❝I’d Be For Scottish Independence❞ – Noam Chomsky
Ignoring multiple election results, the UK government is determined to put the issue of Scottish independence to bed.
And, to a large extent, at least for now, with the backing of the opposition Labour Party, UK Supreme Court, and friendly British media coverage, they have succeeded.
But with life in the UK heading palpably south, now would be a very good time for Scotland to wake up…
…WE CAN Do So Much Better
❝Let Our Experience Be Your Guide❞
#1. Ireland: ❝First of all, there’s nothing to be afraid of, with respect to independence. In fact, from what I can see, it’s almost all upside. It’s how a nation grows up. It’s how you walk tall in the world.
You create a vision for your country and put together structures to achieve it. Independent countries – work – that’s the first thing. They work extremely well.
Scotland is reasonably homogenous, it is amazingly well situated for renewable energy. For all sorts of areas. Then you can take a look at the Irish approach, maybe attract in foreign capital. All that sort of stuff. And you just go for it!
Half the Irish story is about what we felt like, ourselves. How we moved to become a much more open society. How that openness created a catalyst for people backing themselves.
All of that is there for the taking. That’s what’s possible… Or you can just go through this decline you’re on at the moment. That’s the choice.❞
Real Democracy for the First Time
Our independent neighbours wouldn’t be so successful if they didn’t always get the parliament they vote for. This vital change is only available with independence.
Who Runs Our Economy
We’ve seen that our, Scotland-sized, independent neighbours are all richer than Scotland – a country with plentiful resources packed full of clever people. Why?
Renewables potential: wasted?
Scotland didn’t get the Norwegian style transformational benefits of its vast oil wealth. The potential for renewables is huge. The world needs it to be realised.
UK Austerity: The Damage Done
Decades of austerity – underfunding vital public services people rely on doesn’t say much for the UK’s ‘broad shoulders’. Life expectancy has fallen post 2014.
Arts &
Culture
Countless opportunities & hundreds of millions of pounds are lost from Scotland’s cultural life & creative industries each year thanks to metropolitan chauvinism.
A Release of Energy & Talent
British leadership is a class ridden mess of Oxbridge snobbery & entitlement. Why should Scots accept being on the wrong side of the UK’s infamous North/South divide?
A Positive International Role
Norway is renowned for its contribution towards international conflict resolution. Ireland for its role in UN peacekeeping. The UK’s history of military action is very different.
Trident Removed from the Clyde
The expensive obscenity of berthing nukes a stone’s skim down the Clyde from Glasgow should be confined to the history books as a precursor to dismantling them all.
A Proper Capital City
Like the rest of Scotland, our beautiful capital city has so many things going for it. Having a lesser status within the London-centric UK isn’t one.
Edinburgh can’t compete with London & Dublin (under present arrangements).
Embassies in: London 163, The Hague 109, Stockholm 91, Oslo 72, Copenhagen 72, Dublin 67, Helsinki 62, Reykjavik 14
Edinburgh: 0
What Scotland’s Neighbours Think
“As a Dane watching Britain, it seems that if you transferred most of our government functions to London we would very soon be too poor for anything, because that’s, apparently, what being governed from London does to you”. – Dr Sune Auken, Author, Professor, Faculty of Humanities, University of Copenhagen
‘What Are You Waiting For’!
“Scottish Nationalism, seen from the outside, is non-ethnic and non-discriminatory. It’s civic in nature – about giving people a voice and finding a different model for society to pursue. It’s easy to sympathise with that notion.
There are no shortcomings on the Scottish side that would bar the road to independence. I can’t see any fundamental barriers to Scotland becoming a successful state. The path would be a well trodden one”.
Oivind Bratberg, Author. Senior Lecturer in Political Science, Oslo University
