We’ve had the debate: universalism won
If Scottish Labour wants to open up a debate on universalism, I welcome it. It’ll be a brief debate and universalism will win. Again.
News
Is this the end of ‘Scottish’ Labour?
It is hard not to conclude that Johann Lamont has retreated into a fantasy land. Cancelling devolution, retreating into local government and turning to the right to align herself with London Labour might solve her internal squabbles. But what does any of this have to do with Scotland?
83 per cent of people say opinion polls are rubbish
The use of opinion polls by lobby groups is not to gather information but to create false opinions and use those to make politicians think the public is on the side of big money. We need to get wiser about opinion polls or we’re going to start falling for this stuff like they do in the US.
Read More »83 per cent of people say opinion polls are rubbish
This is neoliberal Britain. What option is there other than striking?
Iain MacWhirter’s arguments against industrial action by public sector workers appears to leave them with no option but to be preyed on by the CBI. Surely people must have a right to protect themselves? Surely we all have a responsibility to explain what people should do when we’re telling them what not to do?
Read More »This is neoliberal Britain. What option is there other than striking?
Two Important Media Initiatives
The new issue of the Scottish Left Review is now online. In it are two articles about two different media initiatives in Scotland. Here are the articles
‘Hidden spaces’ – how to privatise Scotland by stealth
The Reform Scotland proposals to merge parts of the public sector into big units is anti-deomcratic and seems intentionally designed to make the public sector especially susceptible to profiteering by the financial sector. We need to be more alert to the real intention of this agenda.
Read More »‘Hidden spaces’ – how to privatise Scotland by stealth
Politicians have no idea who we really are
MSPs are pandering to imaginary Scots, writes Robin McAlpine, based on polls about what people think
Understanding the Permanent State of Emergency
By taking time to properly explain the purpose of NATO instead of swallowing whole its own press releases, James Foley responds to George Kerevan’s case for a pro-NATO Scottish independence in the Scotsman on Friday.
NATO Policy Must Serve the Nation, not US Corporate Interests
Article from the Scotland on Sunday on why we need to start thinking about the big foriegn policy downsides of NATO membership, and to be clearer on what NATO is really for.
Read More »NATO Policy Must Serve the Nation, not US Corporate Interests
Siege Monday: send rations to Assange and Salmond
Salmond and Assange start the day under siege. But the besieger is very keen that we don’t think in too much detail about what happens if they are successful. When the destination is unpalatable, talk instead about the journey.
Read More »Siege Monday: send rations to Assange and Salmond