(Apologies for the off-topicness, but after seeing the JFK article, I'm sure the Admins won't be too bothered. Tried to add Rangers to the title, but wouldn't let me. We all know how they'll vote anyway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGjiokfQ2A )
White paper is released today & of course we've all read it all already. So what are people's thoughts?
Personally, I'm going to vote "Yes" because I can't see a positive case for the Union, but plenty of positives for leaving it. Currently we have a Prime Minister with only 1 representative in Scotland. Why does anyone think that's acceptable? With independence we'd get away from the cesspit of Westminster and have a chance to build a better country. We could use the money saved from military spending & war to build a fairer society & renationalise some essential services like the Royal Mail.
Over the last few years the political gap between Scotland & England has grown considerably, with them moving more toward the right & Labour having to move accordingly to stay relevant. Think the time has come to cut the ties & admit that we're too different, Scotland wanting a centre-left government and England wanting UKIP or Tories. Sorry Wales & Norn Iron...
And please remember that the referendum has nothing to do with your personal opinion on Alex Salmond. If you plan to vote "No" because you dislike Salmond, logically that means you like David Cameron.
Independence
posted on 26/11/13
thats a sign of my excitement.....
posted on 26/11/13
If you are happy with your peoples lot vote no.
If you believe you can govern yourselves better than London does, vote yes.
Simples
posted on 26/11/13
Scotland the brave
posted on 27/11/13
NHS Scotland's budget is separate from NHS England's, so you can't pin that on the current Tory government is there's a huge deficit.
Try asking the Scottish government why everybody gets free prescriptions? The only people who should receive free prescriptions are pensioners, children, those who can't afford it (benefits recipients etc), and those who receive a repeat prescription (asthma sufferers, cancer patients etc)
Why should some millionaire, or even someone earning 20-30k a year get free prescriptions? It just madness, and think of all the extra money it would generate.
That's the level of incompetence I want to avoid that would come with independence
posted on 27/11/13
posted on 27/11/13
Juke, I totally agree I get a free prescription, it used to be £90 then it went down to £45 then nothing. I'm far from rich but I can easily afford it and its nobody elses fault I need them.
But really I was talking about the strain on the NHS down south. I've heard a few people saying its at breaking point, another couple of years with hard winter's could be the last straw.
I'm more concerned what happens if we DONT vote YES, the NO camp doesn't really have a plan........
posted on 27/11/13
You pay taxes to your NHS and healthcare, why should you pay for prescriptions too?
posted on 27/11/13
comment by westcoastarab # M T A..... (U5660)
posted 2 hours, 51 minutes ago
Juke, I totally agree I get a free prescription, it used to be £90 then it went down to £45 then nothing. I'm far from rich but I can easily afford it and its nobody elses fault I need them.
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What is the cut off though. Say you developed Schizophrenia would you happily cough up £5k a year if they deemed you could afford it.
I think playing the lottery of affordable illnesses in the USA has left a fair number of middle class families almost completely destitute.
A capped flat fee(for those in employment) might be the way to go £5-£10 as for most working people that might not be too bad.
posted on 27/11/13
Free prescriptions is a great idea & it's also made the system far easier. Rather than having to do various checks to make sure the person really is on benefits/over-65 etc. it's just the same for everybody.
And who cares if a millionaire gets free prescriptions? They're also paying a hell of a lot of tax. Never should medical care should be decided on the size of your wallet. They're as entitled to it as you or me.
And as somewhat who commuted over the Tay Bridge for 4 years, I love them for scrapping bridge tolls.
The Daily Telegraph/Mail types hate the "handouts" we Scots get, but the thing is we get free bridges, prescriptions, higher education all within out budget. Perhaps they should be asking why you don't get the same perks in the other parts of the UK, than calling us "subsidy junkies" and the likes.
posted on 27/11/13
Perhaps they should be asking why you don't get the same perks in the other parts of the UK,
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Exactly