Dear Editor
Capitalism, the system under which we live, constantly tries to retain control over the population. The ways of doing this are many, as a reading of history will show: a catalogue of land thieving, forced clearances, draconian laws and the prosecution of those who resisted. A policy of ‘divide and rule’ always was, and still is, the main tactic.
A recent example, the financial collapse of 2008, is blamed on the Labour Party, dividing organised political resistance against the savage cuts in public services and wages. It is now admitted that the financial crisis was worldwide caused by the banking industry.
From 2010 divide and rule was stepped up,with people not in work accused of being skivers and scroungers. It was then extended to disabled people and those who for many reasons were unable to work, having to claim benefits on which to live. They were then subjected to an assessment on their fitness to work by a private company – despite their having medical certification.
The housing shortage is partly blamed on people occupying a house or flat deemed to have spare rooms, and now this is followed by stories of elderly people being financially better off at the expense of younger generations.
All these example, and many more, are designed to set one against another, making unity more difficult.
To counter this we must show that there are many issues common to everyone, to get people thinking and acting again in a positive manner and making these issues work for the benefit of all.
We all need energy supplies, water and utilities, and a good reliable public transport system. It is not right that these essential services are mainly privately-owned, instead of being run for the benefit of all.
Unity, not division, will change things. There is so much on which to unite, making progress to a better life for all.
A. Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens
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If unity is strength and is the answer to the change that is needed then why has Scotland, by being part of the United Kingdom, just been dragged out of the European Union despite voting overwhelmingly to stay.
On the eve of our referendum in 2014 Better Together broke the Edinburgh Agreement by promising major change to Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK. Indeed normal programming was interrupted by the BBC to bring a speech live from Gordon Brown stating that if Scots voted No then the leaders of the Unionist parties would deliver a system “as close to federalism as possible” where one partner is 10 times the size of the other.
What was actually delivered was some side-line tinkering. Not the dynamic change the Scottish Parliament needs to challenge the dreadful policies of the Tories. What was actually delivered was EVEL – which has led to Scottish MPs having no say in what England spends it’s money on. Scotland’s budget through the Barnet Formula is calculated based on what England spends it’s money on and partially on a population basis. Scottish MPs have no say in that anymore. Our budget is entirely at the whim of Westminster. The Scottish Affairs Committees at Westminster are now composed overwhelming of unionist politicians when discussing Scotland forcing the SNP to a small minority. Add to this the fact that no MP representing a Scottish seat can ever again become PM.
How is this Unity the answer to the change that is needed for ordinary people? Why are our concerns any different to those around Europe? Why should our politics stop by comparing ourselves constantly to people in England? Why should Scotland for entire generations be represented by Tory Governments at Westminster we didn’t vote for? Remember also that a whole raft of powers that are currently devolved via the EU are about to go to Westminster. They have stated that next to none of those powers will be re-devolved.
Unity is a good thing – but not when you don’t have a say in that relationship. And Scotland doesn’t have that. It is being marginalised for daring to hold a referendum and continue to vote SNP. Once we are out of the EU Westminster will hold Scotland in a vice like grip. I don’t think they will ever again authorise a referendum and Scotland if it want’s one will have to go down the Catalonia route – and we can all see how that is going currently.