Monday 14 July 2014

WE REALLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING...AND UNLIKE THE REST OF THE UK, WE ACTUALLY CAN



39 comments:

  1. I'd argue against the rest of the UK being unable to do anything, but I agree it's *far* easier for us to do something about this than for them.

    All we have to do is tick a box, and we get a whole new set of people, who we can hopefully keep on a better leash than the ones in Westminster.

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    1. Sadly the rUK, just have Selfservatives of various shades, so no chance of anything being done. As you say we do have a chance, simply a wee X next to the wee word, with so many hopes attached, YES.
      JimnArlene

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    2. They *currently* only have Tories of various shades, yes, and it would be a herculean effort to change that.

      But it's possible, with enough effort, they could wake up and become an informed and active electorate. Might take a revolution, and Wesminter would fight hard to stop it, but with enough determination it should be possible.

      It would certainly help for them to have an independent Scotland as an example though.

      (Yeah, I'm an optimist)

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    3. Yes, you're right, Illy, but absolutely see JimnA's point.

      It's not an impossibility to do something about it for England, Wales and NI, but it would take a lot of doing. We can change things... or at least make a change to sorting things in a few weeks, simply by writing "X" in the right box.

      Sitting in the park in Dublin, looking at the monument to those who were killed in the struggle against the British Empire reminded me of how lucky we are. I won't have to die for the freedom of my country.

      To his credit mr Cameron agreed to a referendum and agreed that Britain would abide by its outcome.

      Not often he gets praise here...

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    4. Not arguing with any of that at all.

      My boss called, so I had to cut that post short, and now I've forgotten what else I was going to say :/

      We certainly have it easy, all we have to do is put a cross in a box, and we're on our way to haveing a chance to build a better country. I can't think of any other examples in history of anyone getting it this easy.

      Sometimes I think that the Scottish electorate forget just how easy we've got it in our fight for independence. No killings, no armys forcing us down, no armed struggle (at least not yet). It can make it hard to see the potential for change elsewhere, and we shouldn't let that attitude stick around, because if we somehow end up with a No vote, we'll need to believe that change is possible anywhere, because we'll have just voted ourselves into one of the worst possible countries to have any hope of change for the better.

      I'm hoping for a yes vote, but mostly so that I *don't* feel that *I* have to get into politics more seriously than as a backseat commentator. I've got other things I'd like to do with my life than ride herd on a bunch of sociopaths.

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    5. LOL Well put Illy...

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  2. Oops! the Trussell Trust will be in big trouble now, the Tories a few weeks back told the TT to shut it, when it came to the amount of starving folk in the screwed up UK, or face the consequences. Westminster don't want to hear this kind of report, IDS and Esther McVile will just put their fingers in their ears and go Blah! Blah! Blah!.

    Meanwhile in the house of the devil aka Westminster, no real effort is to be put into commissioning a report, to see the effects of foodbanks and poverty on the people of the UK by the Tories or Labour or even the Lib/Dems, it seem sits a topic that NO ONE wants to debate at Westminster.

    Only a yes vote can untangle Scots from the grip of Westminster and permanent cuts,not to mention the vast cuts still to come, regardless who rules the Westminster roost. Alas we can't at this moment help the poor souls south of the border who are hungry, as we need to concentrate on helping Scots, as they say (Charity begins at home), but we must never forget WHO caused this famine and suffering, the blame falls squarely on the door of Westminster.

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    1. Yes that is true.

      They won't be happy about this becoming news.

      Westminster thinks along the lines that come naturally to them.

      There is free food in Food Banks; people are greedy; they will use food banks, because in tier world, there is cheap booze and food in Westminster; MPs are greedy; they will use Westminster canteens...

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  3. Sorry if someone has already posted this Tris.I find it incredibly moving.

    http://michaelgreenwell.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/play-this-everywhere/

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    1. JOhn, it's cool.

      It was posted a while ago, but that kind of thing needs to be shown from time to time incase we forget that we live in a country where this kind of thing happens.

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    2. The stupidity of it is immense.

      There are some stats on the amount of effort spent persuing and amount of money estimated lost over benefit fraud, and corperate tax evasion, and it really shows you where the government's priorities are.

      The utter stupidity of it all is that the tax system already has mechanisms in place to hand people money. They use it all the time when they mess up and overcharge. Wouldn't it be far cheaper to scrap "jobseekers allowance" (and the equivilent for people who ATOS admit aren't fit for work) and just have the tax system give them money until they make enough to keep food on their plates, and a heated roof over their heads?

      We could probably make up any shortfall from getting the money to everyone who should have it purely from the savings from not paying ATOS and similar whatever fee they're getting.

      But that wouldn't accomplish what Westminster want, so it's never going to happen.

      ---

      People say:
      "In the absence of evidence to the contrary, assume ignorance"
      That leads to sillyness like assuming the people in Westminster are stupid - They aren't. I say:
      "When planning, assume malice. When forgiving, assume ignorance."
      And since we're planning against the current system, we have to assume that Westminster *wants* to cause people to be homeless, starving and destitute, because otherwise we'll predict what they'll do next wrong.

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    3. There must be a better way of doing it. The problem is that at the moment it just seems to be war on the poor. It's almost like they have come to the conclusion that there will never be enough work to go round and the best thing to do is kill them off.

      And yes, it would be silly to assume that connections alone got all the people in Westminster where they are.

      Malice and perversion is much more likely.

      That's why the decisions seem stupid. They are perverted (and I don;t mean that in the accepted way...although, who knows) They have just perverted the job of government to one that suits them.

      It's become class again. There are those, and such as those... and there are the rest. And there are too many of the rest.

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  4. Tris

    I sadly see this with some young people I work with. You know they are hungry but they, like many others, are too proud to say. This issue will bring this Government down, you can sense that people are starting to get frustrated enough to act. Hope it comes in time for the vote, but either way the politicians at Westminster are th lowest we have ever had and shamefully protecting themselves before it all comes tumbling down.

    Bruce

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    1. What a dreadful place to live when you're having to exist side by side with people who don;t have enough to eat, and worrying about the radiation leaks from £100 billion worth of scrap flag waving nuclear waste which seems only to have the purpose of denying the West coast an oil boom, and letting the weasel Cameron sit on the security council.

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  5. On Monday 14 July Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish cabinet will host a public discussion in Wick, to give members of the community the chance to quiz ministers about independence.

    Scotland’s Future discussion in Wick

    7PM, Monday 14 July.

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    1. First rate.

      Imagine being able to quiz the English cabinet....?

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  6. One distressing thing about the quote is that the Trussell Trust is not the ONLY "food parcel aid agency", but is instead the LEAD "food parcel aid agency". This means that there are so many people who now need aid to get food, that more than just one aid agency is required to keep them all from starving.

    Policies have been designed by shameless politicians to cut off some people's benefits, so that they are literally starving in what is a rich country. This is done to frighten others into keeping quiet and accepting their low status in the UK, because they fear they could be targeted next.

    I hope Scotland votes Yes, then builds a more compassionate society, and acts as an example for the electorate in the rUK - they too can bring in change for the better.

    P.S. Keep up the good work Tris, your pics and graphics can say just as much as longer articles, and can compress an idea into easily-shared images that really resonate.

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    1. Thanks Anon.

      Apparently the Red Cross is delivering food parcels here for the first time since the 39-45 war.

      It does that in Ethiopia too though, so we are not alone.

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  7. That is it. It is not about greed, it is about being human.

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    1. There's lots of different kinds of human though Douglas...

      Just not very keen on the sort that populate Westminster by and large.

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  8. You have to believe in your future Niko.

    I'd not worry too much if I were you. It's not your future.

    I'd be concerning myself with the situation in Cyprus and Greece...

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  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAqyf7a4xFM

    This should cheer you up...

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    1. Now that made my day, sadly nothing seems to be hurt but then can you injure something with no feelings.

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  10. We are turning into a society that has lost it's community spirit.

    It's so sad, we are supposed to help our fellow man/women.

    People going hungry in this country is a national disgrace.



    My friend and his mates have done a re touch of "Caledonia" and i think you might like it.

    They are all YESSERS and very talented musicians hope you like it.


    http://youtu.be/njpHoWZVC2k?list=LLKZuVH_U1OPnZGBovpWPmdQ

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    1. That was BRILLIANT, Richy.

      Totally fantastic. Sung with passion and conviction, and musically really spot on.

      Tell the guys how much I appreciated it please.

      Have a listen, guys. I'm not even slightly sentimental about patriotism, but this is passionate.

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    2. Richy, I have been trying to listen to this through, Derek Bateman, Wings and now here, finally, God I love it. Well done young men,all of you. Gave me the collywobbles it did. Best version ever.

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    3. Id have used it as a post, but they have disabled the embedding code.

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  11. We are discussing hunger in a wealthy country Niko and you come on with this drivel. Now off with you, you were not missed over the weekend except for my target practising which did not get it's customary work out.

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  12. Further more Niko, I would not want to see what is going to happen if the Scots vote No. Heaven help them because they will need it. I will have gone as soon as it is possible. I am one of the fortunate I chose not to leave kids in Scotland.

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  13. Now what a satisfying site that was, 12 times so far. Could we have one of Niko, mind I would rather use my hand on him, I have a very hard hand for slapping I have been told by those who had a friendly slap from me so I imagine it just might hurt him. Then of course I would be a nasty Nat, no I just will go back and belt Mr Gove a few more times.

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  14. I was seriously looking at Ireland....

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  15. Still am, I am damned if I will live another year under the Tories.Donegal would suit us fine. Great Granddad came from there.

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  16. Yeah Helena, stick to Govie.

    Niko is a sensitive soul.

    I've got a few mates in England who are teachers. They are overjoyed at him going. They HATE him with such passion.

    Yeah... hit hit hit hit hit hit hit hit hit... Such fun.

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  17. I have spent ages reading and copying your pics. Great stuff and gets the message out simply and your commentators are a joy to read.

    Even you Niko.

    Glad you like the song and we will try to get them at a meet once we are more organised. . Thought it might be cheesy but ended up really proud to know these guys. added a new link hope it works.


    http://youtu.be/njpHoWZVC2k?list=LLKZuVH_U1OPnZGBovpWPmdQ

    Not too hot with these things. A steep learning curve for an old dog.

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  18. Tris i think it's still in the draft stage and the song may be released.

    Will get back to you and maybe get someone to post you a copy.

    Got excited when i heard it and don't have many details. Posted it to show the wealth of talent here.

    but will be back soonest.

    P.s Darren ( singer ) was surprised at the comments. And we've trebled the hit it had since yesterday. Great work everyone and thank you all for watching.

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    1. Tell Darren from me, that I think he has a fantastic talent.

      I'm a musician myself and I'm hell of a fussy about my music. It has to be good for it to impress me. My favourite singer in Petula Clark. She's not everyone's cup of tea, but she's a spot on musician with soul and she's a hard mark to reach, even at 82.

      So many singers just sing lyrics, but your mate Darren has that same ability to sing as if he's actually living the song and bring tears to your eyes, all the time hitting the note bang in the middle, just the way pet does. I have to say the other band members seem like superb musicians too. Everything about it is just so good.

      I'd like to put it on the blog as a post, but I need the embed code to do that properly...

      I suppose I could just link to it....

      Anyway, thank the band on our behalf. It's just bloody great!

      It should be released and in the run up to the referendum, it needs to be a Scottish hit.

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  19. let them eat porridge

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