2141 replies to this topic

[LY_Scott]

Aye. The you'll lose a grand if you vote yes and get such about if you do from either side does grip my wick somewhat. I'm not looking to gain a lottery win out of it. I don't see it. But I see self governance, a people that are at least talking about social justice with the voter pressure that will bring. A view to keep education free and cement that in a constitution. Not selling our NHS to the highest bidder etc. Never been arsed about nuclear weapons but I think the money that's to be spent on them we really need to think long and hard about the need for it. Even the US government who basically say whether we can fire them or not and supply them are saying they'd rather the UK spent that money on conventional useful warfare means. Unemployment is lower in Scotland than across the UK btw. We all face the aging population issue across the planet. Its not unique to Scotland. I'm against some of the spending plans too believe it or not. Free prescriptions is my favourite bug bear. Pointless waste of money. The forecasts for the oil are interesting. What's your thoughts on the Claire ridge stuff? I'm sceptical.

[LY_Scott]

The eurozone is a really bad example Ross. We'd be starting completly aligned. Wavering from targets would be visible and controls in place. Its the rogue state argument again. We'd have to waver well of target to cause such issues. Why would we do that?

[LY_Scott]

Also there seems to be an assumption of an SNP government in the theory.

[Rosssco]

I'm away to change the door handles on a Nissan, so I'll be brief.. Self-governance is an interesting one, and I think the level we have currently (perhaps with so more localised powers) is about right. It fits with the broadly federalised (but keeping her Madge) approach which I think is a good future proposition. There will always be compromises in any union (whether that's in the UK or EU) but I've always maintained that real social change (for better or worse) starts at the bottom, not from government, hence I don't see why there cannot be significant changes if that what people really want within the UK. Financially, I don't think many will see significant change overall, unless there is a change in the investability of Scotland (either way) bringing or losing jobs. I dont think we'll become more investable unless we cut things like taxes etc. Regardless, I'd rather stay in the UK Re: cuts and privatisation, I think we've reached the tipping point where public services have ballooned so much over the last 13 years of Labour that they are or will soon become unaffordable (many would say we've already passed that point) so something needs to be done instead of just pumping money into them. Note that most of the "privatisation" is actually more like outsourcing - they are still run by public health care trusts, just more of the specific services are introduced to private companies. This has been happening for many years. However, under the current devolution setup, we in Scotland have control over this regardless. If we wanted improve these services then I'd want to see the spending plans and how an iScotland will actually do it, not just someone saying we will. Aging population is fairly unique to western countries. But we have less immigration to Scotland than rUK as a percentage. This just leaves us more exposed to a proportionally bigger welfare bill in comparison to UK as a whole unless we can attract more immigration. I've no problem with immigrants, but I don't really want unfettered immigration for the sake of balancing the books. Nuclear weapons. Reality is that no one (Incl. Some nationalist blogger) outside a relatively small circle knows, or is likely to know, the launch and security setup for hidden submarines fitted with thermonuclear warheads. The reality is that we would never fire them without agreement with our primary ally anyway, so it's irrelevant. It's our contribution to NATOs nuclear deterrent, not merely a colonial willy-waving tool as proposed. I'd just say I'd rather have them until everybody else either likes us doesn't have them.. The latest conspiracy theories a great one! Secret meeting in Shetland (even though DC wasn't exactly hiding??). Massive oil reserves hidden from Scotland... I worked on the Clair Ridge project about 4 years ago down in London. It's a pretty impressive, relatively deepwater platform production facility. It would not have been cheap given its location, and therefore I doubt it would have been built for just 10 years of production. It was also no secret, and it no time did I sign the official secrets acts.. Now maybe they have revised up their estimate, but these estimates go up and down all the time. They would have take a slightly pessimistic return rate before committing to the project, so maybe it's better now, who knows! The Eurozone is still a good example of the risk. I'm not just talking about Greece. Ireland, Iceland, Portugal all suffered and caused problems, as did Italy. The issue is not the starting point, it's who could happen in the future, and why taking a long term view, rUK will either not agree to currency union, or demand restrictions so high that it allows little economic freedom. Look at the process that's now underway in the Eurozone - greater fiscal and spending limitations are being imposed on various members. The Greek economy (worst case) as well as some of the other members are essentially in control of the Reichstag. Scotland would have little if any more real control over such matters given the concern of the rUK gov and BoE over such a potential scenario.

[LY_Scott]

I best also do some work Always a pleasure Ross. Cheers

[LY_Scott]

Good info the Clair ridge btw I did laugh when I seen pictures of the jacket going out from BiFab Methil being equated to some sudden discovery. Anyone local to the area will know it's been getting built for a good couple of years (It's massive and you can't miss it!) and just coincidently was floated out on a barge this week. I'll find a picture.

[LY_Scott]

Arty one. That's the 5MW 196m high Samsung turbine behind it.

[Rosssco]

Cheers Scott. Didn't know they were being built at BiFab. There should be 2 jackets in total. I'll need to pop by one time for a closer look at the turbine (sado!) I talk about them a lot but never actually seen one of this spec up close..

Edited by Rosssco, 11 August 2014 - 03:12 PM.

[LY_Scott]

I was at Nicola Sturgeon Q&A event last night in Kirkcaldy. In Gordon Brown's dad's old church St.Bryce's like most of the local events have been.

It looked like this at the end



Meanwhile Johann Lamont was speaking in Glasgow looked like this.



Who do you think is the most motivated side?

[LY_Scott]

Fantastic. I missed this last night. Round of applause for a bit of accidental honesty from the uk government.

[Rosssco]

Who do you think is the most motivated side?

 

The one with the professional photographer..

 

Did wee Nic do her rolly-eye thing / fake chuckle thing?

 

I agree with you BTW, the Yes side are far more motivated in general ! Just that there's less of them than the No side, at present..

[Craig S]

The photos *could* tell the story the that no supporters do not need to go to meetings to know what they are getting as they live with it every day. Just a thought

 

The amount of no thanks signs in the fields around Perth would suggest they are getting fairly motivated now (they seem to have sprung up in the last week or so).

 

Personally I can wait for it all to be over and we will find the world does not stop spinning whatever way the vote goes.

 

 

[G-Bob]

Personally I can wait for it all to be over and we will find the world does not stop spinning whatever way the vote goes.

 

 

Yup, must admit I'm getting pretty bored of it.

[Rosssco]

 

Personally I can wait for it all to be over and we will find the world does not stop spinning whatever way the vote goes.

 

 

Yup, must admit I'm getting pretty bored of it.

 

 

Whaaaat..! I got bored of it months ago..

 

I'm just here for the..

 

[LY_Scott]

Some referendum satire...

[LY_Scott]

The Tic stay in the champions league. Happy days. Better beat Maribor eh. We don't want to be facing Legia at any point. In other news...George Galloway is in Kirkcaldy next week doing his bit for his fellow Nawbags at St.Bryce's I'll go along but I'm not sure how much of the fucktard I will be able to endure. Who knows he might have something useful to say. Scoat

[ghand]

Personally I can wait for it all to be over and we will find the world does not stop spinning whatever way the vote goes.  

  Yup, must admit I'm getting pretty bored of it.

The sooner it's over the less chance of Scot getting repetitive strain injury in his finger Are we having a bet on the result ?

[LY_Scott]

5 weeks to today Gordon. It'll be all done.

[ghand]

5 weeks to today Gordon. It'll be all done.

You will have to find other stuff for me to read after that

[KurtVerbose]

I'm not sure how much of the fucktard I will be able to endure.

 

Yes, he is completely full of himself and also full of sh*t.