PullMyFinger

Charles does have a point about the level of representation we have at the centre of power. There is a democratic deficit in the UK but it is greater in Scotland. Jimmy Reid foundation have a report on it and what I'd like to see is a return to town councils so local issues are dealt with locally, locally funded through tax. The town councils pooling resources for many services such as environmental health, waste management, street lighting, road maintenance, etc.. How many people on here know who their community councillor is? Their regional councillor? How many involved in their local community? I see this referendum as only the beginning of a democratic revolution in Scotland. http://allofusfirst.org/the-key-ideas/how-to-restore-local-democracy/ http://allofusfirst.org/resources/library/ There are a lot of ideas in there about what we as a small independent nation can do differently, we'll not get everything right (who does?) but they'll be our decisions made in Scotland by the people of Scotland at the appropriate level of governance.

Fuxake, I forgot to post this from Bella. http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2014/02/11/falling-over/

You mean like Eshenpee shupporter Shur Shaun who lovesh hish country sho much that he ushed to shtay in Shpain? The problem with these expats getting a vote would have been that none of them is going to have to live with the consequences in the event of a yes. Also, far too many people who may have begun life as domiciled Scots but now live abroad float about on some misplaced, Braveheart-motivated cloud of pseudo-romance and look nostalgically on Scotland as some kind of Brigadoon theme park. As opposed to those who walk around with their heads up their arses? Question for Laurence, I've seen the White Paper "Scotland's Future" on sale on Ebay and Amazon for silly money considering it's free to every household in Scotland. How much would one be worth were it signed by the Scottish cabinet ministers? (I'm not selling, just curious) I won first prize in a raffle at a Yes Burn's supper and Charles will love this, I had the choice of the signed white paper or a gallon of Malt Whisky. Here's a picture of me being presented it by Miss Scotland

Our oddballs are creative in a good way, unlike the unionists which create their own version of history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-r_J14n100 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-znkbMzi4A

What Mr Carney seems to be saying is that the Romans have been rather busier than the People's Front of Caledonia would have us believe. http://derekbateman1.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/preparing-for-change/ http://derekbateman1.wordpress.com/2014/01/29/whod-want-to-share-anything-with-this-lot/

Every time I read a post by CB I leer further into the BT camp but as I have dumped SNP for UKIP BT won't have me.

Good choice, imho. Did well at Falkirk on a diminishing budget and helped set up a youth academy too.

Wha's in cherge here? Nae ****!

Any progress?

http://www.thesackrace.com/news/18th-november-2013/managerless-inverness-ct-begin-interviews-with-chris-sutton-surprise-favourite

I see Anas "will you sign this, Nicola" Sarwar couldn't be arsed going to Westminster to vote on abolishing the bedroom tax. Obviously Anas "if we were in power tomorrow, we'd abolish bedroom tax" Sarwar had something better to do. Claims he didn't know about the vote? If he was my MP I'd be livid. My MP voted against the tax, most of you here have an MP that voted to keep it. Aye, Better Together indeed!

The pleasure would be all mine, mine mine

Holly Willoughby please Edit: With me as assistant.

For people who refuse to subscribe when they hit paywalls I found this little instruction tonight. Excellent Go to http://archive.is, put link into bottom box to see if someone has already done the link, if not insert link in top box and it will change to a new link that gives you full article. Also, putting in the domain name in the top box will open up a drop down box with a shedload of links too!

From January archives. http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-politics/4072-defying-democratic-will-of-scots-is-anti-scottish-says-joan-mcalpine

Are you confusing SNP with Royal Mail? Yes Yes Yes No, you didn't

http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-power-of-six/

http://derekbatemandotnet1.wordpress.com/2013/09/27/latest-naughtie-debrief/

So is that it? Is that what I've been waiting all weekend for in fear and trepidation? The latest monologue from Citizen McSmith! Answer the question Chuck.

You actually raise another serious questionmark against separation there - which I am sure you will try also to categorise in your so called "Project Fear". But with less than 9% of the BBC's current licence fee revenue, I would be interested to see what kind of service a Scottish equivalent would be able to provide - even if it were to try to raise a few more quid by imposing lots of adverts on viewers of and listeners to... what? The BBC is actually an excellent example of one of the fundamental benefits of the Union - economies of scale. Self-interest, perchance? It's the unionist way.

O.T. It was really kind of The Inverness Courier to provide a urinal outside their offices on Stadium Road.

This might shed a little light http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-hope-of-the-future/ Misinformation and disinformation will always influence the impressionable.

Because the more able politicians get selected to contest seats at the level they want to sit at. Whether you are in favour of independence or not, the UK Parliament is where the greatest influence is and where most career politicians would aspire to serve. Very few (including SNP politicians) would refuse the opportunity to contest a Westminster seat in favour of one at Hollyrood. Some able politicians prefer to work at local council level but that does not mean they want Independence for their local area. The relative abilities of politicians at different levels of Government is a fact of life and has absolutely nothing to do with the independence debate. Because the more able politicians get selected to contest seats at the level they want to sit at. Whether you are in favour of independence or not, the UK Parliament is where the greatest influence is and where most career politicians would aspire to serve. Very few (including SNP politicians) would refuse the opportunity to contest a Westminster seat in favour of one at Hollyrood. Some able politicians prefer to work at local council level but that does not mean they want Independence for their local area. The relative abilities of politicians at different levels of Government is a fact of life and has absolutely nothing to do with the independence debate. That's bullshit, SNP will never hold a majority at Westminster so will never form government at that level. To change legislation you need the power to do it, why else enter politics? With respect, you seem to be rather missing the point. Of course the SNP will never form a Government at the UK level but despite that, some of their most able politicians choose to stand for election to the UK Parliament rather than the Holyrood Parliament. Actually, people do not enter politics simply because they believe they will have the power to change things, they stand for election because they hope to be able to influence change whether in power or not. Perhaps you should ask Angus Robertson why he sits in the UK Parliament when he would be assured of a senior Government post if he sat at Holyrood. The fact that the calibre of opposition MSPs is so low is not an argument for independence. You went from "very few would refuse" to "some would choose", yet I am missing the point? One of Salmond's officials said so a few months ago. How many officials does Salmond have? If you're going to post assertions at least have the decency to have a link to where there's a verifiable source. Especially when it's so inflammatory. Might I suggest they were misquoted or misrepresented? How about if they had said "It's anti-Scottish to support having the people of Scotland ruled over by a Westminster parliament consisting of two chambers, one of which is unelected and stinks of ****?". No!! Its about the rights of those living in Scotland to choose their own future. Scotland is a multi-national country and every resident living here is entitled to a vote. SNP candidates, like other parties, are selected to stand for election. Some may well want to serve at Westminster but thats not to say they will be selected for such a position. Their use may well be seen by the party selectors as being more useful at Holyrood than Westminster depending on their ability and skills. In other words would they better serve as a frontbencher at Holyrood than a backbencher at Westminster. Quite correct, I must be getting lazy. I meant to say the people of Scotland. I'll be calling Andy Murray English next. SNP candidates aren't like Lab, Con or FibDem candidates as the party is only standing in Scotland. Angus Robertson is the proverbial turkey voting for Christmas as he is a brilliant strategist. If this referendum succeeds it will be in no small part down to his hard work even though he's not front and centre.

Who has hinted it's anti-Scottish to support the UK? I'd say it's pro-Scottish to support independence for Scotland but does that make me anti-English? Of course not, nor anti-Welsh nor anti-Irish.