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unknownunknowns

Listed below are comments made by unknownunknowns between Tuesday, 17th June 2008 and Thursday, 11th December 2008.

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What's in a nickname? 3:16pm on 11 Dec 2008 #1 Dubbieside

http://libdems.org.uk/assets/0000/7654/A08MIH.pdf (PDF) - Make It Happen is a good way to start finding out about lib dem policy.
For the party's fundamental principles, look at the preamble to the Constitution - http://www.libdems.org.uk/home/preamble-to-the-party-constitution .
Calman's cautious contribution 5:51pm on 17 Nov 2008 Sorry, forgot to say that my previous comment was directed at #17 minuend.
Calman's cautious contribution 5:14pm on 17 Nov 2008 Well, in some sense devolution hasn't been fair on England! The answer, however, isn't to reduce Scotland's devolved powers but to increase them, and give England the same. As a civic nationalist, I'm sure you agree that the people of England deserve the same level of representation we have?

As far as I can see, you're simply making the blanket assertion that Scottish identity will be "made subservient". Why do you think this is so?

Your quote may have been accurate in Sir Walter Scott's time, but now our nails have been substantially lengthened. We can "peeble them wi' stones" at every election, and thanks to the modern media we can observe our elected, Scottish representatives (men and women of our own) taking part in the government of our country from Westminster to Holyrood to local councils.

I'm proud of my Scottish identity. It's survived 300 years in union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland - I don't think it's fragile enough to be swept away by the Calman Commission.
Calman's cautious contribution 3:27pm on 17 Nov 2008 #5 minuend:

The fact that Calman's remit is to strengthen Scotland within the Union isn't an insult to this country any more than it's an insult to England or Wales. I don't understand how it's an implicit attack on national identity.

Scotland is a part of the UK. We have an individual identity which we are deservedly proud of, and we share in the UK's collective identity. Neither is intrisincally better or worse than the other.
Calman's cautious contribution 1:18pm on 17 Nov 2008 #1 minuend
The presence of several higher-up Tories and LibDems (including Jim Wallace and the current convenor of the SLDs) on the commission would seem to cast doubt on your theory.

The reason the commission is unlikely to produce a strong agenda for change is as Brian said: the Tories would fewer powers, Labour want the status quo and the LibDems want actual reform. It's next to impossible to square these goals without being overly cautious.

I think Calman will come up with some valid points, but it looks like making the case for more powers will be left to the individual parties.
'Smoking ban' moment 5:26pm on 17 Jun 2008 freedjmac:
That's true, there will certainly be a lot of give and take. But that's why we need to articulate our views nice and clearly. It'd be a great help if everyone opposed to this wrote to their MSPs - particularly Labour, since they'll decide this.
'Smoking ban' moment 4:42pm on 17 Jun 2008 Thomas Porter:
I think I'm in the same boat as twentyferret here. We should crack down on the people committing the actual crimes, not criminalise a largely law-abiding section of society. In Glasgow, for instance, drinking outdoors is banned but the enforcement is terrible. Maybe more police on the streets (as in the SNP's manifesto) are what's needed?

Though I haven't posted here before, I've read the comments for a while, and I seem to remember that you are 16. How do you feel about the government telling you it'll be 5 years before you're adult enough to go into a shop and buy a bottle of wine?

I just think I should be able to have a bottle of champagne with my mates to celebrate the end of our exams, or a bottle of ale to have with my dinner. I'm a student, I live in my own place, I have a job: how come I can't be trusted?

Stenhousemuir Nil:
Some states in the US do this too. It sounds like a good idea: rather than let the huge supermarkets offer bargain basement deals and force off-licenses out of business, support the small businessperson.
'Smoking ban' moment 3:47pm on 17 Jun 2008 Thomas Porter:
Maybe we could have the current laws enforced before we add unnecessary new ones? I'm not against the idea of minimum pricing per se, I'm just a bit miffed that the government thinks I can't be trusted with a six pack lest I run amok.
'Smoking ban' moment 3:33pm on 17 Jun 2008 As an 18 year old, I find this measure a bit insulting. I can vote, I can smoke, I can (and do) have a mortgage and a driving license, I can serve in the military and I can stand for parliament but I can't be trusted with a bottle of whisky? Seems just a bit incongruous. Binge drinking's a big problem, but it isn't everyone 18-21 doing it - we need more enforcement of current laws, not this shoddy attempt.

The SNP came to power offering students and young people the world. Dumping student debt, creating new jobs and improving starter housing sound very nice, but the nats have barely done a thing. And now they're trying to pull this useless stunt, despite having no mandate for it!

I applaud the lib dems for their principled stance on this issue, and it gladdens me to see the tories standing firm too. I can only hope the labour party comes to its senses and opposes this third rate assault on young people.

PS - Since this all came out, no-one seems to have mentioned that the Greens are firmly in the lib-dem camp of principle objection to this. I'm not a Green; I just thought I'd mention.

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