I trust social media far more than I trust mainstream media. Far fewer vested interests.

There’s no shortage of vested interests in social media. It’s the individual scale that provides the biggest difference.

Yep, the if Scotland wins the referendum comment was very telling – explains a lot. How about the >50% who would view that as a bad result?

But to swallow much of the yS BS you have to be very blinkered. But at least someone has asked the DO a straight question on the currency in a Radio Scoltand phone in – so First Minister, is a currency an asset (or simply a means of exchange)?

To which – The First Minister replied: “We haven’t argued it’s the currency that’s the asset, it’s the financial assets of the United Kingdom.”

Pull the other one Alex, but at least inside the last 19 days you can now be honesf about the currency. That would be a refreshing change and only what we deserve on such an important issue.

That’s the big problem, though – we don’t have an impartial and balanced mainstream media.

The Beeb is know globally for its impartiality and lack of balance. No wonder is has such little respect around the world.

Social media has big flaws, but it is fantastic at telling stories that honest people don’t want to tell.

FTFY!

It wasn’t my comment, but I don’t have a problem saying I think Scotland will lose out if the vote is No.

Because that’s exactly what lots of politicians down south are saying – there will be a cut or complete removal of the Barnett formula, and there are many more austerity cuts to come.

The Beeb is know globally for its impartiality and lack of balance. No wonder is has such little respect around the world.

BBC Scotland is facing an existential threat, of course it can’t be impartial about its own breakup – independent academic studies have shown how impartial it is on the subject.

I think the UK needs restructured with the removal of the top layer and more decentralised power. From what I can see the North of England is in a similar position to Scotland.

I agree completely, but if you vote yes this will never ever happen. If you vote no, then then everyone can work on getting devo max for Scotland and the whole UK.

From this point of view (pragmatic, sensible and productive IMO) yes is the wrong vote.

Scotland will have to address it’s fiscal issues whatever the vote Ben. One way is much easier and less costly that the other. For the DO to claim otherwise just shows that he is indeed deceitful.

It’s amazing that people can swallow the idea that the DO can deliver something/everything that no other nation/political party can deliver. The fairy tale re-writing of basic truisms is startling.

I agree completely, but if you vote yes this will never ever happen. If you vote no, then then everyone can work on getting devo max for Scotland and the whole UK.

Problem is that no political parties are promising that. Or anything like that. We can’t work on fixing the system when the system isn’t allowing any options for change. Devo Max is unfair on the rest of the UK, and no party is promising anything near Devo Max, let alone a federal system of government and proper reform of Westminster.

So how do we work on it? Launch a new political party? Try to change the Labour Party? It’s just not going to happen.

Problem is that no political parties are promising that

Of course they aren’t now, the nats want full independence so they won’t talk about a compromise. However they surely must do after a no vote – what else would they do? Go quiet and sulk?

Devo Max is unfair on the rest of the UK

Unless it includes Wales, the North etc. If the vote is no, there must be a discussion on this. The debate has raised a lot of issues, they won’t just go away.

However if the vote is yes, the Welsh and Northerners will get sweet FA.

Scotland will have to address it’s fiscal issues whatever the vote Ben.

Every country has fiscal issues, but an independent a Scotland would be in better shape than it would be as part of the UK – Scotland has been a net contributor to the Union, contributing more than we get back for the past 30+ years, and without expensive projects like Trident and HS2 to pay for we’ll be even better off.

I think there may well be a few difficult years of transition, but in the long run we’ll be fine.

Of course they aren’t now, the nats want full independence so they won’t talk about a compromise. However they surely must do after a no vote – what else would they do? Go quiet and sulk?

Who? After a No vote, Westminster will immediately lose all interest in Scotland, and the focus will turn to the 2015 election – where Labour will probably lose to a Tory/UKIP coalition or something equally unpleasant. None of the Westminster parties are showing even the slightest interest in changing the Westminster system – why should they, it works for them – and a relatively small number of Scots deciding to stay in the Union won’t change that.

Ben see my edit.

Yes, but they don’t then lie to their people about being able to cut taxes and raise spending etc. It’s utter hogwash. As it’s most of the fairer society smokescreen. There is about as much truth in most if this as there is in arguing that a haggis is a wee beastie that runs round the glens.

But there will be two major disappointments for yS – either most Scots will (remain) be canny enough to vote for what is in their best interests; or independence (sic) proves to be very different from what is currently being promised. No one delivers fairy tales in the real world. The reality will be quite harder and accompanied by high levels of totally unnecessary uncertainty. All for the DOs new throne and ego. Bizarre.

In lighter news, turns out that a model in a Better Together leaflet is voting Yes 😀

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/politics/referendum-news/model-in-better-together-leaflet-im-voting-yes.25192401

Ben see my edit.

Yes – thing is, they will go away. Only reason these things are being discussed now is the threat of the breakup of the union. With that back in its box, there will be no motivation for any of the Westminster parties to look at the issues.

So Ben is you believe that rUK/Westminster will have zero interest in Scotland going forward why on earth are you voting for a system where the same people will be settling you main policies? That can only be foolhardy to delegate such powers to foreign and disinterested parties. You guys really have to make your minds up with less than 20 days….

you believe that rUK/Westminster will have zero interest in Scotland going forward

THM, this raises a very good point actually,

Its a strange dichotomy indeed that according to the nationalists, if we stay together as a union, Westminster has no interest in ensuring a future functioning and successful Scotland…

whilst at the same time they are also telling us that if we separate, one of the key reasons Westminister will agree to a Currency Union is the importance to the rUK of a functioning and successful Scotland as a neighbour 😆

So Ben is you believe that rUK/Westminster will have zero interest in Scotland going forward why on earth are you voting for a system where the same people will be settling you main policies? That can only be foolhardy to delegate such powers to foreign and disinterested parties. You guys really have to make your minds up with less than 20 days….

last time I looked.. Con/Dem were in charge of Westminster and SNP were in charge of Holyrood….. They are hardly the same people…

Only 17 days for you chaps to argue over how many angels fit on a pinhead before we take the pin away… 🙂

With the final run in yS are banking on CU/default on debt and scare stories on NHS. Both lies with the actual spending on private sector spending on NHS north of the border now clarified along with SNP policy to actively encourage private sector participation. The scale of the deceit is truly breathtaking. Lies right at the centre of the final debate.

And these are the people who are going to deliver nirvana?!?

Epic – if only, the nats will carry on whining well after the result on the 19th.

Indeed gav and the Holyrood lot are proposing abdicating even more power to Westminster and even less (ie, no) representation. You couldn’t make it up.

SNP policy to actively encourage private sector participation.

Oh really? Wow…

THM, you’re as bad as Better Together with your scare mongering pish.

And these are the people who are going to deliver nirvana?!?

You know fine well it’s not a vote for the SNP and they’ll not be in power forever.

You can say it over and over again, it doesn’t make it true. Relardless of the true amount of spending on private services (still less) and how the money is spent (very differently the overall budget is still determined by Westminster.

Allyson Pollock, professor of public health research and policy at Queen Mary University of London, warned reforms in the NHS south of the Border could result in “serious” consequences for Scotland by translating into reduced funding through the Barnett formula.

You know fine well it’s not a vote for the SNP and they’ll not be in power forever.

So where are the policies from the other parties which show us what direction iS will take in the future, which solve all the problems of the SNP policies?

And the most likely alternative is labour who are against independence,

teamhurtmore – Member
And the most likely alternative is labour who are against independence,

It won’t be Westminster controlled Labour anymore.

BBC Scotland is facing an existential threat, of course it can’t be impartial about its own breakup

what are you talking about? Scottish independence is a once in a lifetime nose in the trough opportunity for BBC Scotland employees! they’ll no longer be second tier parochials run from London/Salford, they’ll be at the centre of things – and think of all the new programming and busy work that will have to be done!

BBC Scotland is facing an existential threat, of course it can’t be impartial about its own breakup

what are you talking about? Scottish independence is a once in a lifetime nose in the trough opportunity for BBC Scotland employees! they’ll no longer be second tier parochials run from London/Salford, they’ll be at the centre of things – and think of all the new programming and busy work that will have to be done!

[So where are the policies from the other parties which show us what direction iS will take in the future, which solve all the problems of the SNP policies]

In 2016, iScotland would go to the polls to vote for a government where three of the main parties don’t currently want the job. This being Scotland, we will end up with a Labour government before long, and Labour will do what they have done every time in UK government since WWII – massive spending spree, F*** it all up and put the country into massive debt.

Both lies with the actual spending on private sector spending on NHS north of the border now clarified along with SNP policy to actively encourage private sector participation.

So using private sector suppliers to cope with surge demand and limit waiting times therefore preventing unnecessary and prolonged suffering is a bad thing is it? Not in my book.

Not in mine either. It is prevalent in the provisions of most public services and is not new.

But suggesting that the use of private sector health services is (1) more of an issue in rUK than in Scotland, (2) is exclusive to Tories and (3) is not an existing element of SNP policies (use has doubled under Salmond) is a deceitful ploy at the core of the DO’s final play of his cards. The “we will protect the NHS from English/Tory policies” is a crock and an obvious one – even if the figures require some digging out. No surprise there…..

It won’t be Westminster controlled Labour .

Why, is CMD going to pull a victory out of the hat in 2015? 😉

Imagine five years of a foreign Tory government setting your economic agenda! Is that what you votes for?

teamhurtmore – Member
“It won’t be Westminster controlled Labour .”
Why, is CMD going to pull a victory out of the hat in 2015?

Imagine five years of a foreign Tory government setting your economic agenda! Is that what you votes for?

Eh? Incredible distortion field you have there.

I’ll try to explain it more simply.

After independence Scottish parties will be locally directed, not taking their instruction from another country.

So the Scottish Labour party will not be toeing the Westminster imposed line of anti-independence.

No, just an understanding of how currency unions or sterlingisation would work. Good job that the majority will vote NO (just), they obviously understand the reality.

That’s it I’m voting No.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no92Wq9lPIU[/video]

Rather than shouting over the interviewee, Gordon should try to understand what a base rate is *. He would then look a little less silly. Still well used tactic to simply shout over the oppo – that’s the DOs tactic all along.

* equally the guy could explain it better!!

I’m not hearing any shouting in that video clip.

But whatever is going on it’s probably a much better tactic than kicking women in the belly, smearing shit on door handles and arson attacks. Classy stuff by the No campaign. Haven’t seen it in the mainstream media though….

After independence Scottish parties will be locally directed, not taking their instruction from another country.

With the currency controlled from London, I don’t think that will be true.

Grab a man by his balls, and the rest will surely follow….

But whatever is going on it’s probably a much better tactic than kicking women in the belly, smearing shit on door handles and arson attacks. Classy stuff by the No campaign. Haven’t seen it in the mainstream media though….

I suspect the assault you mention is the same as the one Salmond mentions here : http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/scottish-independence-salmond-pans-intimidation-1-3526440

Rather than shouting over the interviewee, Gordon should try to understand what a base rate is *. He would then look a little less silly. Still well used tactic to simply shout over the oppo – that’s the DOs tactic all along.

Why will the base rate change after independence? Other than the normal variations of course.

And here’s some faeces smearing.

Both from the Scotsman of all papers too.

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/scottish-independence-faeces-smeared-on-yes-shop-1-3518239