Writings, Prose and Poetry
Scottish Political Babble and Stuff
By Jasidog - 1 January 02
In dire need of content i have dug up an old piece of writing instead. The following um, we'll call it an article. Was written on a now defunct message board in late 2001 or early 2002.
The post was as follows.
Well Zanti, threads go off topic that is the nature of conversation and discussion. One thing leads to another and the topic evolves. This isn't bad there has been no sudden shift or hijacking of the thread. The only problem is that visitors don't necessarily know what is being discussed. Of course that is a big issue with a board though. However I don't see there being enough interest in Scotland's parliament to merit a thread of it's own.
As to your questions well I'll try and answer them but they are complicated and I can only give my limited knowledge and opinion. I need to apologise for the length of this. I didn't mean it to be so long and you will regret having asked me now.
First off how much power does it have, hmm? Well as far as I can make out it can make and pass any law it chooses, though in effect it's more a revising chamber, the distinct laws it makes will be issues not addressed by Westminster, pertaining strictly to Scotland.
However it does have limitations and it may be I don't know them all. The most obvious is that its financial muscle comes as a budget set in London that it then uses as it sees fit.
It does not collect it's own tax's and does not have tax raising powers. It can vary the taxation level by one or two pence in the pound either way, but in reality this is unlikely to happen without a party campaign for votes on that platform. What exactly happens with benefits or encumbrances of such a manoeuvre I don't know. I assume the money or lack of it would be directly spent in Scotland.
Second does it answer to Westminster? Yes and no. As I say it can and has formulated it's own laws and revised laws sent by London. However it is complicated and some laws it has no effect on. The main reason to say yes is that as I have told Westminster holds its purse strings.
Still it is powerful, the Labour party rules with huge majority in the UK parliament but sits in coalition with the Liberal party in Scotland. Had the voting been carried out using FPP then Labour would be in absolute power north of the border too.
Policy would then have differed little between the two parliaments. However with the compromises of coalition government and pressure from the opposition parties there are significant differences.
For example Labour had planned student tuition fees for university students (collage) nationwide, the old grant system being no longer feasible. Scotland though has a deferred system whereby fees are only paid after the completion of the education and the earning of a significant amount.
To be honest it's still not what the people wanted but it's better.
There are other examples of such issues and they rankle with opponents of devolution and obviously the labour party. Even though that is it's purpose and they set the parliament in place.
What I just said is there party line but it's not easy to have the Scottish parliament embarrassing them.
Now all that was a little poorly structured and applies to both your first questions, which in essence are both the same.
The subject of independence.
Does Scotland want independence? Yes and no. Some do and some don't. Scotland is a nation state and was independent in the past. Although England has tended to dominate the relationship, we are joined by an act of union and are still a nation. We are not annexed or a tributary of England.
We have kept many differences; we have our own legal system, a different education system and our own bank notes though these are useable all over the UK. Ask most Scots and they will say they are Scottish first and British second or that they are Scottish period.
The SNP, Scottish National Party, is a strong force and has gained strength since its inception in the early 20th century. Particularly in the last 50 years. So yes there is a strong call for nationalism but not a dominant one.
The parliament is only a few years old and it's home is still under construction. The idea of this parliament was to stem the tide of nationalism. To give Scotland more control over its affairs and a voice. Since 1979, Scotland has voted overwhelmingly against the Conservative party, yet for 18 years and four governments they were in power. The nationalist cause became strong and between the labour and liberal parties devolution became the answer.
They say it as a way of giving us a voice and stopping the nationalists. Latterly the Nationalist came on board and that left only the Tories against it. The nationalists see the parliament as a stepping-stone to full independence. Now with the weight of public opinion all parties are for the parliament. However all are unionist except for the nationalists and some small parties
Since the introduction of devolution nationalism seems to be on the wane and people are happy as is bit as I say the parliament is young and how things will go in the future I don't know. Still independence seems a long way off.
Do I think it would be good? It's hard to say those pro will bring out economists arguing it would be and those against bring forward their own economists to argue their points.
Personally, I am Scottish foremost and my hart says yes but, my head says no and I go with it.
For many reasons, one being I don't trust the SNP, don't know why. Most are idealistic though.
Independence may be of economic or patriotic benefit but it is about separation. When ideally we should all be closer to our fellow man. Indeed at some far flung point in the future I'd have no problem with a one world nation, just as I have no problem with European integration, There must though in such things fair representation and not centralised power that doesn't care about and doesn't benefit the outer edges. Hence devolution.
Scotland has been a part of Britain for a long time now without losing it's Identity and I doubt that such unions can lose us that, though undoubtedly they dilute it.
However you can argue your great country, the worlds dominant force is doing this already, through the media and business. Most European and many world countries have elements of American culture and society creeping in as things are.