THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE – SCOTTISH VERSION
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. But then again, perhaps they would prefer full fiscal autonomy rather than dissolve the political bands – Long Live King George …
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness – but sometimes they’d rather have devo max, and a kind of independence lite …
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security – or if that seems too extreme, perhaps we should go for full fiscal autonomy and leave them in charge of the vital things …
My apologies to the Founding Fathers of a great independent nation, the United States of America and their unanimous declaration of independence, July 4th, 1776
BRUCE’S ADDRESS TO HIS CAPTAIN’S BEFORE BANNOCKBURN – 2014 VERSION
And certis me think well that ye
Forout abasing aucht to be
Worthy and of gret vasselagis
For we haff thre gret avantagis
The fyrst is that we haf the rycht
And for the rycht ay God will fycht.
The tother is that thai cummyn ar
For lyppynyng off thar gret powar
To sek us in our awne land,
And has brocht her rycht till our hand
but then again, maybe we should settle for full fiscal autonomy …
LIBERATION ARMY LEADER, IN THE LAST STAGES OF THE SIRTE SIEGE (SCOTTISH VERSION)
“Maybe we should settle for full fiscal autonomy, guys – a kind of freedom-lite. Let’s see what the freedom fighters think, shall we? Gadaffi might be OK with it …”
WILLIAM WALLACE, HANGED, CUT DOWN AND BEING DISEMBOWELLED, 2014
“Full fiscal autonomy!”
SUMMARY
I offer these alternatives to great historical events in the birth of nations as inspirational slogans to nationalist Scots, young and old, as they fight for hearts and minds of their fellow Scots in the lead-up to the Referendum on their freedom and independence – well, maybe not quite freedom, perhaps full fiscal autonomy. (What’s the Gaelic for full fiscal autonomy?)
Yes, yes, I know Westminster would still be in charge, still sovereign, still free to **** up the economy, engage in foreign wars, kill our young servicemen and women, keep obscene weapons of mass destruction in our country, enrich the South East of England, etc.
For God’s sake, what’s your problem? Politics is the art of the possible! What’s wrong with going into battle with a banner that says Independence Lite – it has a kind of resonance, don’t you think? Devo Max? How about that, then?
Stop throwing things at me! Really!
Posts
Well said!
ReplyDeleteDEVOLVED FULL FISCAL AUTONOMY SCOTLAND FOREVER!
Stevie,
ReplyDeleteNot quite sure from that where you stand on FFA
Irony is never recognised in its own land.
ReplyDeleteSigh... following your contrasting perspectives Peter.
I hope Salmond is just giving the Brit nats something to keep themselves busy with.
I suspect on a good day we can win the YES to independence referendum but if there's a 2nd FFa question that will SPLIT our vote.
The Scot nats seem to think it can be YES, YES but it can also be YES to FFA + NO to independence.
That would nor be helpful and would entirely confuse matters. Once matters ar confused the Brit nats will use it to their complete advantage...
I know the dangers of irony, Stevie.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't publish your other comment, since it referred to comments on another blog.
I've just been to the restaurant and I think I knocked back a full bottle of red.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, if salmond is just occupying the unionists with a bone to play with then fine.
But if the vote if finely balanced then giving halfway housers a middle option guarantees an increased NO vote.
i.e. YES to independence is a dead cert for YES to FFA.
BUT
YES to FFA as a preferred choice is a dead cert for a NO to indepenence to secure an FFA choice (to keep the status quo - you won't vote for FFA as a first choice then vote YES to independence).
This increases the NO vote as opposed to those who may have finally opted to vote YES to independence.
I'm right about this...
At this point, nobody is proposing first and second choice ballots, Stevie, as far as I'm aware. But as the Holyrood spat over the academic showed, there is a desperate need for some clear thinking.
ReplyDelete