PullMyFinger

Good riddance after the debacle of this year. 3rd indeed, who do County think they are?

Now that this is the place for all things Independence Referendum related, I wonder how Bungalow Bill will feel about having started the debate?

Accepted.

PFI or PPP You are right though, which is why we should vote Yes in 2014 and divert the cash we are pissing away to Westminster into capital projects here and kick start our economy.

Human rights Scottish style versus Westminster style, vote Yes! http://wingsoverscotland.com/human-rights-a-choice/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=human-rights-a-choice

Yes you can. http://www.filesaveas.com/bthomehub_tworouters.html Don't say I'm not good to you!

I've got a point to make about that Alex. Independence may be about a single emotional issue for many people but there are many, many issues to be debated over the next year and a half. Economy Education Welfare Health Service Defence Transport Agriculture Fisheries European Union These are just a few and personally I think there are people who will completely ignore a generic Independence thread compared to a multitude of specific threads. Do we really want to stifle the debate before it starts?

I could do a lot with £824, ta muchly.

Vote Yes in 2014. No more illegal wars in our name. Scottish Labour leader supported Blair in sending our troops into armed conflict on a whim.

So this will be the Local Government on which the SNP is currently imposing a Council Tax freeze and hence preventing it from providing adequate local services? It rather more looks to me as if the SNP actually wants to cut both Westminster and local authorities out of the equation and concentrate all the power on itself in Edinburgh. So your idea of debate is to ignore the content, grab the headline, twist it to suit your agenda and then run with it? Good work.

Toich is a name that just sprung into my mind, might just have been a worthy as opposed to a tramp.

Seeing as I've been kicked off another thread for being abusive to a certain individual I will restrain myself and focus on the issues at hand. The incumbent government in Scotland are setting out their view of how they envisage an independent Scotland performing economically and socially. I will place little snippets in here from time to time and I have no doubt there will be some absolute whoppers too. Interesting to see that of all the LibDem MPs in Scotland a recent poll only has them retaining the Northern Isles. Well played Danny Alexander. http://lordashcroftpolls.com/2013/03/marginal-territory-the-seats-that-will-decide-the-next-election/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=marginal-territory-the-seats-that-will-decide-the-next-election&utm_source=Lord+Ashcroft+Polls&utm_campaign=272f018239-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email My take on the bedroom tax is that it's totally impractical. How long until someone sues their council for not rehousing them into a smaller home? It is an unfair tax on the vulnerable in our society being imposed by a government that wasn't voted for by the people of Scotland. A constitutition I'm not so sure about, what's the point of it? In America it is used to defend the citizens right to bear arms and their right to free speech but look at the nutjobs they have getting airtime on television. It has it's good points too but in this day and age is it necessary or is it just an excuse to get people involved in the debate? I'd say the latter and if it works we'll have a better informed electorate and that can't be a bad thing. Nae bad at aw'.

Scotland pays £325 million in licence fees and only £100 million is spent here.

So this "separate" Scotland doesn't want to have its own embassies either. We already know it wants to use its next door neighbour's currency (£ sterling) so doesn't even have its own monetary policy and control. As for the SNP's "arc of prosperity" economic model, they suddenly realise "**** boys, Ireland and Iceland have gone belly up so let's just say Norway's wonderful instead." Then we hear this week that Mr Salmond wants Scots to be entitled to dual citizenship with the UK, presumably so they can also scrounge other facilities from them. Defence policy is non existent and totally anonymous and there's been no answer about Faslane. And it's all predicated on the jam tomorrow of the SNP's latest interestingly timed creation, the "second oil boom" where they scrupulously avoid questions about oil lasting for mere decades while separation is for ever. What kind of "Wee Pretendy Country" do Salmond and his chums think they can con us into voting for? This referendum is to a large extent about Scotland acquiring control over foreign policy, defence, economic policy and monetary policy. Look Alec, if that's the best you can do...... And, as Yngwie also observes... in traditional SNP fashion, as electoral prospects decline and arguments are lost, abuse of political opponents gets louder and louder. Do you write Joanne Lamont's speaches Chucky? The laughable thing about her is that shei s a marked improvement on Iain Grey (sic) Let's deconstruct your post. Embassies? We already have embassies all around the world, we could continue to use them, sharing the running costs with our closest ally. Alternatively we could sell or rent our share of the embassies and then find alternative facilities. It should be observed though that as a member state of the EU our citizens would be entitled to make use of the facilities of any other member state should the need arise. Monetary policy and monetary union are not the same thing. As an internationally tradable currency sterling is the obvious choice for us to use immediately following a yes vote. A new currency would create uncertainty and we wouldn't want that would we Chuck? We would then be in a position to create our own currency after a few years if we so wished or join the Euro if it has recovered enough. These choices should be made by the population and not the political "elite". Arc of prosperity? Have you even thought that through Chuck? Iceland is on the up because they let their banks fail which is what we should have done. Norway has 140% of it's GDP invested in foreign countries, think about that for a minute........Hundreds of billions of pounds invested. They have no deficit, AAA rating? They probably don't have any credit rating, why would they? They don't need it. Yes Chuck Norway is wonderful. Have you seen the news last week? Oil revenues in Scotland would be so much that it is feared, yes people FEARED we'd have to pay more to the EU. So don't go for that job @ £100000 per annum because you'll pay a lot more tax than having a job @ £10000. Unbelievable hypocrisy. Dual citizenship is a no brainer, really. I can't see the issue there at all. Scroungers? Ah there it is Johanne, leader of the "peoples party" in Scotland. So Scottish Labour would do what to universal benefits? How very dare you put SNP and "jam tomorrow" together! Jam tomorrow is a term coined by supporters of independence following the devolution referendum in the 70s when the westminster government rigged the vote. When else has there been a minimum of 40% of the electorate (including those who had died since the last census) required for any outcome? Scotland was promisedt hat things would get better. Poll tax, pit closures, steelwork closures, shipyard closures were what followed. Jam tomorrow, and what is happening now Chuck? Seperation is forever? Scary stuff Chuck. We have been independent or seperate as you like to call it before. Borders change, people change, countries change,everything changes, if we don't change everyone else will leave us in their wake. Change is good, if we work together we can make this a country that delivers for all it's citizens and not just those who have. Wee pretendy country? Please try to be more patronising, it really helps undecided voters to see the too wee, too poor, too stupid argument appear again and again even after the Westminster parties have debunked the myth. I resent that a public servant who is also paid by the BBC (scum) thinks he is entitled to be such a troll on a public website. If he used a pseudonym it would be less annoying. Have you checked your contract lately Chuck? What does this even mean? If that's the best you can do? And yes we will get louder and louder and louder until our message is heard and all the lies and disingenious claims from the no camp are disproved and the people of Scotland have the tools they need to make an informed choice in autumn 2014.

These kids just need to join CTO to get a reasoned and mature debate: I'd just like to point out that I am not a supporter of Alex Salmond, I am a supporter of Independence for Scotland. It's a bit like saying CB is a supporter of David Cameron.

Link?

The Rangers should be winning every game in the Third Division. I know they're not but just another chance to point and laugh. Annan

I'd just like to add that if/when a yes vote happens I will be seeking out Mr Bummerman to give it a massive GIRFUY in his face. *For avoidance of any doubt this will be in a non-threatening "where's yer sicko sheltering buckled aunty now?" kind of way.

Ah, but what if the football club tempted Mr Jones by offering him a season ticket at the Under-18 price, even though he wouldn't be entitled under normal circumstances?! If you mean Salmond's attempted dodge to draw in the 16 and 17 year olds by offering "jam tomorrow" because he thought he could grab their vote before they became politically mature, even that has emerged as misconceived. A fairly recent poll seemed to indicate that a lot of these youngsters are smarter than he thought and are not going to be taken in by his increasingly transparent propaganda as the separatist case fails more and more dismally to pass scrutiny in the face of reality. Among the increasing symptoms of that will be Salmond bellowing louder and louder when he addresses the Parliament and his supporters becoming progressively more abusive to the increasing majority who do not agree with them. So if you have a higher intelligence you are more likely to vote no? Feck off you patronising ****. It is only right and proper that those who are considered old enough to leave school, work, pay taxes, should be eligible and encouraged to vote.

Because some of what he/she puts into that article is written to put Inverness folk down. Inverness is nearer Faroes than London. Whats the relevence of that. Newcastle is nearer to Inverness than it is to London as the crow flies. Inverness is the most remote city? How do you interperate 'remote'. To me 'remote' is somewhere very difficult to get to. "Due to its location and the sparseness of the population" What because its location is north east Scotland and not Essex? A small city with a population in excess of 60,000 can hardly be termed sparse. Sparse is the population of Wester Ross or Lochaber even. Cant really describe the city of Inverness as sparse. The use of certain words and phrases are there to belittle the city of Inverness. Nothing to do with Whisky battlefields and monsters. The attempt is to belittle the city. That's some chip Alex..................live and let live. It's all in the interpretation.........and the size of the chip. Are you still upset about Culloden? No chips on me mate...........as for Culloden, they got what they deserved. Had they not been so stupid as to listen to yon traitor Campbell they'd have continued the march from Derby and taken London. Incidently I'm 3/4 MacDonald 1/4 MacLeod. Would life for the ordinary people been any better with an Italian Catholic as monarch, and how long before the prodestant army went in and and a full scale civil war ensued. Not long I think. You have to remember that the government in those days was in charge not the sovereign. I have no crystal ball but if the Jackobites had not turned back I thhink a sorrier mess would have ensued. Not least a French occupying force would have landed. Bon Jour and all that The French were allies of the Scots Willie, look at the motto of Aberdeen where many French traders settled. Bon Accord.

Bejeesus, he gets a vote?

Votes for 16 & 17 year olds on the agenda today. I really pity them being exposed to the self loathing crap that comes from agent Bummerman.

Because some of what he/she puts into that article is written to put Inverness folk down. Inverness is nearer Faroes than London. Whats the relevence of that. Newcastle is nearer to Inverness than it is to London as the crow flies. Inverness is the most remote city? How do you interperate 'remote'. To me 'remote' is somewhere very difficult to get to. "Due to its location and the sparseness of the population" What because its location is north east Scotland and not Essex? A small city with a population in excess of 60,000 can hardly be termed sparse. Sparse is the population of Wester Ross or Lochaber even. Cant really describe the city of Inverness as sparse. The use of certain words and phrases are there to belittle the city of Inverness. Nothing to do with Whisky battlefields and monsters. The attempt is to belittle the city. That's some chip Alex..................live and let live. It's all in the interpretation.........and the size of the chip. Are you still upset about Culloden? No chips on me mate...........as for Culloden, they got what they deserved. Had they not been so stupid as to listen to yon traitor Campbell they'd have continued the march from Derby and taken London. Incidently I'm 3/4 MacDonald 1/4 MacLeod. Would life for the ordinary people been any better with an Italian Catholic as monarch, and how long before the prodestant army went in and and a full scale civil war ensued. Not long I think. You have to remember that the government in those days was in charge not the sovereign. I have no crystal ball but if the Jackobites had not turned back I thhink a sorrier mess would have ensued. Not least a French occupying force would have landed. Bon Jour and all that You don't deal in history books, do you Willie? Get yourself along to the visitor centre at Culloden battlefield and while away a few hours. Learn something about your new homeland.

Who gives a flying feck about the G8? There is a massive shift in global power happening now and G8 membership means nothing, I don't want or need to be paying for a global presence. Could you be more patronising please? Yes supporters are more used to Paxman levels of condescendance. Lets take a look at our postal services then, Willie:- What happens if Scotland votes YES? Following independence, the Scottish government will take on the infrastructure currently owned by the Royal Mail in Scotland, and will create a Scottish Postal service to take over from the Royal Mail. This new service will take over responsibility for the Universal Service Obligation in Scotland, and will negotiate agreements with all other postal services, including the remainder of the Royal Mail, to allow international deliveries to take place. In the short term, the new Scottish postal service will look very like the current service. It will be up to future Scottish governments to decide how the Scottish Mail Service develops; how much is state controlled, how much in private hands, which services are offered etc. It is likely that the current moves towards further privatisation will be halted, and some earlier privatisations may be reversed, in line with the policies of the main Scottish political parties. What happens if Scotland votes NO? Increasing privatisation will reduce the revenue available to the Royal mail, making it impossible for the Universal Service Obligation* to be met in full. [it is only guaranteed by act of Parliament until 2021] There are three likely outcomes: rural and remote areas (e.g. Highlands and Islands) will no longer benefit from the same level of service as other areas; rural and remote areas will face special charging schemes to achieve the same level of service as other areas; charges for all postal services will increase. It is likely that the future direction of the Post office will include aspects of all three. *The Universal Service Obligation The Universal Service Obligation is responsible for safeguarding the one price goes anywhere, affordable postal service to all UK addresses. It is regulated by Ofcom. The Postal Services Act 2011 sets out the minimum requirements the Universal Service provider must deliver. These are statutory. They can only be altered with the consent of the UK Parliament. The Royal Mail is the designated provider of the Universal Service until at least 2021 (10 years from the passing of the Postal Services Act 2011). This legislation ensures that no part of the UK is given a substantially worse service by the postal provider, regardless of the cost of achieving this.

Loltastic, how positive. If anyone can be bothered, try doing the survey and saying you have no concerns at all about going independent. You can't as you must choose three of the following:- Thinking about the impact separation would have on your business, please select which three issues are most important to you* DefenceTaxation Pensions Currency Employment Regulation EU Membership Wait for the front pages of the mainstream media with yet more doom and gloom. Positive case? Your arse!