The day before a supposedly historic election
Election tomorrow.
SNP supporters on The Scotsman generally show themselves to be trolls and flamers, with no real facts to back up their opinions. I’ve generally given up reading the comments because of the religious-like fervour with which SNP supporters ‘attack’ the ‘Unionist’ Scotsman — at least the Labour supporter AM2 cited his sources, while most of the SNP commenters just shout and flail a lot.
(They remind me of someone I know in China, who ‘makes George Bush look like a hippie’. His tactic is to debate by volume.)
If that is your typical, average Scot, O.M.G. No wonder so many of those who have left absolutely dread the idea of coming back (perhaps also to do with the nicer weather in Asia). Anecdotal evidence only, of course.
A chameleon
This morning, Alex Salmond got his chance to be interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland (should be on this page, Party leaders in the hot seat, soon). Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to listen to the call-in portion of the interview (pesky thing called work), but I did hear the initial interview.
Wow, what a difference from the quotes in the news and the party broadcasts. It reminds me of the time prior to Lee Hsien Loong assuming the prime ministership of Singapore — there was a PR offensive to portray his ‘kinder, gentler’ side. I suspect this is the effort to show that Mr Salmond is reasonable, rational, and altogether more statesmanlike than he has presented himself to be over the last few months.
What that tells me is he’s like every other politician. I am still extremely sceptical of their policies, so they will be getting that last preferential vote. Since I’ve gone through most of the manifesto documents, I know where my preferences lie.
Scottish children have crappy teeth
I’ve been reading and listening to the story on the state of Scots’ teeth. On the radio this morning, they had the Lib Dem and SNP spokespersons for… health, I think it was, on the air to talk about their parties’ plans for the dental system, reportedly crap when it comes to the NHS (not enough dentists in the NHS system, it appears).
And another nail in what wasn’t going to be the coffin of my vote for the Lib Dems. They do not support the fluoridation of the water supply, citing something about chemicalising the natural water supply. That concern is fine with me, but surely sometimes public health takes precedence. I think my sister and I are classic examples of the good that can come of water fluoridation, regular milk intake, and dental education in schools.
My biological parents have less than pearly-whites. They have fillings and the condition of their teeth isn’t great (no idea about my father, he could’ve lost all his teeth by now). My sister and I, having brushed our teeth and drunk fluoridated water, do not have a single cavity, let alone any fillings. Every time I visit my (privately paid for) dentist in Singapore she remarks that once again, there is no tooth decay.
In 2004, the Scottish Executive planned to add fluoride to the water supply but this was abandoned following huge opposition from the public.
This makes me think the public is kinda dumb. Maybe they deserve the SNP in government. They’re always going to blame someone else for their problems anyway.
The SNP, I think it might have been, or a text commenter to the radio programme, said fluoridating the water supply wouldn’t work as children don’t drink tap water anyway.
And whose fault is that? Are parents now EXEMPT from responsibility for teaching their children what they should and shouldn’t consume? I was taught at a very early age that even if I wasn’t too keen on the taste of milk, milk builds strong teeth and bones, so by God I was going to drink two mugs a day.
Scottish 2007 election manifestos
Neil says no one reads them. Here they are. For the major parties, anyway. I can’t be arsed to link to every party standing for election.
- Scottish Conservatives (manifesto) Update 2/4/2007: got the full document on the BBC website as it was announced today.
- The Scottish Labour Party (manifesto) Meh. Okay. Too comfortable in power, as evidenced by ridiculous expense claims despite a ‘transparent’ system.
- Scottish Liberal Democrats (manifesto) Actually, I’m liking their ideas the most so far.
- Scottish National Party (policies) I started by typing Snottish. Freudian slip! Plus I have demonstrated, more than once, what I think of the SNP.
- Scottish Socialist Party (election pledges) Too socialist. People are selfish and don’t give two shits about their community unless they are doing better than everyone else. Get used to it.
- Scottish Green Party (2005 manifesto) Too greenie. Fucking hippies. Heh.
- Solidarity Scotland (can’t find any manifesto or policy document) A rival socialist party because Tommy Sheridan and the SSP split over saucy allegations.
Bryan Taylor’s election bloog
I always find it funny that there is a BBC correspondent who shares the same name (though not quite the same spelling) as Neil’s pal. And that there’s one named Glenn Campbell (is he a Rhinestone Cowboy — heehee, sorry).
Anyways. Bryan Taylor, BBC bloke, is now posting on the BBC elections bloog. A recent post talked about the SNP first 100 days in power thingy, and noted
… Mr A. Salmond positively welcomes a row over what the SNP might do in power. It means people are accepting that it might well happen and he wants the debate to be about him, in power.
I remember reading that Alex Salmond was ‘ready to rule‘. He didn’t say if he’d be any GOOD at it, just that he really WANTS to be in power. He certainly appears to be more interested in becoming KNOWN as a statesman instead of working to SERVE his country.
If the Scottish electorate deliver the SNP an election victory, I guess they’ll really be getting the government they deserve.
Former RBS chairman backs Alex Salmond
A jumble of thoughts about Scottish independence.
Sigh. Salmond plays banker in vital election battle. Labour is probably too cushy, and does need a shakeup, but voting in the SNP sounds like sacking the not-great CEO and replacing them with the grouchy janitor.
I find it strange that the SNP can back more oil and gas drilling while also backing the lowering of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Does the SNP would support increasing emissions in other countries while enriching Scotland in the short-term? What is the SNP’s plan to phase out dependence on oil? And how would that impact the economy? Since the price of Scotland’s oil and gas is uncompetitive because the industry cannot get enough workers (because they don’t appear to be interested in hiring anyone who doesn’t already work there), how can Scotland’s oil and gas industry BE competitive and deliver all these economic riches?
Tourism leaders slam SNP strategy — “Adam said Alex Salmond’s leadership would be enough to direct the tourism sector, even at one remove from cabinet.” That’s what I call ‘cult of personality’ — marketing tool of dictators the world over.
It’s time for a fairer and lower income tax — “The SNP will abolish the unfair Council Tax and replace it with a local income tax system based on the ability to pay. The local tax will be set at a rate of 3p on income excluding savings income.” And dole bludgers get another free pass while taxpayers get hit harder. Why the fuck should anyone work? I don’t see any SNP policy on how they will tackle benefit fraud and instill a motivation to work.
What will Scotland’s currency be? — “The currency shall continue to be sterling until such times as the Scottish Parliament decides to change that position.” And so Scotland will continue to be beholden to another country’s economy? And when / if it adopts the Euro, will dependence on Europe’s overall economy become the next problem?
Westminister should probably devolve more decision-making on Scottish issues to a Scotland-based legislature, and the current state of that parliament is pretty woeful. All they seem to be interested in is creating news-making soundbites, and not engaging in meaningful debate on matters they can decide.
I have a question. As Scotland is part of the UK at the moment, it’s in the EU. If Scotland becomes independent, will it automatically remain part of the EU? It appears not.
Mr Happold said the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland would remain the nation state, a member of the EU, a member of the United Nations, NATO and other international organisations and Scotland would be seen as seceding from it. Scotland would then have to apply for membership of each international organisation it wanted to join.
Mr Happold warned that Scotland would almost certainly lose its share of the shrinking UK budget rebate, that it would lose anything that remains of the EU’s structural fund money, that it would lose power and influence and would have to compete with other emerging European states from Eastern Europe for attention and resources.
That means that an independent Scotland’s nationals couldn’t just go over the border and work in England like the Eastern Europeans. They’d have to go through the torturous and expensive process of getting a visa, like I did.
All in all, I’m sure Scotland COULD go it alone. But are the Scots ready for all the insecurities that independence brings? Singapore went independent and it’s doing much better economically, but the nation went through a lot, and is still going through a lot finding its feet. Does Scotland want the sort of government Singapore has to bring about economic growth and ‘harmony’?
More pathetic political point-scoring
GAH!!!! So the rail strike may start again next week. That’s a pain. From what I can tell (again, but I’ve done more research this time), the RMT is striking because there was a UK-wide agreement on a cutback to 35 hours a week and Network Rail in Scotland has not implemented plans that have gone through in other parts of Britain.
Network Rail says what worked in England may not work in Scotland, and the RMT says Network Rail attempted to switch shifts from 12 hours over three days to eight hours, cancelled safety briefing days (unconfirmed on the Network Rail site), and have carried out ‘rule book’ testing in signal boxes. Also, since the strike started, the RMT have accused Network Rail of placing ’scab’ managers in the signal boxes who are inadequately trained (Network Rail says the replacement managers are well-enough trained, thank you very much, but then they would, wouldn’t they). Network Rail says they have offered, on more than one occasion, to go to Acas. The RMT have completely rejected this, saying that decisions made in arbitration with Acas are not enforceable, despite BBC Radio Scotland pointing out that it can be if both parties agree to abide by the decisions.
Let’s take this one at a time. I think (and Neil was the one to point this out) that eight-hour shifts are surely safer for passengers than 12. I don’t see any issue with testing at all — are the RMT signallers incapable of doing their jobs and cannot stand up to testing? Network Rail have had to bring in other signal managers BECAUSE of this bloody strike, because they need to provide some service, and RMT is directly responsible for that. The fact that the RMT has categorically rejected any sort of arbitration and dispute resolution through Acas lays bare their intention to make all our lives difficult.
(Aside: this morning, the SNP’s Feargal Something Or Other — why is it always the SNP who like to show how unfit for government they are — said the “First Minister Jack McConnell” and “Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Tavish Scott” should be held accountable because the government puts money into the rail network and should have resolved the dispute, even though Network Rail is a private company. He banged on and on, repeating their names over and over again, accusing them of doing nothing, ignoring the fact that if the government had spent time on it the SNP would then accuse them of sticking their noses in a private company’s affairs when they should be concentrating on governing. And so the cheap political soundbites continue in anticipation of May’s election.)
The more I read and hear about this dispute, the more disgusted I am with the RMT. Sure, I agree that if a company is trying to exploit its workers, they have a right to industrial action (even though I’m Singaporean). However, in this case, the RMT has shown quite conclusively that they are not willing to even try and compromise, neglecting their professional responsibilities, and being completely and utterly selfish. I have no sympathy for their Scottish signallers, who appear to be on a great deal, well-recompensed for a job with amazingly short hours, and yet they are demanding to dictate all terms of employment to their employer.
Who the hell do they think they are? Bring on automation, I say!
Sources
RMT strike in Scotland continues, Network Rail, undated
48-hour strike action by RMT signal workers in Scotland over safety issues and the failure to implement a 35-hour week to go ahead, RMT, 3 March 2007
Scottish signallers’ strike ‘rock solid’, says RMT, RMT, 7 March 2007
Union slammed for not using Acas, BBC news, 8 March 2007
The glass is half-full
As much as I do complain (Singaporeans really got the best out of the British colonisation) about various things on life in Scotland, there’s one thing I cannot every deny. The place is damned pretty at times.
Even when traffic is slow on the motorway, the view of sky above always puts me in a good mood. There are big-ass fluffy clouds — they and the sky are all different colours at sunrise (when I’m driving) and sunset (when I’m driving). I’ve never liked salmon pink before, but when it’s streaking across the sky it looks like a pretty exciting, compared to the rest of the time when it’s nerdy and old-fashioned and reminds me of old ladies.
The above is not a picture of the sky from any motorway; it’s just an example of the sky. In case you haven’t seen the sky before. That could be the case if you’ve been living in a cave and never left. Or under a rock.