariably linked to and funded by Foggy Bottom.

Thanks very much again Vivian O’Blivion @ 9:53. Your contributions are always much appreciated.

Confession. Your Foggy Bottom reference has long been opaque (as it were) to me. I assumed it was an in-joke nickname like Marmalade, and that I must obviously have been off school sick the afternoon that allusion came up in a lesson (like that other day they did inverted commas for direct speech). So I have struggled on in ignorance assuming that eventually someone’s random online remark would enlighten me. Light has there come none of. So after reading your comment today which finishes with the sentence: “On investigation these are invariably linked to and funded by Foggy Bottom”, I was prompted by frustrated mental lostness to do an online search (though without much hope that a Scottish niche nickname would manifest). Imagine my surprise then to discover that Foggy Bottom is actually a place, and indeed a location of some geopolitical import. For example this from one site which came up in my search, ie Washington.org —

« Stretching from the Potomac River to the western edge of Georgetown, Foggy Bottom takes its name from the fog that naturally lingers here. It’s marked by big-name cultural and diplomatic edifices as well as the southern end of Rock Creek Park. It’s bordered by the West End, a hotel- and restaurant-rich zone next to Georgetown.

« The biggest draw for tourists and residents? The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Potomac River-side performing arts center is a living memorial dedicated to President John F. Kennedy, known for his promotion of culture. World-class music, dance and drama performances take place here nearly every day of the year on nine stages. The Millennium Stage hosts free shows Wednesday through Saturday nights at 6 p.m., too.

« Other landmarks include the U.S. Department of State, where the art- and antique-loaded Diplomatic Reception rooms can be toured by appointment. Look for Chippendale furniture and rare landscape paintings. The IMF and World Bank make their homes here too, and lend an international vibe to the whole zone. The Watergate building, site of the 1972 Democratic National Committee break-in that ignited a scandal, still holds apartments and a luxurious, five-star hotel with an elegant French-inspired restaurant, fab rooftop and intimate whisk(e)y bar.

« Foggy Bottom also holds the southernmost end of Rock Creek Park, DC’s 2,100 acre greenspace. Pick up biking and running trails near the Kennedy Center for riverside views and nature-viewing ops.

« Restaurants and bars thrive here, too, many serving George Washington University, where the urban campus takes up several blocks. Try Tonic at Quigley’s Pharmacy for brews and tater tots with the undergrads or Founding Farmers restaurant for hearty farm-to-plate fare in a mod, buzzy space. In the West End, upmarket restaurants include the Blue Duck Tavern for elegant seasonal American fare like local oysters, wood-fired vegetables and duck. »

I am wiser today…

The party system in Britain was a response to the extension of the franchise and the fear of democracy. It’s one of those well-understood developments in the history books that they discuss carefully in code nowadays.

Quite a lot in the history books is written in code and if you ever want to get ahead in subjects like that (politics, international relations, economic, etc.), you need to learn how read and write in what is essentially newspeak.

The word “democracy” itself is a good example and basically translates to “capitalism” in newspeak. “Defence” is another, which is basically a reference to attacking people, “stability” usually refers to someone disrupting or threatening to disrupt the flow of booty, etc., etc.

Thus, a phrase along the lines of “we need to defend against threats to stability and democracy in [wherever]” basically means someone is trying to move in on the action somewhere and they are probably going to set about him…

Up until circa 1945, words in the history books were used more or less honestly and literally. They were quite comfortable describing Britain, the US, and European countries as capitalist, for example. You would struggle to find a history book written after 1945 that describes any of them as capitalist; it’s almost as if capitalism just ceased to exist.

It’s an interesting subject. It gets really interesting when you are dealing with idiots who think we really are fighting for democracy and stability, completely unaware that the real goal is simply to plunder some poor country’s resources, etc.

Freedom of speech (a system in which business controls all your news channels and newspapers) is a beautiful thing.

@ Hatuey at 1.39 a.m. “I don’t buy Silver Fox’s story..”

The Rev’s twitter 14 hours ago said that he was hearing “Police Scotland and the Crown Office are at war over whether to charge [a person] over a crime. Readers can guess who’s on which side.”

It looks as if there is something very serious going on. I can’t say that I am surprised.

When is she due to be arrested now??

I did not realise the polis made an appointment

“Scotland’s alcohol death rate provides another reason to tackle the root causes of ‘deaths of despair’ – Scotsman comment (6 hours ago).”

This extract from ‘The Scotsman’:

Alcohol Focus Scotland, which receives much of its funding from the Scottish Government, said the overall number of deaths had seen a “staggering increase” of 25 per cent since 2019, with chief executive Alison Douglas saying: “Despite the Scottish Government’s acknowledgement that this is a public health emergency, we are still not seeing an adequate emergency response.”

Aye, an thair nae gang tae see ony ’emergency response’ fae thon ‘Scottish’ Government. The Scottish Government is Scotland’s public health emergency.

Deaths of despair. That’s what they’re calling Scotland’s drug and alcohol problem now.

Deaths of despair. Despairin’ o whit a wonder. Could it be related to the actual fact – because it clearly is a fact now, there’s no point in looking elsewhere for the reasons behind Scotland’s sorry state – that the Scots have been colonised by a foreign power intent on their demise?

Deaths of despair. Despair by design, despair built into a system devised to grind a people to dust, devised to clear the way for a superhighway, a conduit to their nation’s wealth of natural resources.

Deaths of despair. The Scotsman comment ends with this:

“The fundamental solution, we suggest, involves tackling poverty by turning the economy around, in order to make life in Scotland less likely to prompt people to turn, in utter despair, to alcohol or drugs that will eventually kill them.”

The fundamental solution, I would suggest, involves the Scots asserting their Claim of Right and just tellin’ England tae bugger aff.

Because, as Alcohol Focus Scotland’s chief executive Alison Douglas tells us, the alternative is the Scots, and with them Scotland, dying of despair.

Breeks,

Were thinking along the same lines,

I am presently reading,
The House of Commons Library briefing paper.
Constitutional Conventions and citizens Assemblies: power to the people.

Some good advice and some pitfalls, this depends on whose Constiturion we would be following The Scottish Constitution or the parliament of Englands,
It also depends on what terminology you use fhat could aid or fail you in your heading,

One of the things Scotland is trying to escape from is the tight strangle hold politicians have over the people,

A second dangerous pit fall rabbit hole is the choice between certain words, such as Citizen, or civil Society, constituents or Sovereign people,

I would suggest using the terminology “Sovereign people” after checking up phrases like civil society, That has connotations similar to “Stonewall” Societies, bill gates

It needs careful thought no doubt..

Who’ Crown is the Office under?

@Michael Laing

Any evidence research to support your conclusion?

“The implementation of MUP legislation was associated with significant reductions in deaths, and reductions in hospitalisations, wholly attributable to alcohol consumption. The greatest improvements were in the four most socioeconomically deprived deciles, indicating that the policy is positively tackling deprivation-based inequalities in alcohol-attributable health harm.”

link to thelancet.com

Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh @ 11:00

Foggy Bottom is semi-poetic code for the US State Department.
The CIA are all too often cited for interference in international affairs. I don’t believe there is a clear line of demarcation. As a general rule best to assume that the CIA handles covert activities in “hostile” countries and the developing world while Foggy Bottom runs “influencing” operations in “friendly”, Western states. There will undoubtedly be grey areas.
I believe this also applies to the British Foreign Office. Odd characters like Rory Stewart and Bob Fairweather (see Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) were either spooks working under Diplomatic cover or were some strange hybrid.

Vivian O’Blivion @ 9.53
Does this Foggy Bottom connection also account for the meteoric rise of Màiri McAllan?I’ve been curious about her rapid promotion. But she seems to fit the recruitment pattern described in Lobster#85, though she’s heterosexual.

BOOKS OPENEDITION.ORG
THE PRESSES UNIVERSITAIRES DE STRASBOURG.

SCOTS AND THE CLAIM OF RIGHT FOR SCOTLAND.
Full text,

There are many other references to Scots and Scotland that you can click on, at the top,
Which are all interesting to read from a alternate perspective.

The thing we all want to happen this week? Well, a couple of days of sunshine would be most welcome 🙂

The democracy,

” Scots have shown it more tolerance that it deserves ”

” They must now show enterprise by starting the reform of their own government “

@ Cynicus at 3.07 “…an Edinburgh KC last week – “she’s next”.

There’s always hope. And if an Edinburgh KC says it then there is reason to be hopeful since they are at the heart of the Establishment.

Meanwhile the Independents for Independence crowdfunders need more attention of the cash kind: Sally Hughes’ is at £1844 of £10000 from 38 other supporters [deadline 12th May].

Eva Comrie’s is at £5110 of £10000 from 114 donors [deadline 3rd May].

I was thinking something similar, bit you get a +2 for a candidate and a – 1 to put against the one you can’t abide.
You coild obviously just you either it both.
So then most positive overall shoild win as leaders shouldn’t end up negative and monster raving loonies shouldn’t get a disproportionately large vote.

Alf, you nicked my comment! Weel maist o it onyway

A wid niver hiv thocht ye capable o sic things. Ah, weel. Thon’s the way o life nae dout. But am sair disappintit so a am.

@ Sarah at 4.13
Links to the crowd-funders you mentioned:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/eva-comrie-ge-campaign-fund—alloa-grangemouth
link to crowdfunder.co.uk

Twathater – I was joking.

@ crazycat at 5.06: the links for the Sally Hughes and Eva Comrie Independents for Independence fundraisers.

Many thanks! Since you posted the links there has been a donation on each site – causal links no doubt. 🙂 🙂

RE my previous comment.

Rory Stewart’s book on his time in Iraq is called The Prince of the Marshes.

twathater – I understand, I do.

My humour has gotten me into trouble in the past many, many, many times. Many times.

The trouble is that what sounds clever and funny in my head rarely (perhaps never) is in the actual world outside of it.

Some things sound so funny when rattling about my mind that I can’t wait to unleash them; to free them that they might romp in the real world causing no end of joy for others.

Sadly, even after the passing of many years, I have been unable to conquer the urge to display my lack of wit for all to see.

Apologies to to all those, and especially Alf himself, who might have thought I was having a go at him.

However, it is impossible for me to promise that I won’t do it again, because I probably will – I’ll apologise afterwards, of course.

Maybe I should stick to more mainstream humour. Stuff like:

“I bought a dog from a locksmith…when I got him home he immediately made a bolt for the door.”

No?

Hatuey @ 5:03 pm

“Most people want independence for reasons unrelated to culture.”

In your opinion perhaps. Postcolonial theory tells us differently, and that:

‘independence is a cultural emotion’; ‘independence is a fight for a national culture’, and; ‘national consciousness is the most elaborate form of culture’.

Without a peoples culture there would be no desire for their independence. Culture is therefore a critical factor. Which is also related to the oppressor who depends on cultural assimilation/cultural imperialism – i.e. cultural colonialism!!!

Sarah, me too – sadly while imbibing!

sarah
Ignored
says:
23 April, 2024 at 4:13 pm
10G Sarah. It used to be 500quid. That’s a lot of cash they are asking you to stump up now to stand.

@ GM at 8.30: “10 grand.. used to be £500….”

Leaflets, hall hire, fuel and travel expenses for candidate and helpers. Independent non-party candidates don’t have party funds and equipment.

If anyone wants to know what’s happening with Operation Branchform look at standard embezzlement cases. 2 to 3 years to the make the case is common. Standard imprisonment up to 5 years. Seldom involves one person. Multiple charges probable. Throw in Public Service Interest i.e. A former FM charged and you get the delay.

Warn your grandparents in West Dunbartonshire. Warn them. That letters are being sent out for the poison dart to the vulnerable – the elderly.

Sturgeon and the globalists who hate borders – want to kill off the auld yins.

I hope Sturgeon goes down -42 approval rating- Corporate Homicide. Burner Phones. Secret burner phones to Jean Freeman. Why did she by them? We still don’t know?

A really really dodgy boiler. Sturgeon gave the orders. We know she gave the orders from Gold Command. Send the plague into the homes.

sarah
Ignored
says:
23 April, 2024 at 9:19 pm

@ GM a

OK Sarah understood.

Hatey. That’s simply not true. You can have many regional cultures making up a collective nation.

Someone from Liverpool , may have a similar social upbringing as a Glaswegian, but different from an Aberdonian. However the Aberdonian and Glaswegion share the Scottish nationality. The Liverpudlian doesn’t.

So the national culture is shared with all the areas within Scotland. Despite being rural, urban, rich , poor etc.

The collective culture is the nation , and that’s why countries even exist. You are not comparing apples with apples I am afraid.

Without a national identity, there would be no desire for independence.

The cultural difference between parts of Scotland does not mean it has to be cultivated by those from without,

After all the same happens between people from Cornwall in England and the people in London, England,

One of the things that puzzles me about those who argue that Scotland is a colony is that they are not following through on it with regards to what we are watching take place right now. It’s almost as if the point they are making stands in isolation of any sort of context and is reduced to some sort of subjective way of looking at an abstract idea.

I have already postulated that the SNP meltdown currently underway is historical and unprecedented, and that nobody has ever seen anything quite like it in this country before. It is.

I agree that Scotland is essentially a colony but not as an abstract idea. I think there’s good evidence to suggest that the SNP at some point under Sturgeon was turned. I have theories about that and am pretty sure I could narrow it down to a reasonable timeframe but let’s leave that and keep going…

If you assume the SNP was turned and was essentially transformed into a colonial administration — which I do — then what we are actually watching right now is much more interesting and significant than anyone seems to grasp.

Joining the dots, what we are watching is the complete collapse of a colonial administration that was rumbled. The people have realised what was going on, that they have been sold down the river, and are in the process of dismissing the colonial government which in essence is a puppet and proxy under British State control.

This, as I see it, is to be celebrated. It’s why I take the view that the SNP must be wiped out before we get anywhere. Without the proxy colonial government in place, the independence movement (which really represents the majority of our people) is standing toe to toe and eye to eye against the British State, and that is a fight that the British State knows it cannot win.

Incidentally, these sort of dirty tactics will be very familiar to anyone who has studied third world politics, where puppet governments of a very similar kind (often pretending to be left leaning) are ubiquitous. It’s a well understood and well tested way of keeping power in the right hands, marginalising popular movements and people, and making sure the resources of a country stay in the hands of the right people (foreign multinationals in most cases).

According to Hatey MacGenocideface:

A genocide is not a genocide if the birth rate* of a population before the genocide began is greater than the number of people killed so far during a genocide.

Thank you for clearing that up.

*interesting to see what the birth rate is 9 months from now.

One of the things that puzzles me about those who argue that Scotland is a colony is that they are not following through on it with regards to what we are watching take place right now. It’s almost as if the point they are making stands in isolation of any sort of context and is reduced to some sort of subjective way of looking at an abstract idea.

The importance of whether you are a colony or not, is not merely semantic, but has huge ramifications for how the UN and ICJ can interact with Scotland.

Scotland’s “predicament” is largely unprecedented, the scenario is unlike any other, and thus there is by definition, no precedent to follow. (See Brexit Expulsion).

So in those circumstance, it becomes possible to see Colonisation as a big Venn Diagram, and debate whether being treated like a colony, (as in your sovereign rights being ignored and your resources being plundered by a foreign power), is in fact the same as actually being a colony.

That is why the debate about being a colony is polarised to the extent it us. The enemies of Scotland don’t want the abuse of Scotland’s Constitutional integrity exposed to scrutiny. Those alert to the abuse naturally do, and want the injustice to stop through International Recognition of Scotland’s Constitutional Sovereignty, in other words, recognise Scotland’s Sovereign Independence.

Note too, neither a democratic majority, (nor indeed a Vichy Assembly), is a prerequiste of International Justice in Law. It would assist the cause massively, but have minimal, if any, bearing on the legal technicalities.

Our rights under International Law can be affirmed on merit, the Treaty of Union shredded after all the abuse, and Sovereign Independence be ratified when we elect a sovereign Government.

Johnicide McGenocideface gets very upset every single time you mention the genocide. I think it makes his fangs ache. So could everyone please stop talking about it.

We can all agree we are seeing ethnic cleansing.

We can all agree we are seeing mass murder.

And that mass murder is an ethnic based mass murder.

It is an ethnic cleansing that is being driven by ethnic mass murder.

Leave or die.

Hmmm I am sure there is a word for that…

John Swinney on radio Scotland yesterday stated unequivocally and with no hesitation that he had not been questioned in connection with operation branchform. Seems odd.

We don’t the exact figures of how many folk have moved to Scotland as the last census in this department is hidden from us, but we do know that thousands of folk have moved to Scotland, and this gives us a wee peak into it.

link to archive.is

Breeks, I’m not sure if you only read the part of my comment that you quoted or not, but, had you read the whole thing, you would see that I am actually arguing that “the colony debate” is highly important in terms of understanding what is going on right now with the SNP.

As for your point, that colonial status confers certain benefits vis-a-vis international law and organisations, that in my opinion is somewhat moot since I think it highly unlikely (bordering on not even a possibility) that it will ever happen. I could explain why but to tell the truth I’d rather not…

Anyway, no malice or gamesmanship intended. I broadly agree with your slant on most things. I just think it’s worth following through on “the colony argument” and looking at the SNP meltdown through the prism that it provides (which nobody had done).

Big Jock,

” This is a Colony by stealth, deception and collective Brain washing,”
I will only add, and by constant propaganda, to maintain the illusion,,

No sooner had the Crown and parliament of England thought capturing Scotland was in the bag,
Within a year They amended the 1707 treaty of union, and changed Scots law on treason to England laws on treason,
This has been happening steadily since 1707.
The law revision ( Scotland) acts.
The interpretation acts,
Reducing our royal burgh’s to voting,
They Changed our courts to being under the Crown courts of the Crown of England
Retaining their english bank and english coinage,
And immediately dissolving the Scottish parliament as early as 1707, the same year as the hoax union,

Scotland has been a Colonised Country long before the Snp existed, or the devolved Governance sent to Scotland from Englands parliament.
1707 was the first year that Scotland became a Colony of Englands parliament and Crown,
And I could not avail myself to disagree with you, you are absolutely right when you say this was done by stealth, deception and collective brain washing of Scottish people.

The next big Hoax that is in the pipeline for Scotland,

The new treaty of union between the parliament of England and its sub- division Colonial devolved parliament of England sent to Scotland.

This could never be a treaty between a English parliament and a Scottish parliament.

It is the parliament of England constructing a treaty of union with a branch of the parliament of England,

James Che @12:13am

You and me both, James. You and me both.

To have our complicated colonised psychological condition, and its physical manifestation, brought out into the light and clearly explained in terms layfolk can understand is a monumental contribution towards the people of Scotland’s liberation from colonial rule.

More than that it takes a special kind of courage to stand alone amongst one’s peers and the multitude in the pursuit of truth – few are made of the steel required to withstand the mindless baying of truth’s decriers.

I value intelligence, knowledge and education above all else bar kindness and compassion toward our fellow travellers as we all weave our way through our short lives on this planet.

And Like yourself I also value Alf Baird’s intelligence and knowledge and steadfast perseverance (and if I may say so, your perseverance too, James Che). But I think what I most value is his evident compassion for his fellow Scots and his determination to lift us from our plight.

It can be nothing but abundantly clear to anyone who has read Professor Baird’s papers and book, Doun-Hauden, that he is a learned man of intelligence and intellect and compassion.

Professor Alf Baird deserves all the support we can muster in his defence of Scotland and the Scots; in his defence of us, and in his defence of those future generations of Scots yet to come.

I can think of no better guide to lead the Scots to freedom.

It was all going so well until you wrote ‘least-worst’. Don’t try to justify it, the meaning can’t be nuanced (the best of several bad options is still the least bad), the hyphen doesn’t add anything, and I don’t care if Shakespeare used the occasional double superlative.
It
is
always
wrong.
(And…breathe.)

James Che

Yes, James. Alf introduced me to the idea that Scotland was no more than a colony of a foreign power. And he was kind enough to answer many of my questions around that idea through various exchanges btl.

And I, too, have learned much from others on here who have contributed their hard-earned knowledge on the subject.

In the end, Scotland’s liberation will be achieved through the combined efforts of us all.

But Alf will always remain the inspiration behind my ‘awakening’ to the reality of Scotland’s condition and, of course, my own as a product of colonial oppression.

That picture brings one word.
Glaikit…

Northcode,

Indeed we have many unsung heroes that have been educating us for years with intelligence wether they hold certificates or not, they have all been great contributors regardless to that newly aquired knowledge,

Even the unionist have helped inadvertently.
Because if they stopped talking shite, we would never have to contest it by researching for the truth ourselves,

@President Xiden says: 24 April, 2024 at 7:43 am

It’s a serious subject and I’m disappointed to see that your contribution is to revert to primary school playground name calling. I don’t doubt that worked for you when you were 10, but you should have developed more persuasive methods by now.

Words have definitions and “genocide” is no exception. The ICJ attempted to get a ruling of genocide, and failed. You should have learned from that and moved on.

The ongoing tragedy, where a largely innocent population is trapped between two groups who both hate them – their enemies, and their rulers, certainly has a message for us Scots.

We will need to be very careful never to give power over us to any so-called “leadership” group who will be happy to see our corpses piled high, in the tens of thousands of our women and kids, in pursuit of their own personal agenda, the protection of their stolen wealth, and the saving of their own miserable, cowardly skins.

But hey, it’s a free country. You can continue to think they’re just great, if that floats your boat.

You can continue to claim it’s genocide too – there’s a few who will want to cheer you on, for rather obvious reasons. More savvy onlookers will be well aware that the war would be over by this weekend if the hostages were returned.

That’s another reason why it’s not genocide. There’s never been a genocide in history that could be stopped by one side making a few token gestures of appeasement to the other.