So, the vote is a week away and I continue to get bombarded by truths, half-truths and un-truths (lies!). A balanced view is difficult to come across therefore as a voter I seem to be getting screamed at YES or NO. I read an interesting argument this morning (a no voter argument that I have copied here. Its not necessarily my view - blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/09/why-i-am-voting-no/ ) There are many voters – well, perhaps one in five – who would vote for independence even if it promised an impoverished future. Similarly there are many voters – perhaps one in five – who would reject independence even if they believed it offered a more prosperous future So, there’s 40% of the vote gone (perhaps) by the YES and NO screamers? What about the rest of us? Social media is proving a huge battle ground, and I am a wee bit fed up of the half-truths. An example is the oil industry (which I’ve worked in since I left school – 28 years ago, whew!). A headline argument I have seen is the HUGE oil field west of Shetland that is going to produce over 100,000 blls of oil per day – it is currently producing around 20,000brll/day! Why is no one mentioning the Buzzard field currently producing 180,000 blls/day. I guess it might be the sensationalism that folk grasp onto? And in the great scheme, the UK as a whole is 19th of the world’s oil producers producing 1.7% of the world’s oil. Peak production was in the mid 80’s. The decline in UK production is greater than any oil producing nation in the world (source Wikipedia). Yes, Scotland’s share maybe greater, but I pulled these ‘facts’ from sources in 2 mins on t’internet as an example of how easy it is to find info2 ….. reliable? I’m not saying oil is not a big potential income. I am saying tread carefully at the ‘truths’ that you hear and what they actually mean in the grand scheme of things. Another argument I do like is: What if we flipped the vote and we were voting to join the Union and lose independence? Mmmm .. a parliament 500 miles away, but we get to be part of a ‘secure’ financial system recognised throughout the world; we have decisions made by our ‘fellow countrymen’ and their MP’s but we have the security of a world renowned, respected and feared defence force. All thought provoking. Money – that is the bottom line .. isn’t it? How much extra will I get in a new prosperous Scotland where I get taxed less and services are vastly improved? OR will I have to pay more tax for these services, see the benefits system strain under the demands of the unemployed, poorer paid etc. Scotland will attract more business with its skilled workforce and more jobs will become available. OR existing companies based in Scotland will leave due to business uncertainty. All stuff I have no idea about and I can’t see how either side of the screamers can be definitive on any of this. Seems a bit of a gamble eh? Stick with what you’ve got, and for many that is ok. Change and see if it improves for those that it is not so OK for. I am Scottish. Always have been, and on my world travels that is where I tell people I come from and I believe I have benefited in my nationality. I am also British and again, I believe I have benefited in this respect too. I cheered loud for Ross Murdoch, Lyndsay Sharp and Charlie Flynn in the Commonwealth games. I equally cheered for Mo Farah as well as Chris Hoy at the Olympics. I follow Scotland in the 6 nations Rugby and love a British Lions tour. I’m not looking for an argument here and I am not 100% sure how I am going to vote. I hope that everyone will consider all sides to the argument and not vote only with their heart but with the view to what is best for Scotland and for its children’s futures – my children’s futures.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 09:57:20 +0000
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