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mikemac's bio
Wrinkly ninja. Creative services with a broad scottish accent and a broad scottish attitude. -
mikemac's latest comments
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9th Oct 2019mikemac commented on:
Should the State Pension be means tested?I am already deeply concerned about the state pension. It is being attacked and whittled away by successive UK Govts in Westminster by increasing the retirement age and it is already the lowest of any developed nation. Since the above article, Ian Duncan Smith's think tank on pensions is promoting the idea of retirement age of 75. Many UK citizens will die before being eligible for a pension. It's not to the fore in people's minds because BREXIT is hogging every news programme or politics show but for many it is a disaster waiting to happen. People who are currently in their fifties could stand to lose more than £50,000 worth of pension. This is not an attack on Conservatives, though they are the main protagonist in this "theft", Labour and Lib Dems will not reverse or halt the decline and indeed mostly voted for it. Someone argued that I would be OK because in an independent Scotland it won't happen and having researched into it I believe that to be true. Pensions will be safer up here in the event of independence but that's not the point. I am currently in the UK. I have friends and family who live in England and Wales who will be affected and there is no will in parliament to halt the decline. If the government's recent record on PIP assessments is the yardstick for any means testing I would again be deeply concerned. people on their death beds being fined for non-attendance, terminally ill being declared fit for work and wounded veterans sleeping rough on the streets of our cities. I have written to my MP regarding my concerns over pensions and I would suggest as many as possible should do likewise. People will lose their homes if this continues.ViewDate:
28th Dec 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Wrong. Scotland is not a region. It is a nation.ViewDate:
28th Dec 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?50% of Scotland believes it IS broken. Britain is a mess. Politicians get richer while working nurses need food banks to feed their children. Wounded soldiers returning to have £30 a week taken from them . It is very broken and the economic levers are driven from London.ViewDate:
28th Dec 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Your last paragraph is singularly the most ignorant and stupid i have read on this thread. Well done!ViewDate:
28th Dec 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?You know that Scottish NHS out performs the NHS in every other area of UK right?ViewDate:
28th Dec 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Democracy is fluid. As things change so do opinions, hopes and fears. Scotland voted 62% to stay in EU and were told the only way to stay in EU would be a NO vote during Indy debate. If politicians can get their results by lying to us then we must never give up the democratic right to call them out at the ballot box. The "Better Together" campaign gave Scotland "the Vow" which they have never honoured. Our MPs are despicable and we must always retain the options to vote as often as is required for them to know their lies will return to bite their bums.ViewDate:
9th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?I have never private messaged you. I may have accidentally clicked but can assure you that I have absolutely no wish to converse with you privately. You have not had the courtesy to use Nicola Sturgeon's name like a grown up might. Stating a "journalist" named her does not mean you should simply parrot the so-called journalist. Why not quote the journalists who praise her diplomacy and erudite logic? See the imbalance? The only hatred and aggression I see in this page are from people like yourself. I can assure you that there is no hatred from this end. I have yet to hear a foul-mouthed SNP rant. If you can cite the instances I'd be happy to watch or read. See? Facts and discussion welcome. Outright fact-free belligerence is futile in any debate. There have been idiotic threats from scant few anonymous idiots on BOTH sides of the debate. It really is disingenuous of you to pretend otherwise. On the other hand, the post-referendum violence was documented and carried out Union flag waving men in George's Square while using Nazi salutes. A quick Google is all that is needed for proof of that but it wouldn't fit your agenda. The SNP DO represent the Scottish people. They won 56 of 59 seats with a manifesto of independence. That's democracy. The fact that you don't like Scotland or the Scots having a voice on sovereignty is another matter but of no importance to the people of Scotland.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?How anyone could believe Scotland is bankrupt is beyond me. If you are referring to the GERS figures I think you will find that even the authors of the data are not citing it as reliable data now and stating that it was largely guesswork. No official pro-union bodies are citing that data anymore because it has been proved to be full of holes. GERS relates to guesstimates of Scotland's economy withing the framework of the UK. It bears no relevance to Scotland as a standalone economy. The NHS in Scotland is outperforming the NHS in the rest of the UK. They are the last NHS you should be attacking. The problems in England and Wales are substantially worse. No changes in last 12 months? The first session of any new parliament seldom passes new legislation while it is till undergoing research and discussion pior to ratification. I have a very full grasp of the economics. We would secede with perhaps a £5 0r £6 Billion defecit. Not £15B and for the record, there are very few nations in the world who have zero defecit. It's not a valid argument.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?It's sad that certain people here find the heartfelt opinions of others as a reason for personal attacks. Surely debate should be based on opinions and facts. I respect the views of others and will happily discuss them but the aggressive disrespect shown to (and others) me for having an opinion are really rather juvenile and petty. If you disagree with me say why and we can discuss like grown-ups rather than ad hominem attacks without reply. I thought we from the British Isles were supposed to be renowned for open thought and reasonable consideration.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Like many here I did not frequent this site previously. How does that effect a heartfelt opinion? Do other new contributors who share your views also "creep out of the woodwork"? Or is that description only endowed upon those whose views you eschew? The only thing that speaks volumes is your fact-free attacks on anyone who has an intelligent opinion. Do you have a view that is constructive and non-abusive? It is my preferred debating stance. If you disagree with any of the figures I have mentioned above I will be happy to discuss but wholesale ad hominem attack of opposing views is simply verbal abuse, not debate and doesn't progress your case in any way.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Your level of disrespect for the opinion of others tells us only about you and nothing about the issue. The First Minister's name is Nicola Sturgeon.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?The only aggression I see towards the opposite view seems to be against the scots from the likes of yourself. I believe I have been nothing but civil in this forum. You seem to harbour a belligerence for some reason.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?SNP manifesto stated that ; should Scotland be forced out of EU against it's will another referendum would be held. The people voted on that manifesto getting more votes than Tories and Labour combined. A landslide by most democratic standards. So that IS her day job as is funding the gaps in the social system created by the same UK government who caused the economic hell in the first place and who have one seat in Scotland but still make all the big decisions. The choice is stark. Vote no choice, no voice, continued punitive austerity or vote to make your own grown up decisions. The referendum must go ahead.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?So people who hold alternate views which effect them and their families directly must be paid puppets? What an odd attitude to others having an opinion on their own sovereignty.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Oh how we wish they would. If you understood anything about economics you would be curling your toes at the thought of the United Kingdom of England and Wales.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?Scotland is subsidised by the UK - NOT England. England is also subsidised by the UK. England's economy would experience a catastrophe without Scottish GDP. Be careful what you wish for.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?No need for walls. Just a civil respect for your neighbours would be appropriate.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?"...and any process that might welcome an independent Scotland to the EU would take many, many years." The EU have already confirmed that Scotland's entry to EU would be instant as the nation of Scotland is already a member. The campaign should be fair and free of such scaremongering nonsense. It would take scant research to discover the error in the statement.ViewDate:
7th Apr 2017mikemac commented on:
Do you think Scotland should hold a second referendum?With all due respect to all commenters on this subject Scotland voted in the last general election and the party whose number one manifesto pledge is to work towards an independent Scotland won 56 of 59 seats. Where else in the democratic world can you show me such an overwhelming landslide in a fair election? So for people to say Nicola Sturgeon should be doing her "day job" I suggest that her day job is running the country based upon her pledge to the electorate. What we have here is a politician who is being chastised for carrying out her electoral pledges. Another rarity. The first minister would be failing her electorate if she did not aim for independence. To those who say Scotland would not survive economically I would point out that although Scotland is only 8.3% of the UK population it owns: 32% of the land 90% of the fresh water 65% of the natural gas 96% of the crude oil 46% of the forests 40% of the wind wave and solar energy production 62% of the timber production 60%of the fish landing 30% of the beef herd 20% of the potatoes 15% of the cereal crop 92% of the hydroelectric production (supplying rest of UK) For Scotland to be of equal standing with England we would need the above percentages to be no more than 10%. Consider also that the World Trade Organisation figures in the year 2015 : Scottish GDP per capita $43,410 German GDP per capita $40,952 French GDP per capita $37,653 So why are Scotland too wee and too poor? Scotland is NOT subsidised by England. Scotland is subsidised by our joint economy of the UK. England are also subsidised by that economy. That's the union. So the UK subsidises The Royal Family, their estates, the House of Parliament, the House of Lords, the transport infrastructure, the military, the civil service, Then consider this. Scotland's independence is not about Nicola Sturgeon. It's not about the SNP. It's not about economics. It's about having a voice. It's about sovereignty. Would england ever vote to be governed by Scotland? or France? Who would choose to be ruled by another nation? Especially when that Nation is run by a party who have one single seat in Scotland. Can you imagine England being run by a party with one seat? The Conservative party. Want to keep Scotland in the union. Why? Is it viable to suggest that the party who cut social services for the poor, vulnerable, elderly and disabled want to keep Scotland in some kind of uncharacteristic benevolence towards the Scots? The party who maintain austerity and the need for foodbanks while giving billionaires tax breaks? They want Scotland to remain because they "like" them? No they want Scotland to remain because the removal of the above would be a catastrophe for the UK Economy. We know precisely what they mean when stating "Stronger Together". My family are Scottish, Irish, English and American amongst others. It's not a hatred of the English that drives half of the Scottish population. We love the English people and we love Englishness but we would like to make our own decisions and run our own affairs. Sovereignty. It is also obvious that Scotand wishes to remain in the EU. Why would you deny us that right? It's a simple preference. No need for patronising talk or anger. Everyone has a right to self-determination. Thanks to those who took the time to read all the way down here. -
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