Various - iPod Shuffleplay
Various - Weekly Playlist No 36
Valery Gore - Idols in the Dark Heart
Pacifica Quartet - Declarations: Janacek/Crawford Seeger/Hindemith
Fugitive - Mediterraneo
The Helix Nebula - Meridian
VArious - Weekly Playlist No 37
Camera - Remember I Was Carbon Dioxide
Kronos Quartet - Howl USA
Today at 5:30 pm, I posted this on Facebook...
"Throughout the Scottish Independence referendum campaign, it has been all too easy for all of us to find articles and stories and facts and figures which appear to support our arguments as to how we should vote, be it Yes or No...
For me, this started a few weeks ago, when my mainly music based Facebook Timeline started to be swamped with what I deemed “pish” from many of my friends who were/are supporting the Yes campaign...
The daily input gradually became so annoying to me that I “unfollowed” many people who I have known for many years, purely to stop their Yes-centric input into my life...
But, of course, if they haven’t yet “unfollowed” me on Facebook (I wouldn’t know because FAcebook doesn't tell you if anyone “unfollows” you), they will know that, eventually, I felt I needed to “fight back” and “point out” to them exactly where I felt they were going wrong...
I believe I have made many valid points. They believe they have made many valid points. And so it goes...
Tomorrow we vote on an issue which will change the UK forever, whether the outcome is Yes or No...
Such a momentous decision surely insists that we base it on reasoned argument – which probably means we need to see both sides and the pros and cons of each instead of merely believing what we want to believe based on the views of those in either camp with a vested interest in capturing our vote...
With just over 24 hours to go until the polls close, I would ask everyone, Yes and No Supporters alike (and undecideds probably especially), to take a couple of hours tonight (bloody hell it took me three hours to get through it) to read this 90 (yes 90!!) page e-book, written by experts, without a politician in sight, which, topic by topic, goes through all the major subjects of the debate and sets out BOTH sides in a non-partisan manner (a very refreshing change)...
“We have carefully selected our contributors to be impartial. They are, of course, entitled to their private views, but none has a declared interest on either side of the debate. This does not mean that they simply sit on the fence. It means they use their academic training to set out, discuss and evaluate the claims of each side. Their impartiality is in their approach. Some of their conclusions may lean more towards one side or the other. But that is a product of the results of their research and the way they do their analysis“
There are sixteen questions considered:-
The Economy
1. What would the outlook for Scotland s economy be
(a) if the vote is Yes (b) if the vote is No
2.Which currency arrangement would an independent Scotland use?
3. What would the picture for the Scottish Government s finances be if Scotland votes
(a) Yes (b) No
If the vote is Yes...
4. How long will the independence negotiations take and what will the main challenges be?
5. How will assets and liabilities be divided?
6. How long would it take to set up a new Scottish state and how much would it cost?
If the vote is No…
7. Would we get more powers? What difference would they make?
International
8. What kind of international role and influence would an independent Scotland have?
9. Would an independent Scotland be in the European Union?
10. How would an independent Scotland defend itself?
What sort of Scotland?
11. The constitution of an independent Scotland: What would it contain? How would it be made?
12. How different would or could Scottish social and welfare policy be from the policy of the UK in the event of either a Yes or a No vote?
13. Does Scotland need a separate immigration policy? And if the vote is Yes could we have one?
14. What would happen to pensions in the event of a Yes or a No vote?
Business & competition
15. Would a Yes vote be good for business? Would a No vote?
16. What would independence mean for energy markets?
Happy reading (or not) – your choice : Scotland's Decision (e-book)"
Of course it would have been better if people had actually read it a few weeks ago - but hey ho, it's only the potential break up of the United Kingdom we're voting on...
Elsewhere, at lunchtime, a walk to Stockbridge for a look around the various charity shops - nothing purchased..
Back home, delivery of a CD ordered and forgotten about - from the States, a reasonably rare disc from the Kronos Quartet...
Meanwhile a new download from a new to me band who sound a lot like Neu! - Camera...
Chicken soup for tea for the third day running...
I am still reasonably fat so the fight goes on...
Tomorrow to the polls to vote for Scotland...
Highlight of the Day : New music...
6 comments:
The thing I've found most meaningful is the Cup Cake Polls from the Edinburgh Bakery. How shallow is that. I might resort to a PIN yet!
Everybody thinks they know it all Who does.
Thoughtful post and right about taking time out to think...not often we Scots allow ourselves that. Anyway it's nearly over now, phew!
Hi Moira - you're right that no one can know everything but, when you're making a voting decision which can affect the economies in four countries, you owe it to your fellow constituents (and indeed those living in the other three disenfranchised nations) to actually find out about the pros and cons on each side.
I already knew probably more than most about it all already just from my own life experience but I have done some very extensive reading over the piece - a lot of it to answer nonsense being spouted by people on Facebook who I thought would have done the same but evidently didn't.
I have been staggered throughout this campaign at the ignorance of the electorate when it comes to basic economics.
You can wish away Foodbanks and the like all you want but it takes actual money to do that, wealth that needs to be created and then taxed and then spent - it can't be conjured out of thin air using the horn of Scotland's National animal.
There are plusses and negatives on both sides which are set out in the 90 page doc which I have read from cover to cover.
The bottom line is the economic and business arguments for independence do not stand up to scrutiny from a numbers point of view and, without that being the case there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to vote for it because everything else stems from that - you can only fund the NHS for so long if no one's actually creating wealth.
If there is a yes vote, I hope it turns out ok but it won't be people like Brian Cox and Sean Connery or the NY actor from the High Life who reap what's been sown, it will be the worst off in our society who will get it in the teeth a lot harder than they believe they are getting it now at the hands (or indeed feet) of the UK.
Shockingly bad arguments which may well result in a shockingly bad outcome.
Hi John - yes nearly over - only the result to dread.
I realise people are of course entitled to their views re voting no but extremely surprised at the number of intelligent people being taken in by an ill thought out and completely uncosted pipedream which will please no-one (neither those who vote No -obviously - nor those who vote yes) once the negotiations have watered it all down to what will probably turn out to be Devo Max with zero control over the currency and possible subsequent economic meltdown...
Or is that just scaremongering LOL
Well I did take your advice, same as lindsay's. She's been in Edinburgh today, assesing the atmosphere for her office.
She thinks there's lots of YESing going on. We'll see. All a bit scary.
One word post result - Yes!
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