Before I start I should point out this blog starts fairly depressing, however, I believe in coming to a solution to any problem we must first fully understand what the problem is.
The ideas I propose near the end are more positive and dare I say more hopeful so please do read to the end.
I would have liked to start this blog by saying Happy New Year to one and all and let’s hope its a better one, but from what we have seen in the short time in 2023 it saddens me to say that it seems to be shaping up the same, if not worse than previous years.
However, as a glass-half-full person I do in hope wish you all a Happy New Year, as I do think with the right determination and the right strategic, tactical thinking we can change the course those in power are steering us on.
I and as I suspect the majority of readers here, are not in a position to change anything alone, but together we can either change the course of those in power or if they won’t change, we can replace them with those that will steer us on the right course to our rightful destination.
Let me first start by explaining why I think it’s not been a great start to the year and as always these are only my opinions that I hope can be discussed, then either forgotten if not good, taken on if good or used to progress other ideas.
In the first week of 2023, we have already seen severely worrying signs coming out of the UK Government that they will bring in a policy that basically attempts to ban strikes.
It has been fairly obvious that would be their next move when we look at how the Government and media approached last year’s strikes in attempting to exhaust us and direct anger towards the strikers.
If the UK Government decide to railroad ahead with this, I would hope that the UK public will stand up to it, whether it is through an organised general strike, through the unions or through civil disobedience organised by the people.
We should never forget that the unions and strikers strike to find solutions for us – the workers, whether it’s rail workers, teachers, NHS workers or postal workers. IF THEY WIN, WE ALL WIN.
And I say this next part with no apologies – if you stood on your doorstep clapping for our NHS workers and key workers through the Covid pandemic, while they put their lives at risk on the front line, but now won’t support them as they demand not just better pay but better, safer working conditions, I’d suggest having a serious word with yourself.
Let’s also not forget what is likely going to be the next Tory attack on the people in replacing the Human Rights bill with their Bill of Rights next year that could remove the worker’s rights we have become accustomed to, such as paid holiday leave and 48 hour working weeks to name a couple.
Think about that for a while, ban strikes this year, strip workers’ rights next year…. You would be forgiven for thinking this was a severe strategic attack on the people of the UK.
So with all this going on in the UK Government only months after the abomination that was the Boris years and Truss weeks, you would think Independence for Scotland would be an inevitable choice for anyone living in Scotland (obviously excluding hard-line unionists).
This is where the half-full glass empties.
When we established our devolved parliament it was agreed by the SNP at the time as a part of their strategy towards independence, to show the public how Scotland could govern itself better, even with limited powers and ignite confidence and ambition in what they could do with full powers.
I am sorry to say that this current SNP and Green Government is doing anything but the above and if they are to continue on this course, it will not only damage independence support, but it will also damage Scotland.
In the first week of 2023, a paper has been released showing what the Scottish Government are planning under the gaze of their GRR and Ending Conversion therapy bills.
This paper is hard to believe to be true, but given that only last month the Scottish Parliament rejected an amendment to block convicted sex offenders from gaining a gender recognition certificate, which will afford them a new birth certificate, access to women’s prisons and refuges it really should not surprise us.
The paper released shows that there are plans and discussions taking place that would make it illegal for parents to give parental advice to their children and ban balanced advice being given to people, including children, struggling or confused with their gender identity.
As an example of why I say balanced if a female child was going through the common tomboy phase and was advised that they should change their gender medically to match how they felt, this paper suggests it would be illegal to advise that they were a normal female child going through a tomboy phase that they would likely grow out of.
The paper was brought to attention by Stuart Campbell of Wings Over Scotland and as Scotland’s top KC Lawyer and Dean of Faculty of Advocates Roddy Dunlop states, whatever you think of Wings, his articles are backed up with factual reports.
If you want to read more on this report you can read wings blog here
Or if you prefer you can read the full report here
Again, all of this after the controversial GRR debate only a couple of weeks ago, you could be forgiven in thinking it is all a strategic attack on women’s rights as well as parents’ rights.
So the question is WHAT NOW?
Some may be tempted into thinking that a Labour Government at the next general election could be the answer.
They would be wrong.
Three examples of why – Labours lack of support for unions and strikers, to extent of punishing MPs for attending picket lines, Labour have already backed the damaging GRR policies, both in Scotland as well as the bosses in London voicing support, and of course, Labour support keeping the UK and Scotland out of the single market.
For me, British Labour has become a poor man’s Tory party and is just as entwined in the establishment’s control over the people as the Tories are and “Scottish” Labour are nothing but puppets to their London masters.
This leads me to why we find ourselves in this mess, I believe it to be all down to us being under the control of the millionaires and bankers, that runs the British establishment, and their infiltration both in Scotland and London!
Moving forward though, and getting back to that half-full glass.
I believe all of this makes the case of why we in Scotland need independence and need it now.
However it is now evident independence in name will be good, It can be better, but real independence and real change are what we need.
When we reclaim our independence, why would we stick with the structure of our government the way it is now?
The structure as we know it was negotiated with the UK government under the Scotland Act 98, and it was their intention that it would fail and recent evidence shows it can fail very easily.
Independence is for many about breaking free and making a new start as a country, so let’s do the same with our governance, let’s have a complete overhaul.
Independence gives us the chance to do just this.
It has been suggested by some that there will be a two-year transition period between whatever ballot box event we use, and our actual independence day.
Tim Rideout and the Scottish Currency Group have an excellent timetabled plan, of how we can move to our own currency, between the vote and independence day
We should do this with our governance as well.
Use the two-year transition period for a citizens assembly to work alongside a Scottish Independence Convention, and come up with a system of governance that best suites Scotland, including where our government building or buildings are located, what voting system we use, who can stand for election, who can vote etc.
Personally I have been looking at the Swiss style of governance and really like how they govern themselves, by putting democracy at the heart of their governance.
I have also considered the thought, that we should have a maximum two-term policy for those sitting in the main Parliament, that votes on policy, and then have parliamentarians that get elected to an advisory second chamber that would only advise and not make policy.
This, I believe, would avoid careerist politicians from making decisions, but also avoids losing good long serving parliamentarians that are in politics long term because they are good at what they do, and not for a wage packet or comfy seat.
I also enjoyed Chris Hanlon’s latest blog on here Coriolis where he writes of a Citizens Assembly chamber.
All these ideas and others could be looked at and combined to form the best outcome to suit our newly independent nation, and on Independence Day, or week, we could have our first General Election (or whatever the assembly decides to call it).
If this was done right, I think would remove the risk of the mess we now find ourselves in, and could even encourage support for independence from those we might not expect.
All of this can only happen when we become independent.
I recognise that the above idea posed, is for a post-independent Scotland and I have missed the small matter of how we get our Independence, you can see my views on that in my previous blog which I’ll possibly update next, but to be honest, my opinions have not much changed,
My reason for writing this blog is basically to say that Independence is and should always remain a priority for us in Scotland, no matter what the current governments do, they can be replaced.
The Scottish government can be replaced when the people of Scotland decide and the UK government can be replaced when the people of England decide. Still, the British Establishment will remain and for me, that is the main reason Independence will always remain the answer.
So it is over to us now, we have to re-navigate the course of those in power, directly towards Independence, at full steam ahead, avoiding their Iceberg collisions of damaging policies, and if they won’t change their course, we will need to remove them, and replace them with those that will and those that can.
To summarise, while 2023 may have gotten off to a worrying start, I remain hopeful, it will be the year we make the change that is needed on our route to independence.
The time has to be now.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
The reason I became a Yes was because I feel that we really do need a complete overhaul of how our country is run. There’s no will to put us through the inevitable hassle by those who are indefinitely in comfy seats. We need a fresh vision and we can learn what does or doesn’t work from other countries.
We need brave, determined, confident voices push for the change.
Some good points made Hector.
I go back to my position of the Tory Gov. must be removed first and the quickest way to do that is a Labour vote at a General Election.
Next , Snp/Scot Gov must be removed.
There can be no doubt that this group of assorted carpet baggers and chancer’s priorities are preservation of the good life they’ve become accustomed to, with no thought whatsoever of how they can make the lives of ordinary Scots better.
As to our country’s independence?
they sacrificed that notion on the altar of the church of the holy High heels,yes the rainbow beardies, those who think that if they put on women’s clothing hey-ho that makes them female – really?
Snp/Scot Gov moved heaven and earth to accommodate this niche faction with the recent GRA reform Bill.
I feel I won’t be alone in hoping the Tory Government slaps down Holyrood over the equality act that this ill conceived legislation threatens , ironic ? – no essential!
The question all us us should be asking is why snp/Scot Gov couldn’t pursue our country’s quest for independence with such determination and vigor.
Snp/Scot Gov are imposters and I sincerely hope the electorate can see this.
Until they can demonstrate good Government here the voters will continue to have a massive trust issue with them and for me their time ran out long ago.