There is no point in doing a blame game on the state of the nation.

Things have been going wrong for decades.

Economically and socially since Blair up to Sunak.

Lack of planning, fiscal mismanagement, social deterioration have all come home to roost fuelled by unrealistic interest rates, lack of social cohesion, absurd expectations of something for nothing etc etc.

I can't see an end without a major political shake up. I have come around to the view we should try PR rather than FPTP. Sadly the only place we have tried is NI where it has been an abject failure.

We have allowed ourselves to get to a position where our elected class who levy tax and decide where it is spent do not seem to represent anyone from left to centre to right.

Am I being too pessimistic?

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.

Can't agree that Fawkes' mass murder terrorist attempt was the way to go.

I am not convinced PR is an answer but what we have now is not working and what other electoral system is there?

Anything that gives Scotland a speedy farewell would get my support.

Edited by HKOwen (18 Nov 2022 6.40am)

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.

as a slight aside, I studied A level Government and Politics in the mid-1980's at the height of Thatcherism.At the start of every lecture there was a heated debate between students about the latest happenings in Government between staunch Tories and their fellow to the left.
Interesting points was raised by both sides, to the detriment of the lecture, which always started late because of off-topic discussions. And when the lecture did start, was frequently interrupted.

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

And imagine 'simple' issues like who qualifies to be classed as 'Scottish', with a right to live there? Is it everyone who lives there at a particular date? Will every UK citizen have the right to declare themselves as 'Scottish'? If so, what about the people they are married or civil partnered to or partnered with, or their children or step-children; what will their status be? What about all the people around the world who claim to be 'Scottish' - anecdotally there are many times more of these than the population of Scotland itself?

Edited by YT (18 Nov 2022 8.37am)

Palace since 19 August 1972. Palace 1 (Tony Taylor) Liverpool 1 (Emlyn Hughes)

Exactly to stop migrants coming to the UK through the back door the UK would have to draw a line and treat Scottish people the same as any EU subject.

The days of an unemployed unskilled jock jumping on a train to London and looking for work would have to go. Oddly enough I know quite a few Scots and Irish who just did and found work and paid taxes here.

The Scots may have forgotten that when they have no jobs England / London is always a good place for work. I would imagine Wee Jimmie would do her nut but what do you expect if you are independent you have no more rights than any other foreign worker.

Edited by Badger11 (18 Nov 2022 8.44am)

One more point

You need to look beyond NI for a model. That system doesn't work because the DUP only signed up to the Anglo Irish Agreement under protest, now only play lip service to joint rule and put up any obstacle they can to working with the nationalists. The previous leader would not resign over a patently resignable issue as it would have meant handing over the reigns to Deputy McGuiness. Now the protocol is just another disingenuous excuse, and I have little doubt they will paralyse their country in years to come over a.n.other excuse rather than work with Sinn Fein.

We have powerful political divisions but nothing like the entrenched Sectarian pish that still divides that place.

The continent has a whole range of better examples to follow of strong stable prosperous countries with a long tradition of coalition government.