A regular below-the-line commenter on this site lately brought to my attention a short article penned by John Swinney and published on the SNP website under the title There is a better future for Scotland away from Westminster control. This commenter then asks:
He is a manager, an administrator. John Swinney is no leader. At no point in his nigh on 28 year Holyrood career (yes, career) has he shown leadership of any kind. No vision, no passion, no oratory, no outrage or indignation, no admiration and dare I say it, no balls, and always with the whiner’s plaintiff voice, John Swinney will retire to an excellent pension in a few years having achieved nothing of note.
For sure Peter, its clear as day "Swinney does nothing" on independence, he never has and never will. Given that the SNP leadership are not nationalists, this begs the question, what are they?
There is not a bit of difference between the SNP and the Labour branch office in Scotland, both are Woke parties 'specialising' in implementing damaging social re-engineering policies which destroys national cultures and economies, and at least one if not both is run by Tel Aviv, much like the USA.
I would suggest the party political road to independence is ended, assuming it ever really began; which confirms postcolonial theory that there is no connection between colonialism and democracy.
I try to always question the assumptions for this can prevent us falling into erroneous thinking.
It is obvious indeed that the SNP controlling cabal cannot be said to be Scottish Nationalists.
One might easily level a similar allegation against those apparently still in control of the former Labour party of England.
For they work against the interests of the ordinary people of the non-country of Britain, and for the neoliberal agenda of the ruling elite and international capital, and also seem to pay more heed to what Tel Aviv and Washington (or is it Langley) want than what England needs.
But the cynic will note that the diversionary, distracting and harmful 'Woke' worldview they once peddled in place of genuine social improvement policies has slowly faded from prominence as the reality of supporting settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, subjugation and genocide seems to have taken on greater importance in their priorities.
Thus a realistic observer might deduce that they are no more believers in their 'Woke'
mindset now than they ever were. It was just a conveniently adopted ideological position concocted under the controlling influence of the controlling hegemon and now recognised as increasingly out of favour.
'Settler colonialism', it may be argued, is a Woke party policy. The national party still supports this, and its gender ideology 'initiatives', despite the latter now being unlawful, and both of which divide the people and independence movement.
The main point I am making here, however, is the inevitable and predictable (by theory) failure of the oppressed group's dependence on the colonizer's political process; hence the need for the movement to find another path to liberate the people, and most notably the Liberation Scotland UN initiative:
I see no route to independence which bypasses the existing democratic institutions – principally, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. At least, not one that isn't fraught with additional difficulties that we hardly need.
There is nothing wrong with the party system. It's just that we, the people, stopped using the political parties the way they are meant to be used. Political parties should function as the connection between the people and legislative power.
We last saw this in action with the two governments led by Alex Salmond. In those days, the SNP was not bound to any rigid ideology or policy agenda. This meant they could be more responsive to the party membership and the electorate than the traditional parties. I identified Alex Salmond's style of government as principled pragmatism. Find what works, but cross no red lines in the process.
Nicola Sturgeon took about five minutes to kill all of that.
I know there are those who think in terms of destroying what we have and building something else. What's the point? If we the people don't change, then whatever this replacement might be falls prey to the same neglect which allows cliques and vested interests to hijack the connection to effective political power – the power to effect change.
We need to take back control. I know this language has been used by those whose intent is far from benign. But when they say 'we', they don't mean the same as when I say it. My 'we' is broader, taller, and deeper than their 'we'.
Here's the thing! The party system lends itself to being directed. It is manipulable. We know this because we see it being manipulated every day by self-serving politicians and professional lobbyists working for various vested interests. If they can do it, why the fuck can't we?
Take back our government!
We do that by USING the party system, not by abandoning it to those vested interests. We create a party that serves Scotland's cause.
Take back our parliament!
We do that by using the electoral system while ignoring the snake-oil sellers with their magical voting strategies. We stop voting for parties and start voting for solid commitments. Forget supermajorities! We go for a super-mandate authorising specified action within a given timeframe.
Then, we take back our country!
We take back our country by acting as a sovereign people. By doing what a sovereign people would do. We will be an independent nation again when we start acting as an independent nation.
I'll repeat the main point I want to make here. We use what we have! Because if we can't use what we have, why would anybody imagine we'd do any better with whatever else is cobbled together? We use what we have even if for no reason other than to demonstrate that we can use it.
"We will be an independent nation again when we start acting as an independent nation."
Unfortunately even Alex Salmond did not do this. He did not fundamentally transform the hundreds of state institutions, departments, quango's etc that run this territory under colonial rule, especially the people leading them, all unionist/colonialist holding to the oppressor's values and agenda. And because they were left in situ they were able to destroy him and the movement.
A colonized people cannot afford to "use what we have" because most if not all of it is made mankit by colonialism. Colonial institutions aye need a guid dicht oot; that is the distinction between "acting as an independent nation" and not continuing as a colonial territory.
This was a topic that I recently raised with David McWilliam of 'Scotland Explained' in a comment under Peters recent posting 'It's our Parliament'. [1]
It is a major topic that absolutely must be planned for BEFORE we are to face the crunch point of confrontation with the British State.
It appears that there are many who may be inculcated in the 'British Way' and seem to want to assume this will not be be an issue.
Well they can cross their fingers and hope for the best but WE should insist that these issues are addressed.
If you know of a workable proposition that does not involve the proposal to take back our parliament, then take back our civic administration, then take back our nation, in that order, then I for one would be keen to hear it.
And also might I respectfully suggest that those who feel strongly on this issue should go over to the new YES2030 initiative and politely and constructively participate and contribute to ensuring the formation of ideas over there does start off heading in the wrong direction. ;-)
TBQH unless and until Scots become more Blood And Soil nationalists independence is doomed , we have more TRAITOROUS Scots and FAKE NEW SCOTS who are content to sit back and vote for the Scum Nonce Party because they KNOW that the yoonion is not under ANY kind of threat with the current lot of MORONS in charge , the incomers are happy to accept the lower council charges and the free medicines but they panic when any real moves are made by REAL indy supporters
If any REAL moves towards indy happens the STATE media move collectively to rush out with the FEAR COLLECTION of invasion by aliens , too wee , too stupid , too POOR
This is a brilliant wee dissertation on the state of our battle for independence Peter..
'Burnham has already brushed Swinney aside as one might shoo a pesky fly' (ref: Peter A Bell)
What an excellent description .....
or...'Swinney just doesn't get this popular sovereignty thing at all.'(Ref: Peter A Bell)
I have just this minute heard on the news that swiney wants his legacy to be ...'that he cut the NHS waiting times....'( he actually says it...)
And you all thought it was to finally free Scotland from this toxic union. ( laughter offstage)...silly you! So I take it that the much vaunted 'secret plan was just that....reduce waiting times in the NHS....now we know....gong and cape please ..time the ijit went...
Bad enough we have to put up with being occupied for 300 years by our thieving colonial masters.. but we have also to contend with a lying looney at the centre of our struggle...not to mention our home grown quislings and Scots who want to love the foreign english. ( while they help themselves tae anything they want)...
SD was particularly cruel re swiney..but I have to agree with every bloody word.
And RD was particularly 'mean' tae oor 'nice overlords'. So gratifying that Scots see through swiney's games...but incredibly sad for Scotland and her people.
And SJ was particularly erudite ....
Whit's the answer...sob!...get rid of swiney..he has tae go.....shut the border..dispose of quislings and foreigners that own oor land ..ad infinitum.....but that's anither story .
For OUR Scotland and her weans and those tae come...
Even if John Swinney possesses a well-hidden iron fist he'd have to be fighting fit and in the ring first before he can engage his opponent with any prospect of victory.
Swinney's not even been in the gymnasium yet.
Low grade trash talking is the limit of his abilities.
I seen YIR0's comment and the link to Swindler's latest manifestation of submission to his English Overlord and make no apology for not reading that linked article; the fact yr man was claiming it as some kind of ACTUAL declaration of intent ( to do something other than whine & snivel ) automatically rendered it not worth the time to read: a conclusion confirmed by yr quotes from and comments on it.
Notable that not a single apologist for SwiNP feebleness has asked about the " Secret Plan " that would - supposedly - be put into action when the inevitable " Fuck-off Jocks " response from England to the latest * plea * for a C-Section " too posh ( read cowardly ) to push " ( for Independence ) permission from the SNP ensued with absolute predictability. That total and fckn obvious Pre-Election lie has just been memory-holed, like it never even happened.
No wonder the SNP Management behave with such intelligence-insulting contempt to their own support when the latter just takes EVERY instance of that contempt with passive, uncritical acceptance. Asking nothing, questioning nothing, happy to be spoon-fed nothing but milksops and Panglossian promises of jam - or is it spam?.... yeah, promises of spam tomorrow - maybe, if you're nice, little obedient pet poodles
He is a manager, an administrator. John Swinney is no leader. At no point in his nigh on 28 year Holyrood career (yes, career) has he shown leadership of any kind. No vision, no passion, no oratory, no outrage or indignation, no admiration and dare I say it, no balls, and always with the whiner’s plaintiff voice, John Swinney will retire to an excellent pension in a few years having achieved nothing of note.
For sure Peter, its clear as day "Swinney does nothing" on independence, he never has and never will. Given that the SNP leadership are not nationalists, this begs the question, what are they?
There is not a bit of difference between the SNP and the Labour branch office in Scotland, both are Woke parties 'specialising' in implementing damaging social re-engineering policies which destroys national cultures and economies, and at least one if not both is run by Tel Aviv, much like the USA.
I would suggest the party political road to independence is ended, assuming it ever really began; which confirms postcolonial theory that there is no connection between colonialism and democracy.
I try to always question the assumptions for this can prevent us falling into erroneous thinking.
It is obvious indeed that the SNP controlling cabal cannot be said to be Scottish Nationalists.
One might easily level a similar allegation against those apparently still in control of the former Labour party of England.
For they work against the interests of the ordinary people of the non-country of Britain, and for the neoliberal agenda of the ruling elite and international capital, and also seem to pay more heed to what Tel Aviv and Washington (or is it Langley) want than what England needs.
But the cynic will note that the diversionary, distracting and harmful 'Woke' worldview they once peddled in place of genuine social improvement policies has slowly faded from prominence as the reality of supporting settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, subjugation and genocide seems to have taken on greater importance in their priorities.
Thus a realistic observer might deduce that they are no more believers in their 'Woke'
mindset now than they ever were. It was just a conveniently adopted ideological position concocted under the controlling influence of the controlling hegemon and now recognised as increasingly out of favour.
'Settler colonialism', it may be argued, is a Woke party policy. The national party still supports this, and its gender ideology 'initiatives', despite the latter now being unlawful, and both of which divide the people and independence movement.
The main point I am making here, however, is the inevitable and predictable (by theory) failure of the oppressed group's dependence on the colonizer's political process; hence the need for the movement to find another path to liberate the people, and most notably the Liberation Scotland UN initiative:
https://liberation.scot/
I see no route to independence which bypasses the existing democratic institutions – principally, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. At least, not one that isn't fraught with additional difficulties that we hardly need.
There is nothing wrong with the party system. It's just that we, the people, stopped using the political parties the way they are meant to be used. Political parties should function as the connection between the people and legislative power.
We last saw this in action with the two governments led by Alex Salmond. In those days, the SNP was not bound to any rigid ideology or policy agenda. This meant they could be more responsive to the party membership and the electorate than the traditional parties. I identified Alex Salmond's style of government as principled pragmatism. Find what works, but cross no red lines in the process.
Nicola Sturgeon took about five minutes to kill all of that.
I know there are those who think in terms of destroying what we have and building something else. What's the point? If we the people don't change, then whatever this replacement might be falls prey to the same neglect which allows cliques and vested interests to hijack the connection to effective political power – the power to effect change.
We need to take back control. I know this language has been used by those whose intent is far from benign. But when they say 'we', they don't mean the same as when I say it. My 'we' is broader, taller, and deeper than their 'we'.
Here's the thing! The party system lends itself to being directed. It is manipulable. We know this because we see it being manipulated every day by self-serving politicians and professional lobbyists working for various vested interests. If they can do it, why the fuck can't we?
Take back our government!
We do that by USING the party system, not by abandoning it to those vested interests. We create a party that serves Scotland's cause.
Take back our parliament!
We do that by using the electoral system while ignoring the snake-oil sellers with their magical voting strategies. We stop voting for parties and start voting for solid commitments. Forget supermajorities! We go for a super-mandate authorising specified action within a given timeframe.
Then, we take back our country!
We take back our country by acting as a sovereign people. By doing what a sovereign people would do. We will be an independent nation again when we start acting as an independent nation.
I'll repeat the main point I want to make here. We use what we have! Because if we can't use what we have, why would anybody imagine we'd do any better with whatever else is cobbled together? We use what we have even if for no reason other than to demonstrate that we can use it.
"We will be an independent nation again when we start acting as an independent nation."
Unfortunately even Alex Salmond did not do this. He did not fundamentally transform the hundreds of state institutions, departments, quango's etc that run this territory under colonial rule, especially the people leading them, all unionist/colonialist holding to the oppressor's values and agenda. And because they were left in situ they were able to destroy him and the movement.
A colonized people cannot afford to "use what we have" because most if not all of it is made mankit by colonialism. Colonial institutions aye need a guid dicht oot; that is the distinction between "acting as an independent nation" and not continuing as a colonial territory.
Aye Alf.
This was a topic that I recently raised with David McWilliam of 'Scotland Explained' in a comment under Peters recent posting 'It's our Parliament'. [1]
It is a major topic that absolutely must be planned for BEFORE we are to face the crunch point of confrontation with the British State.
It appears that there are many who may be inculcated in the 'British Way' and seem to want to assume this will not be be an issue.
Well they can cross their fingers and hope for the best but WE should insist that these issues are addressed.
If you know of a workable proposition that does not involve the proposal to take back our parliament, then take back our civic administration, then take back our nation, in that order, then I for one would be keen to hear it.
And also might I respectfully suggest that those who feel strongly on this issue should go over to the new YES2030 initiative and politely and constructively participate and contribute to ensuring the formation of ideas over there does start off heading in the wrong direction. ;-)
[1] https://peterabell.substack.com/p/its-our-parliament/comment/301006531
TBQH unless and until Scots become more Blood And Soil nationalists independence is doomed , we have more TRAITOROUS Scots and FAKE NEW SCOTS who are content to sit back and vote for the Scum Nonce Party because they KNOW that the yoonion is not under ANY kind of threat with the current lot of MORONS in charge , the incomers are happy to accept the lower council charges and the free medicines but they panic when any real moves are made by REAL indy supporters
If any REAL moves towards indy happens the STATE media move collectively to rush out with the FEAR COLLECTION of invasion by aliens , too wee , too stupid , too POOR
"... although they may not like my answer to the first bit"
I welcome different opinions, hence why I pointed it out. We're not all Dolly! Baaaaaa ...
This is a brilliant wee dissertation on the state of our battle for independence Peter..
'Burnham has already brushed Swinney aside as one might shoo a pesky fly' (ref: Peter A Bell)
What an excellent description .....
or...'Swinney just doesn't get this popular sovereignty thing at all.'(Ref: Peter A Bell)
I have just this minute heard on the news that swiney wants his legacy to be ...'that he cut the NHS waiting times....'( he actually says it...)
And you all thought it was to finally free Scotland from this toxic union. ( laughter offstage)...silly you! So I take it that the much vaunted 'secret plan was just that....reduce waiting times in the NHS....now we know....gong and cape please ..time the ijit went...
Bad enough we have to put up with being occupied for 300 years by our thieving colonial masters.. but we have also to contend with a lying looney at the centre of our struggle...not to mention our home grown quislings and Scots who want to love the foreign english. ( while they help themselves tae anything they want)...
SD was particularly cruel re swiney..but I have to agree with every bloody word.
And RD was particularly 'mean' tae oor 'nice overlords'. So gratifying that Scots see through swiney's games...but incredibly sad for Scotland and her people.
And SJ was particularly erudite ....
Whit's the answer...sob!...get rid of swiney..he has tae go.....shut the border..dispose of quislings and foreigners that own oor land ..ad infinitum.....but that's anither story .
For OUR Scotland and her weans and those tae come...
They just keep peddling the same old shite...
Even if John Swinney possesses a well-hidden iron fist he'd have to be fighting fit and in the ring first before he can engage his opponent with any prospect of victory.
Swinney's not even been in the gymnasium yet.
Low grade trash talking is the limit of his abilities.
I seen YIR0's comment and the link to Swindler's latest manifestation of submission to his English Overlord and make no apology for not reading that linked article; the fact yr man was claiming it as some kind of ACTUAL declaration of intent ( to do something other than whine & snivel ) automatically rendered it not worth the time to read: a conclusion confirmed by yr quotes from and comments on it.
Notable that not a single apologist for SwiNP feebleness has asked about the " Secret Plan " that would - supposedly - be put into action when the inevitable " Fuck-off Jocks " response from England to the latest * plea * for a C-Section " too posh ( read cowardly ) to push " ( for Independence ) permission from the SNP ensued with absolute predictability. That total and fckn obvious Pre-Election lie has just been memory-holed, like it never even happened.
No wonder the SNP Management behave with such intelligence-insulting contempt to their own support when the latter just takes EVERY instance of that contempt with passive, uncritical acceptance. Asking nothing, questioning nothing, happy to be spoon-fed nothing but milksops and Panglossian promises of jam - or is it spam?.... yeah, promises of spam tomorrow - maybe, if you're nice, little obedient pet poodles