FINALLY, on the basis of Sunday morning’s performance on the Andrew Marr Show, it would seem that the First Minister has learned how to deal with the ignorant hectoring and persistent grunting and interruptions of the arch Unionist – you simply keep talking, making your point and answering the question which the same Marr has conveniently forgotten that he asked you to respond to in the first place.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon defends independence when quizzed by Andrew Marr
Let us now hope that she now goes on to apply the same determined approach to the “now is not the time” brigade of Johnson, Gove, Ross, Davidson, Starmer and Sarwar et al, translating this determination into a commitment to simply refuse to countenance the Unionists’ assured rejection of a second referendum, and ditching this forelock-tugging, cap-in-hand request for permission to hold said referendum. We do the talking while they do the listening! Then we do the deciding.
She has just learned that it can work – just ask Andrew Marr, who has found out that the Andrew Marr Show was his in name only.
Ian Duff
Inverness
BRAVO Gerry Hassan for a clear vision of Scotland’s possible future, and the snags en route (The Language of Priorities, Sunday National, April 25). What a contrast with Andrew Marr’s pro-establishment attempt to tear down our First Minister in his programme that same day.
Gerry speaks of British capitalism and warns we will need a broad alliance – and a clear vision of what we’re trying to achieve – to overcome its “reactionary” forces. This may be an under-statement. There are several examples of South American countries where socialist regimes have been established and have begun to prosper, only to be wiped out by American capitalism.
READ MORE: The language of priorities – how we speak to the Scotland of the future
In Europe there is a strand of thought that Brexit Britain must not be allowed to prosper. Therefore we must expect the London establishment to do all in its power to prevent our independence, or to set terms designed to ensure we cannot flourish. Not because they hate us, but because self-centred capitalism would be shown up for the immoral system that it is if a socially-oriented Scotland were to thrive.
And Gerry is right that wealth creation needs new ways of thinking in a new society. Capitalism relies on a sub-population of wage-slaves so desperate for work that they will do so-called “menial” jobs for virtually no income. Yet Covid has shown us how many of these jobs are essential to our society.
We need to adjust our sense of values. If we were to properly recognise and reward these essential workers, their wages would flow back into the economy through spending and taxes, allowing the society to be economically stable.
This also needs a long-term structure for shares, financing and profits. What Gerry terms “the short-term extractive model” of corporate governance is polite language for get-rich-quick capitalism. This is evidenced, for example, in further licences for oil and gas exploration – “never mind the future of the planet as long as I’m all right”.
As Gerry says, “a completely different set of values” is needed. It would be wonderful if the rUK came with us on this pathway, but their institutions have been hijacked. So we must travel alone, and hope that someday they might join us in our new world.
Diane Redhead
Edinburgh
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