tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post3675577522345504199..comments2024-03-29T12:25:03.168+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: "Fact" or assertion?James Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-62258950785265643292011-02-20T21:36:42.295+00:002011-02-20T21:36:42.295+00:00James, I've been a long-time reader of your bl...James, I've been a long-time reader of your blog and I find it very, ah, enlightening.<br />More (fire)power to you.<br />James Johnstone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-70162440819366053152011-02-20T00:35:33.789+00:002011-02-20T00:35:33.789+00:00Dear me, JJ, I don't believe we've even be...Dear me, JJ, I don't believe we've even been acquainted, and yet already you're trying to wind me up. As it happens, there are a few things in this world that make me go weak at the knees (discretion forbids me and all that), but vague references to inanimate objects aren't amongst them.<br /><br />That said, I wouldn't have any great objection to a referendum on maintaining strict gun control in this country. It would be nice to be overwhelmingly confident of being on the winning side for a change!James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-37579377899940985992011-02-19T23:21:25.594+00:002011-02-19T23:21:25.594+00:00Ah, Conan - the weapon beloved of Jack O'Neill...Ah, Conan - the weapon beloved of Jack O'Neill.<br />But surely it is an assault carbine (designed originally for tank crews) and not a hand-gun?<br />Anyway, I only mentioned guns to see if James would bite (we all know he goes weak at the knees if someone says the word 'pistol').<br /><br />JJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-55552445242766331092011-02-19T17:54:57.642+00:002011-02-19T17:54:57.642+00:00JJ, the FN P90.
Think 21st century.JJ, the FN P90.<br /><br />Think 21st century.Conan the Librarian™https://www.blogger.com/profile/01904339261121451779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-23027145816467034992011-02-19T15:50:41.291+00:002011-02-19T15:50:41.291+00:00I totally believe in referenda - the AV one should...I totally believe in referenda - the AV one should merely be the start.<br />There should be one on Europe while we're in the UK, one on Scottish and Welsh Independence, then one on Europe when we're an independent nation.<br />But really, these are all simply appetisers - the most important referendum should be on the right to bear arms, with a subsiduary question of which is better, the Desrt Eagle in .50 calibre or the Glock 17 9mm (the only hand-gun guaranteed to fire under water). <br /><br />JJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-69984951359477167972011-02-19T11:08:28.662+00:002011-02-19T11:08:28.662+00:00I don’t think that you will drive the readership t...I don’t think that you will drive the readership to zero on this issue, James. It is important and it is immediate. Whether we like it or not, the voting public in the UK are going to be faced with this choice that is hardly a choice, very soon.<br /><br />Yesterday I watched the two staunch allies, reading from very different hymn sheets to the point where, when you forgot that this was real life and imagined it as satire it was amusing; then when you remembered that these people were respectively prime minister and deputy prime minister of the country, it became humiliating.<br /><br />Neither system is in the least fair and whilst I accept that AV is marginally fairer than FPTP I still feel no affection for it, and I can’t say that I could go out and vote FOR it as a positive move.<br /><br />So, as so often in this country, you have to vote for other reasons. If I vote for FPTP, because I think that by voting for AV I’m giving the government an indication that that is what I want, then they will take it that I am satisfied with the status quo, which I am not. If I vote for AV, then they WILL think that I am enamoured of it, which I’m not. What to do? Whatever the outcome we shall not have another opportunity to make any further changes for a very long time.<br /><br />Why, I wonder, can’t we have a proper choice? Why can they not put a question on the ballot paper to say that neither of these meets with approval? Clearly it is because that is not what they want to hear. It’s the ballot box equivalent of putting bread rolls in your ears and singing loudly, while banging on a drum and tap dancing!<br /><br />So, how to vote. As I was watching them yesterday I made up my mind. I saw Nick Clegg lying through his teeth about what a good system AV is. I know he is lying because I read what he said about it when he was in opposition. The word ‘nasty’ that appeared in that article had mysteriously disappeared by yesterday. As I watched him my lip curled in disgust.<br /><br />Then I watched his partner talk down to us about why AV was a bad system, and how it might leave us with “second choice government” (imagine that fellow Scots!). I hardly knew what to do, but a rush to the bathroom was on the list of choices. But at least then I knew exactly how I would vote.<br /><br />It comes down to this. One of these buddy boys is going to be humiliated and have his life made hell by revolting backbenchers. I’d just, by a thin margin, prefer that it to Cameron.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-20919171016728346652011-02-19T10:50:48.670+00:002011-02-19T10:50:48.670+00:00I'm not sure whether using recent elections is...I'm not sure whether using recent elections is necessarily a good tactic for Mr Cameron since in the previous election, Labour was elected with a 55 seat majority on 35.2% of the votes and a 61.3% turnout - hardly a grand advertisement for the present voting system.Richard Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225331967587897653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-49568233647874679292011-02-19T02:32:00.728+00:002011-02-19T02:32:00.728+00:00Your determination to reduce your readers to zero ...Your determination to reduce your readers to zero require more effort James. There are a few of us who just won't go away. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.com