Democracy in Scotland

[David1968]

I have just done a DNA test and it shows that I am

36% Irish
31% English
20 % Welsh
3% Scottish

I guess, most of us in the UK would be the same, a mixture of all four, so really what that says is 90% British.

What was the other 10%?

 

[Ffermer Bach]

What was the other 10%?

European!

 

[Caesar Cigar]

You're uncle is Michael Johnson? Well I don't think he was best for the club but I don't wish him any harm.

I mean, I don't think we are subservient, we are just a part of it, on the same level as Newcastle isn't subservient and they don't need to be independent. A Scottish vote is worth the same as an English vote and much like Newcastle Scotland doesn't vote for Tory governments but that's just part of the process. We had labour governments for long enough too which Scotland helped get in (have a feeling the next one will be), with a Scottish prime minister not too long ago. Ironic that the SNP actually help the Tories by taking away labour seats. We have the Scottish parliament for most things anyway.

Yep, keep it to yourself though…

Thank goodness we have the Scottish parliament! In only two GEs since WW2 has the Scottish electorate had any meaningful impact on the outcome on an election and nor should we expect to ever really have any impact. As a small northern European country how can we expect our democratic choices to have a real voice within our huge juggernaut of an unbalanced union. Why should the good people England be told what they need by their much smaller neighbour and I believe the opposite is equally unfair. If northern cities in England feel they need more power devolved to them I would support them in that choice, but I think a more federal system could help with the democratic deficit that they may feel exists. Many larger countries, especially in modern European democracies work more for groups of the few instead of the whole mass under this model. I suppose what I’m trying to say is my reasons for supporting Scottish independence are varied but I generally want an opportunity to start anew, thinking outside the box and creating a modern democratic new nation on the worlds stage. Exciting and terrifying at the same time, but I know we have what it takes. I accept you may be more comfortable with a less risky future. Although the uncertainty of the uks direction of travel is starting to make my option not much more of a gamble.

 

[killie_cowboy]

Yep, keep it to yourself though…

Thank goodness we have the Scottish parliament! In only two GEs since WW2 has the Scottish electorate had any meaningful impact on the outcome on an election and nor should we expect to ever really have any impact. As a small northern European country how can we expect our democratic choices to have a real voice within our huge juggernaut of an unbalanced union. Why should the good people England be told what they need by their much smaller neighbour and I believe the opposite is equally unfair. If northern cities in England feel they need more power devolved to them I would support them in that choice, but I think a more federal system could help with the democratic deficit that they may feel exists. Many larger countries, especially in modern European democracies work more for groups of the few instead of the whole mass under this model. I suppose what I’m trying to say is my reasons for supporting Scottish independence are varied but I generally want an opportunity to start anew, thinking outside the box and creating a modern democratic new nation on the worlds stage. Exciting and terrifying at the same time, but I know we have what it takes. I accept you may be more comfortable with a less risky future. Although the uncertainty of the uks direction of travel is starting to make my option not much more of a gamble.

I mean, if you went down that road you could have the country looking like Germany pre 1st unification. It's just part of democracy that you won't always get what you want but you can put your two pence in. I don't think the Indy debate is one of right and wrong but probably more subjective in that how do you feel about your national identity and I feel proud of Britain as well as Scotland and some who are only the later will be Indy supporters. I'll give you one thing it would sure as anything be interesting to see how it turned out, that's human nature, but unfortunately there's no rewind button.

 

[Caesar Cigar]

I mean, if you went down that road you could have the country looking like Germany pre 1st unification. It's just part of democracy that you won't always get what you want but you can put your two pence in. I don't think the Indy debate is one of right and wrong but probably more subjective in that how do you feel about your national identity and I feel proud of Britain as well as Scotland and some who are only the later will be Indy supporters. I'll give you one thing it would sure as anything be interesting to see how it turned out, that's human nature, but unfortunately there's no rewind button.

I also believe Germany is too big, at least they have a federal system to try and hold it together. Borders come and go and they are all pretty much the same, doesn’t bother me where they are as I have no notion of national identity that impacts my political desires. Who I am and where I am going are two separate lines that never the two shall meet. An independent Scotland would be a haven (subjective) for anyone who wanted to live here. At least we agree that we can only move forward. The past remains there.

On an aside, I’ve really enjoyed our debate here and I’m quite looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail to converse civilly with those who oppose independence. Hopefully we can all learn a few things about ourselves and each other.

 

[ollie989898]

What was the other 10%?

The other 10% was WalterP.

 

[Still Farming]

And now ANOTHER leader campaign commences.

 

[Welderloon]

And now ANOTHER leader campaign commences.

I'm assuming the term leader was meant loosely?

 

[Still Farming]

I'm assuming the term leader was meant loosely?

Most likely Wales will have another vote too if this current one don't answer some tricky questions sharply too.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Most likely Wales will have another vote too if this current one don't answer some tricky questions sharply too.

I had a skip delivered recently, and the skip hire company owner was telling me all about the Cardiff waste company, their donation to Vaughan and his interest whenever Natural Resources Wales looked into their compliance. I am sure Joc o the North has covered it in his blogs.

 

[Still Farming]

John Swinney new leader is he?

 

[Welderloon]

John Swinney new leader is he?

I think he is the only candidate, they wanted a coronation not a battle, he's as weak as the previous incumbent sadly.

 

[Still Farming]

I think he is the only candidate, they wanted a coronation not a battle, he's as weak as the previous incumbent sadly.

The opponent will still have a top table job anyhow sounds like?

 

[Welderloon]

The opponent will still have a top table job anyhow sounds like?

She seems to have been invited in from the cold, however, they all appear to be toeing the party line momentarily for whatever reason.

 

[HAM135]

I think he is the only candidate, they wanted a coronation not a battle, he's as weak as the previous incumbent sadly.

No different to the last one apart from he won't play the racist card on a weekly basis,will Swinney bend over for the greens,bet he does,more of the same sh!t to come!

 

[Welderloon]

No different to the last one apart from he won't play the racist card on a weekly basis,will Swinney bend over for the greens,bet he does,more of the same sh!t to come!

He's hardly a new broom that's for sure. no idea how deep & extreme his green fetish runs, he always came across as insipid even when he was our MP back when he started.
Hopefully any cabinet re-shuffle will shift some dross, Justice secretary & rural affairs to name a couple.

 

[Danllan]

European!

Which bit of Europe, not... France?

We did some Ancestor DNA tests and mine came back 89% British as well, less Irish and English than you, more Welsh and Scots, another 7% was described as 'Scandinavian'. A later update broke that down to Danish and Norwegian, but didn't give percentages. The remainder was 2% each of Northern European' and East Asian...

That last one was a surprise, but updates haven't changed it so it's a real thing - no idea where it came into the mix, but we think it came down my father's female line, which makes it even more odd. We've pic's of all my father's grandparents and great-grandparents, and at least one would have had 16% East Asian DNA (unless it came form more than one person...) but there is no hint at all of any Asian features.

A cousin who is a doc has said it could be Denisovan, so wouldn't show up in any way we would recognise in an individual's appearance.

Fascinating subject; I have a cousin who has a DNA link to the Cheddar Man, but sadly I don't share that one.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Which bit of Europe, not... France?

We did some Ancestor DNA tests and mine came back 89% British as well, less Irish and English than you, more Welsh and Scots, another 7% was described as 'Scandinavian'. A later update broke that down to Danish and Norwegian, but didn't give percentages. The remainder was 2% each of Northern European' and East Asian...

That last one was a surprise, but updates haven't changed it so it's a real thing - no idea where it came into the mix, but we think it came down my father's female line, which makes it even more odd. We've pic's of all my father's grandparents and great-grandparents, and at least one would have had 16% East Asian DNA (unless it came form more than one person...) but there is no hint at all of any Asian features.

A cousin who is a doc has said it could be Denisovan, so wouldn't show up in any way we would recognise in an individual's appearance.

Fascinating subject; I have a cousin who has a DNA link to the Cheddar Man, but sadly I don't share that one.

I would be interested to know where my 7% European Jewish was from

 

[Danllan]

I would be interested to know where my 7% European Jewish was from

Well... I guess there are two options really, Ashkenazi or Sephardic, the latter generally appearing darker if you have access to old photo's.

We've spent the last five or so years trying to work out the 'East Asian' bit in mine, and got nowhere at all. Just to be sure it wasn't a mistake, I had a second test done with another firm, and it came back the same on that, but with some minor differences in the 'British' mix.

I think our forebears were far more promiscuous than we currently suppose...

 

[yoki]

No different to the last one apart from he won't play the racist card on a weekly basis,will Swinney bend over for the greens,bet he does,more of the same sh!t to come!

They must know that they'd be in for a trouncing if there was an election, therefore, do anything and everything possible to try to stay in power.

For something that you can't see, touch, feel, smell, etc, and has no physical presence whatsoever, it seems very addictive!