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Blind_Captain

Listed below are comments made by Blind_Captain between Wednesday, 4th November 2009 and Tuesday, 1st December 2009.

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Soft landing 3:05pm on 01 Dec 2009 #9 SuperJulianR

You won't get an answer from the Beeb re your questions :)

But here's a stab from my perspective; it's a mantra that I've highlighted before, so apologies to those who have seen this before.

I completely believe that UK plc is bankrupt, just look at the debt that has been run up by the Westminster government. The economies of the individual components are broken, with the exception of Scotland, however Scotland does not see the benefit as our surplus is used to prop up the rest of the UK. Now the compassionate view would be that this is the good thing to do, but long term it doesn't fix the underlying issues.

I am of the opinion that Scottish independence is an absolute requirement for the economy of England/Wales to be fixed. Take away the prop and these economies will have to reinvent themselves. The place of England/Wales (should I call it Waland or perhaps Engales?) in the world requires to be reviewed. No more big boy pretentions; no foreign adventures; no seat at the big UN table. Sort the economy, society, infrastructure and become Scotland's main trading partner. To the benefit of all.

I believe that the media and various interests in the current UK are terrified that people south of the border might start asking hard questions. Blow away the media spun smokescreen and I think the people of England/Wales will be very angry indeed about the lies that they have been subjected to over the decades.
Talking drink 6:33pm on 27 Nov 2009 Meanwhile up in Beauly...

Just reading our weekly paper The Highland News.

Mary Scanlon, MSP and Conservative shadow health spokeswoman features in two articles.

Page 10 "Where police priorities should lie" finds Mary moaning about the 349 fixed penalties for drunkeness issued by Northern Contabulary for 2008-09. Nearly a third of Scotland's total. Valuable police time is spent on this matter that could better be used on other matters, according to Mary.

Page 13 "MSP blasts lobbying health boss" where Mary lays into the Chairman of Highland Health Board for sending a letter to every Highlands and Islands MSP asking them to support the Scottish governments plan for minimum alcohol prices. The chairman told Mrs Scanlon the cost of excessive alcohol consumption could be measured "in long term ill-health, social disturbance and provision of police."
Mary is concerned that he is campaigning on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Chairman refused to apologise for his actions, stating that NHS Highland had been invited some time ago to give it's views on a variety of of proposals to tackle Scotland's "appalling health record" because of excessive alcohol consumption. He feels it is no more a party political issue than other public-health policy initiatives such as the ban on smoking in public places.

Now there has been a lot of flack directed at Labour on this issue, but if this demonstrates the quality of the opposition and sheer stupidity and selfiness of Unionist politicians, then I don't know what does.
Talking drink 09:49am on 27 Nov 2009 Just read the online piece by Robbie Dinwoodie, Chief Scottish Political Correspondent at the Herald. It's a balanced view and does highlight the corner that Labour have pained themselves into. What is interesting is the acknowledgement that Mr Gray's motivation is really a recognition of his own failure at denting Mr salmond's standing and by extension an admission that he is also failing in his leadership.

Most professional opinion is outraged at Labour and this will permeate through society. What an own goal by Gray!
Getting on with it 12:07pm on 25 Nov 2009 I have another serious proposal.

Let Scotland have full fiscal autonomy, including all our natural resources, and then, through a compassionate view, grant a block grant to the rest of the UK. All sorts of caveates could be attached to this grant; e.g. not for Trident replacement, not for foreign adventures....etc.

That would work.
Gloomy news 10:19pm on 10 Nov 2009 Re Online Ed Here

Can you explain the complexities and issues around the postal votes; we're hearing a lot about it but I think some pointers from you would help us all.

#47 oldnat

Brian, please take note (if you read our comments?). We need you to kick start the debate that Oldnat refers to. Please, please, post some good material that we can get our teeth into. If you have a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) against which you are measured, connected to the volume of contributors to your blog, then do the necessary.
Spending challenge looms 6:44pm on 08 Nov 2009 I'm pretty relaxed about the forthcoming result in Glasgow NE.
There will be a swing from Labour to the SNP, and if Labour win it, then so be it. We'll have many comments and interpretations of the result, but it's the General Election that will really matter.
The Westminster Government are not going to dig themselves out of the economic mess that they have created before then and they will pay the price.

Regarding some of the people in Glasgow, well they appear to be misinformed; I'm from there myself, so I know what it's like. Even although I now live in the Highlands, I can take an objective look at what goes on there and feel some sympathy for them. But it's important for the Labour Party that as many people in traditional Labour areas remain misinformed. I have a theory that the under investment in areas like Glasgow NE is deliberately engineered to ensure a populace that is ignorant. It's a form of social engineering if you like. Social engineering to preserve the Union. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist.
Spending challenge looms 7:49pm on 07 Nov 2009 #339 "what great things lord Salmond of linlithgowshire
has done for Scotland?"

Hope!
Spending challenge looms 6:07pm on 06 Nov 2009 edinchris

I've been reading your contributions with interest and thought I'd comment on them.

I have to say that this recession is Labour's fault, actually, I will make my thoughts clearer on this. They have been in power for over a decade, and have not used that time to construct an economy with enough depth, diversity, nor strength to cope with the current situation. So the impact is all the greater due to their gross mismanagement. They had every opportunity to plan for all eventualities, which they didn't and look at the consequences of that lack of planning.

I totally agree that cooperation is required, but outwith the present Union. I've mentioned my thoughts on this before, so apologies to those who have seen this, but the ending of the Union will allow the various nations in the UK to reinvent themselves, their societies and economies.

In short, Scottish independence will be good for England, as well as for ourselves. The UK economy is a mess, due to the reliance on Scottish natural resources. Take away that resource and common sense wil have to prevail, to the benefit of our friends and cousins south of the border. If we do not take the opportunity of independence, then we condemn, not only ourselves to poverty and years of uncertainty, but those in the other parts of the current UK who have been living within an economic lie for decades.
Making the changes 3:35pm on 04 Nov 2009 I've just been looking at the EU Parliament site to see if there are any committees or legislation regarding national broadcasting of political information. It's a bit labrynthine. I would expect that there were guidelines somewhere about fairness, promoting democracy etc, perhaps within "Culture and Education." Is there anyone on Brian's blog who is familiar with the EU's laws on this? I'd be disappointed if there isn't a binding framework that broadcasters, e.g. the BBC have to adhere to. And if there isn't, then there absolutely should be!
Breaking up the banks 10:25am on 04 Nov 2009 #127 Online Ed

Re David Kerr interviewed on Good Morning Scotland; just listened to it. Kerr was pretty good but what an interview! Gary Robertson came prepared to give the guy a hard time; it was almost bordering on venom. I haven't listened to every interview out there, but what has been the experience of the other candidates?

Does anyone have a view on the Lisbon Treaty and it's relevance to the campaign in Glasgow?

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