Dear World 2, A Letter from Scotland to our friends around the globe

Dear World,

What a week it has been! There was the optimism of a possible vote for our independence last week, rewarding the hard work of the many thousands of Yes campaigners and starting a new optimistic chapter in Scotland’s history.

Instead Scotland appears to have voted NO and we are in many ways embarrassed and ashamed of our fellow countrymen who believed the Westminster lies and scare stories yet again. We have history on this – you may remember. Normal service has indeed been resumed but not in the way we expected or wanted.

There is some evidence of electoral fraud and dubious electoral practices. But I guess you could have expected that. The British state never expected us to vote Yes and when they discovered that we might, to their great shock, actually do so, it is no surprise they would use every underhand tactic to undermine that possibility. After all Scotland is the British State’s fountain of wealth, which most in Scotland never see.

All ready the Westminster bribes and promises are beginning to look as hollow and false as those of us in the know knew they were all along. Although our own media (television, radio and nearly all our newspapers) who all have a vested interested in perpetuating the corrupt, morally and intellectually bankrupt British state continue to play this down.

Our work to convince our fellow Scottish countrymen that looking after our own home is practical and logical whilst looking after and working with our neighbours is not over yet. The Yes Movement is continuing – it now known as the 45 movement and/or Yes Alliance, and our largest political party supporting our country’s independence, the SNP, has doubled in size since last Thursday, meaning it is now, in terms of membership, the third largest in the whole of the UK.

The fear element can be put down to the aforementioned above. (F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real), and also a certain amount of false hope that Westminster may have changed.

Many thanks for your continued moral support. I know we try the World’s patience with our predicament. Until we sort this all out we must continue to bow to our imperial masters in Westminster and suffer the ignominy of continuing to be part of Greater England. We hope soon to sort this out by eventually becoming independent.

Please bear with us. Respect and kindest of regards.

All the best from:

Scotland.

An alien in my own landscape, by my brother. Scotland 9/19.

An alien in my own landscape

A surreal experience, was Friday, 19^th September, 2014. 

I listened to Podcasts in the car to avoid the radio. I entered my office for a NORMAL WORKING DAY. 

Face on. 

Through my lenses I can feel people chatting about the traffic and the weather. Ohh, the weather. ‘Bit foggy this morning, you know’. ‘Bad queue on the bypass.’ 

As the morning progressed the occasional, personal appointments and dates were being made, you know, in advance of the weekend to come. AS YOU DO. One, calls her hairdresser to get a tint and her eye brows waxed. 

Another, organises his prodigal son’s latest game of football or it might have been Judo. One more is on the net checking arrangements for the weekend cycling run. 

Some others are ranting wildly, and e-mails are circulated to all about ‘Immediate changes to Policy’ in the standard knee jerk manner to the latest priority 1 system failure.  For the avoidance of doubt, E-mail is now, officially, business critical. AND, the IT Director will take PERSONAL responsibility for incident management (eh, but only when on site, by the way).

Well, I then sallied forth. AS YOU DO. I went to the South Gyle Shopping Altar at lunchtime to buy medication for Mo’s cold. 

‘This product contains Paracetamol’, the shop assistant explains. ‘no shit - Yes, that’s why I chose it’ is my internal response, sounding remarkably like John Cleese. 

I do explain Mo is not on any other medication and then the item is hurredly sold, but done so in a grudging manner, as is the official procedure for stuff that ‘comes oot from behind the counter’. It’ll be just in case I don’t know what it’s for, or perhaps what to do with it. You can’t be too careful it seems. I might even know what might be best for the ‘country’. Nah – bollocks to that; probably not.

As I did actually feel physically sick, I bypassed the M&S food hall where people were stocking up on the weekend ‘2 for 1s’ or ‘dinner for 2s’.

People were trying on shoes and chatting over shopping trolleys. EHHHHH ?

Back in the office comments are made by Another, that I’m a bit quiet today. 

He would. 

However, I was, and I am. 

I am keeping close counsel. I do not trust myself to speak.

You see - and this is important - Something died for me, this morning, today. 

Like a death in the Family. I don’t say that lightly.

I no longer have those rocks of certainty and of support that were there previously. Part of My Foundation for MY Life has been destroyed. Part of MY Soul has withered. 

I, have been made Homeless - yet still can live in a nice house. I, have a garden where I can dig the earth and feel the land but it does not feel the same. 

My neighbours are not who they appeared to be, Yesterday, or could have been today. 

The Community in which I lived and will continue to exist in, is only 45% of the size it was yesterday. 

And I Grieve for All of Us.

Flower of Scotland

A good friend has asked me to the rugby in November to watch a team called ‘Scotland’. They’re professional, you know. As a resident of North Britain I no longer see the significance of following and supporting a team that does not represent anything real or tangible. 

All sports teams representing this region in North Britain will require to source a new anthem for the start of their games as non-one should sing THOSE words again. They have a very hollow ring now. 

Indeed, I hereby declare that all ‘national’ teams related to this place should be scrapped unless it can be proven that they are real Countries. And Real  Nations. This one is no longer. And, if it ever does become one again, then, perhaps, it may deserve or indeed Require, a team. Any team.

It certainly doesn’t now.

Ghetto

Perhaps a native American style reservation might be the answer. Those of us That Care can move there, and we can have our own rules. And own time zones and stuff – like the Navajo. That’ll be better. Won’t it? They’ve done just great out of the White Man.

Or, here’s maybe a better idea - maybe we can club together and buy an island. And all move there. Declare unilateral independence from the rest of this shower. 

Or, Something ???

Maybe in this New World, 1.6million people will get bags of horse tranquilisers on prescription (we WILL need to pay, of course). But it’ll be for the best. Won’t it? That’ll do it. 9 out of 20 – or 45% - of the population wearing 6 pointed stars on their clothing. 

Visible for all to see. 

So they know. 

So we all know.

Parcel of Rogues

I couldn’t stop the words of a rhyme by a guy who used to live down the coast in Ayrshire going round my head yesterday. 

Or today for that matter. 

And all night. 

I want to cover this place in large posters, really spelling the words out, letter by letter.

Slowly, so that any passers-by that take the time to spell-it-out will feel...something. 

...Anything ? 

It is the ‘best’ and only option for a new anthem for this Northern place, if indeed a shire deserves a wee tune in the first place.    

Comedy

Billy Connolly once said that the Scottish parliament was a ‘wee pretendy parliament’. 

Well, we now have a wee pretendy country to go with it. 

Ironic that. 

I had agreed with Billy on the parliament, however it WAS better than nothing. 

I had rather hoped things would move the other way, and that the parliament would take control of the country. Logical that. 

Still, Billy’s going to lecture in October, so it’d better be good.

The ‘Government’ and Education

It is a strange place in which I still live and breathe that has chosen to continue to have 22 millionaires that used to go to one school in South Britain called Eton control our affairs, up North.  

I am using the term ‘our’ more loosely these days. 

Not sure North British Geography or Anthropology was on their curriculum in Eton but, God, it must be a good school you know? Maybe everyone else here knows how GOOD it really must be and I must have missed something during my Highers. They are da GOVERNMENT after all.

North British education, you know, was once ‘the envy of the world’. They did at least teach me that at school.

It’s been splendid at producing serfs, managers and administrators that can toil to satiate their avarice. Perhaps Curriculum for Excellence in this New World we find ourselves in could take a look at their approach. We need new courses in patronage, forelock tugging and grouse beating – not to mention newly expanded British history lectures that could have a whole new twist. There can be new tragic-comedy sections added, you know to lighten what can at times be a dull subject. Let’s face it, when you write the history books you do tend to put in just a bit too much flannel and it does tend to BIG up the victor. I do have to say there is only so much that our children will need to know anyway about how the Pink areas on old school room and atlas maps came about, and how the only ONE left is at the north end of this island. 

Shameless

A now distant acquaintance of this parish has apparently come across a five figure sum from ‘the keepers of the book’ with relation to a recent referendum poll. 

The Person asked a slightly gloating question via social media regarding what this money could possibly be used for. To maintain decorum and not commenting directly was problematic, however I remain keen to suggest to the Guilty Party that the Tressell trust foodbanks charity in Glasgow would be a suitable beneficiary for our fellow citizens who might be less fortunate that himself. We are, apparently, BETTER TOGETHER. Awww.

Porridge

I have only eaten porridge since Friday morning, 6am. 

It’s as if I’m seeking to draw from the very Essence of the Oats - to draw it from  the very soil in which it came to be, and to seek solace from it’s soul. 

Porridge (in this place), is made with tap water (from Glen Turret), Organically grown Scottish oatmeal, and Salt. 

Ohh, there’s that 8 letter S-word again, the name of a people and a land from the past.

It does seem though still to be refusing to die from my spoken vocabulary however quickly it should. I’m sure it’ll go though - through time - though it will not be forgotten in mind. 

In the early morning porridge making I spilled a wee bit salt, so I had to throw a pinch over my shoulder into the face of the de’il to ward him off. As you do.

I think though I must have got the wrong shoulder.  Maybe where I’ve been going wrong is that I should adopt the make-it-with-milk-and-adulterate-with-dried-Mediterranean-fruits-and-nuts approach. That’ll maybe help me move forward into this New World, on this new day into which I stare.

Maybe I’ll wait just another Day.

9/11.... or 9/18

The Americans would put it that way wouldn’t they? Back to front, like. 

A bit like Ours. 

We’ve just done it, or err, not done it, back to front, like. 

Scotland’s non 9/11 is 9/18. 

It could have been SO different. But actually, it’s not. 

It COULD have jolted that North British (ex) nation and attached southern neighbour out of it’s detached, untouchable, conservative conceit like 9/11 did to the USA.

But it didn’t. 

So.  What did ‘We’ do ?

Well, We did NOTHING.                                       

ABSOLUTELY FUCK ALL.

 

Aye, you could say we all went trooping through the Polling Booths and put our mark on a piece of paper. I grant you that.

But we weren’t just too sure, were we. 

Imagine – being able to govern – wait a minute – YOURSELF ! .... too much.

 RIDICULOUS. 

Someone always TELLS us what to do  - it’s what this country is famous for. 

Remember ? ‘You HLI chaps pop out of this trench and over that hillock first would you, there’s a good man. Now, mind your skirt on that wire as you go and do try not to breathe in that coloured smoke for a least a little while. There’s a good chap.’

It CAN’T be true. 

‘An’ that David Cameron has such a nice smile, too’. ‘And wee George Osbourne ? Well, he looks lovely – very smart. Always wears a tie - and I used to like a band with a singer that was called Osbourne to boot’.

 ‘Well, there simply MUST be a catch’.

‘ And then there’s that nice Gordon Brown. He’s from Fife you know. A Son of the Manse too, Mabel, like Douglas Alexander’. 

Meanwhile back in the real world, the number 23 bus to da Modern World,

 Just---Passed---Us---By.

We failed to stick out a hand. 

There was a bit of peculiar waving as it went by, by a few, I grant you. ‘Hey.......’.

If the metaphorical Scotland, sorry, North Britain, was male then we were standing scratching oor bollocks with oor eyes shut when the operchancity  came.

BUGGER.

We must have been in at a bus stop in Glasgow and thought it was Edinburgh – You Know ?  ...OK, OK - for the tourists -  in Edinburgh the bus actually stops if it sees a pedestrian at a Bus Stop, hand up or no;  in Glasgow it disnae stop unless you stick out a hand half way across the street, or have wan wi’ a gun in it. 

Where now ?

Friday morning and Douglas Alexander and Ruth Davidson are on the telly grinning inanely. They occasionally mouth something, but thank God the sound is turned down so I can hardly hear. Every TV in the office has been tuned to the BBC where Tommy (Sheridan  – aye, him – Real Madrid and the Ber Na Bow an’ a’ that !) is ...and yes, he is indeed talking of orchestrated plots - I just caught that bit. Christ, he’s off again and he’s only just put his head back above the parapet. Where’s he bin hiding since he got out? Convincing voice of the Yes campaign ? Possibly not. Seems the non-news of a non-Yes vote (i,e, NOTHING actually came to pass) is keeping even our CEO and Communications people off the screens, who regularly espouse the latest numbers and marketing campaign successes. Leading through the telly, eh – it’s always the personal touches like that, that really work, isn’t it ? They’re good at making a huge song and dance when nothing actually happens too. Perhaps they could be full time politicians.

Emigration

The clearances (or more precisely the greed of the people’s landlords) sent many folk across the sea to a very different life in previous centuries. Of course it happens all the time these days when an area struggles and opportunities for better or worse seem to come up in other places. A man called Tebbit said get on your bike to find work. This time it will be the fear and in some cases the greed of the majority that will drive many newly lost souls abroad. And who can blame them. How can I argue the case for my only daughter to stay ? 

The Scottish Referendum and its aftermath. Feelings of absolute desolation, anger, disbelief and betrayal.

Know that you are not alone in your feelings of desolation, anger, disbelief and betrayal over the outcome of the Scottish Independence Referendum. It has almost been like a bereavement. I too am in many ways ashamed and embarassed for Scotland.

There was a strong feeling on Friday night when I was at the local Yes activist party (yes that what it turned out to be) that we had won in every way but the outcome of the vote. It was amazing. We had the get together at one of the local snooker clubs, and we had rented a room for the occasion. When the people in the main part of the club discovered that we were the local Yes group many wanted to talk and shake our hands. Some turned their heads and would not look us in the eye which is not a mark of someone who is proud of what they have done.

Despite almost every vestige of the British state being thrown at us (the only one they left out was the use of the military) including the media, the heads of multi nationals, the heads of supermarkets, the head of banks and finance houses, etc. the Yes campaign achieved 45% of the vote.

The Yes campaign won the argument. It was only the concentrated fear and small amount of hope churned out by the British state and its pals which turned the few in the last week or so from Yes to No. The British state only won by bullying, intimidation, lies and deceit. It was pointed out that within a few months, nobody in Scotland will have voted no, or at least remembered doing so as it will be proved to be act of national betrayal, and actual stupidity.

So the Yes Movement will continue in some form or other (we are meeting again in 3 weeks) and I understand from a few other Yes groups that they will be continuing too. You may even see the organisation continue nationally and that is what we shall be lobbying those on high for. However we all need a rest at the moment.

Therefore we at our local Yes group were asked to do the following...

1. Continue to display at least one or two of you yes signs in your windows or garden. These now do not need to be so prominent or numerous but should still be visible. This is to reassure those people who voted Yes that this is not over.
2. Continue to wear any Yes badges, and Scottish flag buttons on any occasions you can.
3. Display a 'stay Yes' sign, or a '45' logo on your social media profile. Again this will keep the Yes campaign visible. I personally prefer the first one, but have done both on mine.
4. Join the SNP, Scottish Greens or Scottish Socialist Party. You will be far from alone if you do this - I opted for the first one but this does not mean you shouldn't opt for another. We are hopeful there will be an electoral pact between these parties in future elections fighting under the banner of Yes or something similar. They have all flourished throughout this campaign and have a flood of members since Friday to the point that both the SNP and Scottish Green websites crashed several times on Friday and Saturday.
5. Keep the faith. Who would have thought that even 10 years ago 45% of the Scottish population would vote for Scottish self determination? The rich and powerful in Westminster that triumphed on this occasion over the people will not do so again. They only won by using every underhand tactic in the book.


Remember Alex Salmond, on Friday 19th September 2014, said 'The real guardians of progress are not the politicians at Westminster, or even at Holyrood, but the energised activism of tens of thousands of people who I predict will refuse to meekly go back into the political shadow'.

Why not have a wee visit to Edinburgh at the end of September?

Things to think about in advance of voting in the Scottish Indyref. May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.

Section 1: Identity

• 1. Should Scotland be an independent country? If you think so then vote Yes.
• 2. Do you think Scotland is a country, as opposed to a region or province within the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? If you think so then vote Yes.
• 3. Do you feel more Scottish or British? If you feel more Scottish then vote Yes. However an independent Scotland does not mean that you would not be British as you still would live on the island of Britain. It changes the way Scotland is governed not the way you describe yourself. 
•  4. Do you think that Scotland as an independent state, or as part of the UK should remain part of the European Union? If the answer is Yes then vote Yes. Scotland is all ready a member of the EU. It would be very unlikely that Europe would wish to eject 5 million of its citizens who all ready hold European Passports. Barring the complexity involved in doing this, it really doesn’t make any sense that the EU would wish Scotland, its major oil producer to not be a member.
• 5. Did you know that as an independent country Scotland would have greater representation within the European Parliament? Currently Scotland is represented by 6 MEPs with just over 5 million people which is the same as Malta which has 600000 people, and the Republic of Ireland with 4.5 million people is represented by 12 MEPs.

Section 2: Defence

• 1.      Do you believe that nuclear weapons should remain based on the Firth of Clyde less than 30 miles from Scotland’s largest city? If your answer is No then vote Yes. The UK Government has all ready began preparations for the replacement of the existing generation of weapons and like those before them, they will still be stored on the Clyde, as they are too dangerous to be located in the Thames.
• 2.      Do you believe that the money spent maintaining and replacing these weapons would be better spent on other things? These could include free education; free prescriptions; abolishing some of the cuts in welfare which are hurting society’s ill, disabled or vulnerable; or improving conventional defence forces or a mixture of these. If you think Yes, then vote Yes.
• 3.      Do you believe that Scotland should become involved in wars, like the Iraq war which toppled Saddam Hussein, that are not sanctioned by the United Nations? If you answer is no then vote Yes.

Section 3: Constitution

• 1.      Do you believe that you should live in a country with a written constitution which enshrines certain rights for citizens? Nearly every country in the World has a written constitution except the UK. If your answer is Yes than you should vote Yes.
• 2.      Currently you are guaranteed shelter, food, warmth, clothing, and water in Scotland only if you are in prison. Do you think these items like these should be added to a written constitution? These are some of the proposals considered for the inclusion into a Scottish Constitution and therefore would only be available with a Yes vote.
• 3.      With which Government, Scottish or UK, are you most satisfied? If it is the Scottish Government then you are more likely to vote Yes, with the UK Government a No voter.
• 4.      With which Parliament, Scottish or UK, are you most satisfied? If it is Scottish Parliament then you are more likely to vote Yes, with the UK Parliament with its unelected House of Lords a No voter.
• 5.      Which Government is presently best at representing Scotland’s interests in Europe and the World? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes.
• 6.      Which Government do you want in the future to represent Scotland’s interests in Europe and the World? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes.
• 7.      Who do you say should have the final say over whether nuclear weapons can be based in Scotland? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes. If you think Westminster knows best then vote No.
• 8.      Which Government do you think would be best at representing Scottish interests in the European Union? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes. If you think Westminster knows best then vote No.
• 9.      Which Government do you think would be best at deciding welfare policy for Scotland? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes. If you think Westminster knows best then vote No.
• 10.  Which Government do you think would be best at deciding pensions policy for Scotland? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes. If you think Westminster knows best then vote No. Remember UK state pensions are some of the lowest available anywhere in Europe so I don’t think we could do much worse if Scotland was in charge instead of Westminster.
  
• 11.  Which Government should be responsible for all tax decisions in Scotland, including tax revenues from oil and gas? I would say the Scottish Government as it is more likely to know the best interests of Scotland, in which case if you agree you should vote Yes. Remember the disaster with the oil revenues so far whilst under Westminster’s watch so I can’t understand why anyone would want to vote No on this one.
• 12.  Which Government should be responsible for all spending decisions in Scotland, including income tax and corporation tax or equivalent? A Yes puts Scotland in charge of its own tax and spend, whereas currently it only controls spending. The Scottish Government has provided free bridge tolls, free prescriptions and free tuition fees things that are unavailable in other part of the UK. Therefore why would anyone want to vote No on this point I just don't know.
• 13.  Which Government should be responsible for immigration policy for Scotland? In order for Scotland to remain viable in the future we need skilled immigrants. If you want Scotland to continue to wither and have an ageing population then vote No.
• 14.  If Scotland votes YES to become independent do you agree that Scotland should have a proportional share of UK assets and liabilities on independence? This includes the UK pound sterling, the Bank of England, nationalised industries, the UK national debt. This after all is the responsible and reasonable option.
• 15.  Do you think Scotland should establish its own currency pegged 1 to 1 to the UK pound sterling in the event of independence? This could be done either immediately or after a few years of currency union.

Section 4: Democracy

• 1.      The Union of 1707 established Great Britain from Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom. In the House of Commons within the UK the numbers of seats per country are as follows. England 533 seats (82%) with the South East region having 139 seats, Scotland 59 seats (9%), Wales 40 seats (6%), Northern Ireland 18 seats (3%). Total UK 650 seats or 100%. Does the division of seats or MPs represent a fair union between the Scotland and the rest of the UK? This has meant that Scotland has only affected the final outcome of a UK General Election twice in 100 years. To make democracy matter in Scotland the only way is to vote Yes. If you wish your vote to continue to not count for much then vote no.
• 2.      Scotland has voted Labour at every election since 1970. Therefore Scotland has had a UK Government it voted for in only 18 out of the last 40 years. Do you consider this to be democratic? If the answer is no then you should vote Yes.
  
• 3.      Which parliament, Scottish or UK, do you trust more to make decisions in the interests of Scotland? I would consider the Scottish Parliament to be more trustworthy and therefore I am voting Yes. If you think the opposite then you should vote no.
• 4.      Which Government, Scottish or UK, do you trust more to make decisions in the interests of Scotland? I would consider the Scottish Government to be more trustworthy and therefore I am voting Yes. If you think the opposite then you should vote no.

Section 5: History

• 1.      The official title of our Sovereign is Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. Are you aware that only England had an Elizabeth I, and therefore this title is incorrect in the case of Scotland? 
• 2.      The Stone of Destiny or Stone of Scone was traditionally the stone over which all Scottish monarchs were crowned. This stone was stolen by Edward I of England in 1296 and taken to Westminster Abbey where it resided, except for a short time in 1950, until it was loaned back to Scotland by the UK in 1996. Do you believe that the actual ownership of this Stone should be returned to Scotland? If your answer is Yes then you should vote Yes.
  
  
• 3.      Were you aware of the Alien Act passed by the English Parliament in 1705? This Act threatened that unless Scotland agreed to negotiate terms for union and accepted the Hanoverian monarchical succession by 25.12.1705, there would be a ban on the import of all Scottish staple products into England. Scots would lose the privileges of Englishmen under English law – thus endangering rights to any property they held in England. This latter part was very important as most of the members of the Scottish Parliament also held lands in England. Do you agree that this was a fair and honest way to establish a union between the countries of England and Scotland? If you do agree then vote no.
• 4.      In 1896 the Labour Party established a commitment to a home rule parliament for Scotland. Do you consider it reasonable that it took the Labour Party until 1997 to pass a bill in the UK parliament to establish a Scottish Parliament?
• 5.      The Scottish Covenant was a petition to the United Kingdom government to create a home rule Scottish parliament. First proposed in 1930, the National Covenant movement reached its peak during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Over 2 million Scottish residents signed this out of a population of just over 5 million. Yet this request for a Scottish Parliament was ignored by Westminster. Do you agree that it was correct that this petition was ignored? If think this was okay then vote no.
  
  
• 6.      In 1979 Scotland voted in a referendum to establish a Scottish Assembly. The majority of those that voted, voted for the establishment of this assembly. The Westminster Parliament had inserted an unprecedented (before or since) clause in the referendum bill that 40% of those people on the voters roll had to vote YES for this assembly, a requirement that was not met. This clause meant that those who did not vote voted NO including the dead, and remains highly controversial to this day. If you think that Scots are not genetically programmed to make political decisions then you should vote no. If you feel the opposite you vote Yes.
• a.       Do you believe that the controversial 40% clause was correct? I
• b.      Do you believe that the decision not to establish a Scottish Assembly in 1979 was correct despite the majority who voted in favour of it?
• 7.      In 1979 Scotland was promised greater devolved powers if it voted NO in the Scottish Assembly referendum, and this was guaranteed by both of the main Westminster political parties, both Labour and Conservative. Do you believe that this promise was kept within a reasonable timescale given that it was 1997 before it actually happened?

Section 6: Resources

• 1.      Do you believe that the UK has been a good governor of Scotland’s natural resources? 
• 2.      Think of this. Both the UK and Norway discovered oil in the 1970s. Norway has a colossal nest egg, the UK has a colossal debt. Has this changed your answer?
• 3.      The SNP since the 1970s has said that an oil fund should be established to save some of the proceeds from the oil the proceeds of which have flowing into the UK Treasury since then. The proceeds from the oil have amounted to many billions of pounds, and have meant that the UK Pound has traded more highly on the currency markets than it would have done without it. This has led to manufacturing industry in the UK being adversely affected by the oil as this increased exchange rate has made it less competitive and imports less expensive. Therefore it can credibly argued that, due to the UKs incompetent management of this vital resource, that the UK and Scotland in particular has suffered because of it. Do you believe the establishment of an oil fund would be a good idea for the future, this option only being realistically available with a Yes vote as the UK has still no plans for the establishment of such a long term plan.

 Before you vote on Thursday make sure you are informed. Do not vote only because of what you feel or what your head tells you. You require to make a reasoned judgement of where Scotland's best future lies either in the UK as a region or standing on its own two feet like all the other countries in the world. If you cannot arrive at a reasoned decision or your decision is based on fear then on this occasion I would encourage you not to vote as this referendum is so important for everyone's future. May your choices reflect your hopes not your fears.

Definitely also worth a look and in similar vein is Bella Caledonia's Guide to Decision Making in the Scottish Independence Referendum.