The Scottish Government

ref #71

Scotland will only be free to make a decision, for or against membership of the EU, when, first, it takes a decision, for or against, remaining part of the United Kingdom.

An amicable break with Westminster is the first step in our journey to be 'Masters in our own house.'

Norway is a very successful country but has chosen not to seek full membership of the EU.

But in its own interests it has come to an agreement with the EU which allows it to trade with the EU on more or less the same terms as a full member.

Sweden on the other hand is a full member of the EU, for reasons best understood by the Swedes themselves.

Scotland is already 'de facto' a Nation State. see #9 (A Bill proposing a referendum in 2010) dated 7th Sept 2009.

Only a Westminster government and a unionist 'fifth column' at the heart of Holyrood stands in the way of it achieving full control over its destiny.

Scotland has the raw materials to be a rich and productive member of the community of nation states.

They come in the form of vast reserves of wind, wave and tidal power - providing the kinetic energy needed to underpin a second domestic industrial revolution - and protect mother earth from the devastating effects of climate change.

A major spin off that industrial revolution being employment for a future generation of Scots.

Their inheritance will be this generation's legacy to them and nothing, but nothing, should be allowed to stand in the way of the delivery of that legacy.

see #15,20,25,34,43,45,52,59,69 (Europe and Foreign Affairs)

see #66,89,166,174,189,228,268 (A Bill proposing a referendum in 2010)

In trying to make the case for Scottish independence, a lot of arguments start with Scotland's current dependence on decisions made by the UK Government at Westminster. But what about Scotland's dependence on decisions made by the EU in Brussels? Can Scotland be truly independent as long as it remains part of the EU?

The Westminster government goes out of its way to thawrt our governments every effort to be self-sufficient in green energy and provide jobs and careers for the young people of this country - jobs that are sorely needed.

On the other hand it sends its recruiting sergeants north of the border to entice the future life blood of this nation to fight and die in wars they don't understand, in foreign lands that until recently they had never heard of.

When are we going to get the message - Nothing has changed.

Scotland must be allowed the freedom to develop its potential as a major generator of 'clean green energy.'

Sadly, we appear to have a Westminster government hell bent on stopping it from doing just that! see#20 (Europe and Foreign affairs)

Scotland has 'green energy' potential sufficient to produce ten times its yearly domestic demand.

Exporting the excess capacity would prove to be a real money spinner for the general good of those domiciled in Scotland.

Not to mention the potential for employment!

But, by its actions the Westminster government demonstrates, only too clearly, that it has only one interest regarding Scotland, and that is to keep Scotland and its people on their knees.

Only independence will bring the freedom to shape our own future.

see #54 (Europe and Foreign affairs) and #9 (A Bill proposing a referendum in 2010)

Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire 66

Standing in a queue in any shop talking to my companion(s) I would use our common language; the rest of the queue would not be in my company and therefore not expected to engage with me in conversation. However when it was my turn to be served I might try to converse in the local language if they did not speak my language. My observation was on people in company from different countries at various times and locations, where Welsh speakers revert readily to their own version of Gaelic when they are more than capable of speaking the common language. If memory serves many jobs in the principality are only open to people who speak that language, which is why I made the comments. Not a route we would wish to follow.

MG

Mg,

What we need is real democracy, fairer and more accountable to the people of Scotland and that along with the chance of "radical constitutional reform" can only come about in an Independent Scotland.

You have to be naive in the extreme to believe our UK mp's and unelected house of lords will vote for any change to there elite status

65. MG - Glenrothes

So if there was a crowd of German tourists in your local butchers you'd be asking the butcher for wurst und speck, schoenes wetter noch?

As for your point about politicians whether Westminster or Holyrood you may be right, and that may well be a major cause in the apparent disinterest in Independence for Scotland.

Tschuess, adieu, adioss alora, borodas!

64 Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

Hi Dave, I do get out a lot, 2 to 3 holidays some years, in Britain and the Continent, and my experience is that in company most people will converse in the language of the majority, except the Welsh. Maybe I have just been unlucky in the people I have met, but I don't think so.

63 - Kev
As for being more clued up I note that they are able to blame the Westminster government for the loss of the Bosch plant, not the lower wage rates in Hungary.

I clearly am intelligent enough to believe that politicians are politicians whether at Westminster or Holyrood, and that whatever flag they fly they will look after No 1 first. How much will the First Minster pocket when he stands down from his Westminster seat and what will his Westminster pension be worth?

Clearly I am more clued up than yourself if you haven't spotted the similarities exhibited by ALL politicians to promote themselves and their parties.

MG

62. MG - Glenrothes: "Why is it that when two Welsh speakers get together they revert to talking in their own language irrespective of the company they are in?"

Perhaps because they're Welsh ... ?

"A more self centred nationalistic nation must exist somewhere it’s just that I haven't met them yet"

You really need to get out more!

62,

Maybe the Welsh are a little bit more clued up than your good self.

"BBC News channel this morning reports that the UK of GB&NI has national debts proportionately greater than that of Greece.

Greece has had her international credit worthyness downgraded such that if the same happens to us then repayments on an average mortgage of £150,000 will increase by £200 a month."

Also from todays paper,

""The politicians look after themselves. They get rich quick. For example Alastair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a fortune swopping his nominated home. The Faculty of Advocates, the professional body to which both Darling and I belonged and to which I still belong, started an enquiry into his personal finances. "Rather than face it Darling resigned.

No reasonable company would employ an ex-lawyer to a position of trust knowing he had resigned from his profession pending an enquiry into his personal finances. Such a person is in charge of the nation’s exchequer. I would laugh if I didn’t lament.

I lament the descent of the United Kingdom Parliament into this moral abyss. It’s time we left."

Ian Hamilton QC"

What we need is real democracy, fairer and more accountable to the people of Scotland and that along with the chance of "radical constitutional reform" can only come about in an Independent Scotland.You have to be naive in the extreme to believe our UK mp's and unelected house of lords will vote for any change to there elite status.