Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Scotland's Shame

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    #26
    Scotland's Shame

    To be fair, AG, I'm not sure I can see that happening.

    Comment


      #27
      Scotland's Shame

      yeah, any independent scotland is still going to filled to the gills with UK and US Nato bases. Also the british army has historically played a tiny role in maintaining order in britain since the civil war. Big navy, small army, and keep the army overseas for as long as possible.

      Comment


        #28
        Scotland's Shame

        E10 - well, it's another question, rather than any kind of answer to mine. I am interested in why you think it would be damaging.

        But my short answer would be "probably". I don't think that saying "balkans" is a trump card.

        The point here is that there is a movement for independence, and that changes the terms to an extent. I think there are many more important issues for Scottish socialists, as it goes, but I don't get to choose. And I don't see any grounds to oppose the break-up of the British state.

        Comment


          #29
          Scotland's Shame

          I think dalliance summed this up pretty well in his first post. "Horrible nationalist chancers" sounds about right.

          I've never thought that any of the mainstream parties in Scotland are especially likely to end the apartheid schooling system - not while the dismal state of affairs continues where the Catholic Church enjoys a grotesquely disproportionate influence in the corridors of power anyway.

          And while I've never had any time for the nationalists (as I think E10 said above, if nationalism has any merit at all, it can only be as a means, not an end in itself), I did at one point - laughable and naively, I now realise - think that Alex Salmond as a person was fairly principled, for better or for worse.

          This makes it clear that if he has any principles at all, they are unpleasant, reactionary ones.

          Comment


            #30
            Scotland's Shame

            Melbourne Arab wrote:
            twohundredpercent wrote:
            if Scottish independence is more important...
            Of course it is. FAR more important. Scottish independence isn't about the SNP - that's just a vehicle towards the end.

            How many of the Men of Principle on here ditched the Labour Party because of Robert Maxwell who has a list of crimes far outweighing those of Soutar? Or, for that matter, how many jumped ship when they discovered Rupert Murdoch was a New Labour fan?
            Fucking loads, you tit.

            Comment


              #31
              Scotland's Shame

              Hofzinser wrote:
              I think dalliance summed this up pretty well in his first post. "Horrible nationalist chancers" sounds about right.
              This thread shows that there are plenty unionist chancers around.

              Comment


                #32
                Scotland's Shame

                Why are you called Melbourne Arab, Melbourne Arab?

                Comment


                  #33
                  Scotland's Shame

                  "The Arabs" is the nickname of Dundee United, who he supports.

                  Comment


                    #34
                    Scotland's Shame

                    This thread shows that there are plenty unionist chancers around
                    Evenin' all. Just passing through. As you were.

                    Comment


                      #35
                      Scotland's Shame

                      I think this is the first time I've ever been called a "unionist chancer" before. I shall put it in my collection alongside "tea-towel (English) nationalist" and "(Irish) republican dilettante". I've got the set now. Result.

                      Comment


                        #36
                        Scotland's Shame

                        E10: that karaoke duet on the 'Auld Orange flute' looms ever closer...

                        Comment


                          #37
                          Scotland's Shame

                          I liked it better when you were called a "desperate unionist fanatic", E10.

                          Comment


                            #38
                            Scotland's Shame

                            I have no time for the SNP and really dislike the way that they portray those who disagree with them as Unionists. I am not a unionist, like most I am a don't-give-much-of-a-fuck-ionist.

                            However that article was a bit of a hatchet job. I don't think anyone would regard Roseanna Cunningham as Alex Salmond's agent, for instance. They can barely be in the same room together, by all accounts. She also voted for the repeal of S.28.

                            Comment


                              #39
                              Scotland's Shame

                              DG, as long as we do it in a mash-up with Foggy Dew it's a deal.

                              Comment


                                #40
                                Scotland's Shame

                                The SNP, to be fair, are having a go at replacing the regressive Council Tax with a local income tax. Labour's responded by refusing to pay over the £400m Barnett formula "subsidy" (about which there had been no argument previously) on the absurd grounds that "you can't pay council tax benefit if there's no council tax".

                                It's politically pretty stupid because it's a massive change the SNP might well muck up.

                                Comment


                                  #41
                                  Scotland's Shame

                                  I don't like the SNP, but that article is a hatchet job. For instance Roseanna Cunningham and Alex Salmond are barely on speaking terms, to see her intervention on same-sex adoption as some part of a grand plan of uber-calvinisation of the SNP is absurd. Particularly as she voted for the repeal of S28.

                                  Bizarrely the SNP have decided to attack their core voters - young males - by making it illegal for anyone Under 21to buy alcohol from shops. So no parties for the young of Scotland. I can't see that doing a lot for student numbers.

                                  Whilst they are right to tackle the council tax, the way they are going about it is fundamentally wrong and open to wide loopholes.

                                  The 3% tax can only be collected on earnings from employment. So people who live off of shares or capital gains will not pay any tax. IE the very rich or the small business owners who can convert salaries into share dividends.

                                  People can avoid the tax by claiming residency in England. There is currently no link between PAYE and your own address, only the address of your employers' pay office. So telling your employer you live with an aunty in England will save you 3% tax.

                                  The tax is fixed across Scotland. So councils would not be able to vary expenditure according to local need. In fact they will get all of their income by block grant from the government. This is very bad for democracy.

                                  However, councils still have the power to raise council tax. So no matter what the SNP say, they won't have abolished it.

                                  The calculations on the amount raised by 3% income tax are seriously ropey. It is also much more influenced by economic downturns that property taxes. So the 3% tax take is likely to fall in the year ahead. So we can look forward to lots of cuts.

                                  I think we should have an element of property taxation. The problem with the council tax is:

                                  1. It is only on houses - not commercial property - so the tax base is too low

                                  2. The bands are restrictive - we need bands all the way to the top for the most valuable properties

                                  3. It is taking on too much of the burden of taxation.

                                  In essence. Rates worked and would never have been abolished if the Tories didn't get this ridiculous zeal to introduce the poll tax and then repeal it with a halfway house council tax.

                                  The SNP are going to be very unpopular over this change. People who are worse off will be up in arms and people who are better off are going to feel they have been cheated for years.

                                  Comment

                                  Working...
                                  X