If you can face half an hour of almost uninterrupted me on the issue of Scotland, its economy, taxes and independence, then this is for you. If you're simply interested in money, tax and their management there's still quite a lot in here:
My thanks to Al at Phantom. We, extraordinarily, filmed this in an hour.
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Would we be permitted (YES Cowal)to make a DVD of this?
Better ask Phantom
Follow the links on Youtube
Better Call Saul!
Yes, no problem. If downloading, please use HD version
Excellent and informative discussion of some of the principal issues relating to Scottish Independence (or indeed the independence of any nation state).
Thanks to all who helped to make it available.
Well Done !
Keep up the Good Work.
Dear Richard,
I see the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth fund is mentioned in the film and it’s value of £700 billion. Have you any sort of opinion on the McCrone Report?
Right now, no…..but I am mighty pushed for time
Enyoyed that, so good of you to devote your time on this much apprieciated.
Excellent presentation, but love of money being the root of all evil, might it not be better to think of it as a measure of indebtedness rather than wealth?
That way, one sees that the more one has (or has bought with it), the more one is indebted to society, so the incentive is to give back what you don’t actually need rather than trying to get more of the stuff. Then not just governments can print the money it needs to provide services: with credit cards we all can, paying off our debts by actually providing the services we, our families, our communities and environment need. Tax reduces to mere accounting.
I have to say you have not understood what I was saying
Can we stick to the real world here?
It is your blog, Richard, and ok, so if you don’t want me digging deeper, I won’t.
However, the real world includes language, and people’s behaviour being subconsciously influenced by conventional interpretations of ambiguous relationships. Seeing the right side of the road to drive on being the left side matters little, but seeing the sun move round the earth significantly misguided thought for centuries. Worse, conventions can be mischievous. “Machiavelli described immoral behavior, such as dishonesty and killing innocents, as being normal and effective in politics”. He’s dead, but that lives on.
Dear Dave,
Please pardon me in that I am not sure I understand your comment. Is your point that the issue is consumerism / materialism? I don’t have a high level of confidence that my question is near the mark. I hope though you agree there’s no harm asking.
Thanks Richard & Phantom Power.
So many reasons to praise this – but mainly I hope it is carefully looked at by the strategists in the SNP and the rest of the Yes movement and gives them the courage to boldly articulate a strong position on currency and (yes!) taxation.
I’ll second cynicalHighlander with thanks for taking the time and effort Richard.
I hope that the video also helps bring new visitors to your site – a gateway drug for different (to the spoonfeed) views on economics, taxation, and governance (and why we ought to be interested in them)
Thanks
I’m living on the Isle of Man. Could you please do a similar video for here.
The Isle of Man has already gone ‘Yes’ long, long ago, so that hurdle has been achieved.
Look forward to a positive reply.
Interesting idea
But it needs someone to do the hard work of making it
I just sat and talked
Not a whole HALF HOUR? Great vid, Richard.
Thanks
Irish friends tell me their concern that despite independence too much of their economy is controlled from London, without any chance of influencing decisions. Is this correct. Other friends argue that city-led regeneration in both Northern England and Scotland is a better route forward with a much larger intellectual and creative pool, creating a true counter-balance to the south-east and bringing together people generally culturally aligned. Such an alliance is easier within the UK just as it would be were Ireland also to be united. You are weighing the pros and cons. What do you see as the main arguments for a union of Britain, with or without Northern Ireland?
I confess I simply do not recognise this sentiment
They are troubled by their close neighbour, of course. But if their economy is controlled it is by Frankfurt
And regeneration is not the same as independence: it assumes that a bigger market will keep people happy. It won’t
So you see no arguments for the Union to continue?
In the long run, no
These are nations that have run their course together
Like Ireland had a century ago
Hi Richard and PP
Just wanted to thank you for this – it is so valuable
Cheers
Thanks
Please share it!