The UK today.

LB - that lady is the leader of the labour party in Scotland.  She needs a new hairdresser - that's all I am saying.  She seems like a competent politian so far so I shouldn't mock her because she isn't the prettiest in parliament.

To be fair to the Scottish voters - when Labour got into power and didn't turn the country into a socialist utopia - they didn't know what to do and so plumped for the SNP because we all know that no-one in scotland could ever vote Tory (automatic ejection from the country).  

Britain today - I think probablly on balance things are as good or as bad as they always have been - just in different ways.

I can't compare us to the rest of Europe but certainly compared to the US we are so much more civilised and take much more care of our citizens.   I kind of think kids grow up to fast and don't have the same childhood that I had - but I am pretty sure my mother said the same thing about me when I was growing up.

TV and media - we get what we ask for - if you don't like it, don't watch it or buy it. 

 I really do not see the point of bemoaning the state of the nation - it is what we make it.

I am very curious to see what will happen.  I suspect the no's will have it but that it will be close.  What will be will be though.If the majority want independance then I suppose they must have it.  

My husband (English that he is) will insist we leave the country but I will come back for visits though - I still think (apart from the weather) that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  

Let's not have devolution. We need Scotland and Scotland needs us.

wales hasn't got devolution proper like Scotland.....but we do have free prescriptions.and we still have EMA for those in sixth form................and we have cheaper uni fees....................

Tickled Pink wrote (see)

We already have devolution Rickter. For about the last 14 years we have had our own Parliament. Have you been asleep?

But you are still part of the UK. You don't have full devolution.

Devolution is the granting of some powers from central government to a subsection of the country.

Which is what we have. Devo-max is still not the same as independance, it just means even more powers given to the substate (i.e scottish parliament)

Independance is different.   Independance is the creation of a seperate country. Rickster  - I think you misunderstand the meaning of the word devolution.

But I do agree - we are better together.

GymAddict wrote (see)

 I still think (apart from the weather) that it is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  

It is to my great shame that having spent three years living there I never really explored it. And then five years ago we went North, up to the Highlands and Islands and I was STUNNED by the beauty of Scotland. I couldn't believe this was effectively on our doorstep and I didn't know how gorgeous it is.

make the most of it before salmond carpets the lot in windmills.

Going back a few pages I know but 65k for an MP seems about right to me - they get very generous expenses and pensions on top of that and of course experience as an MP hardly makes you unemployable afterwards.   The idea that you'll get better people by paying more seems unlikely to me - we already have too many career politicians who want to be in parliament for the sake of it - making it a more attractive career choice is only going to increase that trend.   It should be about wanting to serve the country not serve your own interests.    

As for other highly paid professions - bankers, some doctors (GPs) etc - yes I think they earn too much and I don't think they deserve it.    There us a fundamental problem in any society where the gap between rich and poor is too great.   Saying work hard and be one of the successful ones then isn' t a good response imo - it implies that those who aren't coining it in don't work hard and that you can only believe in a more equal society because of jealousy.   If you look at the more equal societies I think you'll probably find lower levels of crime, higher educational achievement and generally more the kind of societies most of us would say possess the characteristics we would want for our own.   

Dave The Ex- Spartan wrote (see)

...... So not a lot apart from the output of Islay that I need from you thanks

*psst* What's your poison? We can come to an agreement. Meet me at Gretna Services, used notes in a Greggs bag................ 

LIVERBIRD wrote (see)

I have a cunning plan anyway. "Free" Scots from the shackles of Westminster (we're quite clearly oppressing the poor souls) STOP our English subsidies from travelling North, wait for them to beg for help and then invade and take the oil and oppress them all over again. But do a proper job this time and make sure they know their place and call us Sir.

 

I think I'd stop all the money travelling north to the moaning minnies of Liverpool, Liverbird

Devolution, by the way, means 'delegation of authoritie or duties to a subordinate or substitute' or 'a transfer of powers from a central government to local units'. By definition, there has been devolution for Scotland; and 'full devolution' does not mean independence!