The Guardian has reported that:
Nicola Sturgeon's government needs to show much greater urgency in tackling climate change, a cross-party committee of the Scottish parliament has said.
The environment committee said the Scottish government's goal of cutting emissions by 90% before 2050 failed to address the scale of the challenge. Instead, ministers should aim for a net zero target, where there are no additional emissions that affect the climate, MSPs said.
I have a suggestion. Why don't the SNP membership propose an amendment to the debate on the economy scheduled for April that substitutes the Green New Deal for the Growth Commission report, adding in Scotland's own currency from day 1 of independence?
I know it's none of my business, but it seems like some think some more radical action is required. That's the package that will deliver it.
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I think many of us want to see a Green New Deal, and I have a hunch that after Scotland becomes independent, we’ll get it (if the SNP and Greens stay in charge, as they are now.)
However, it’s important to keep in mind that we need to win a new independence vote first.
With Brexit as a background, many former No voters, who believed the scare stories the Unionists threw at us in 2014, are looking for stability and competence in the turnover, not radical change. While the SNP can throw out hints about the kind of Scotland they want to see in the future, right now they need to keep a steady hand on the tiller.
This is one hell of a difficult campaign, in which the Unionists and their pet media will stop at NOTHING to attempt to derail the train (from slants that make the SNP look BAAAAD to outright lies.) Any hint of radical change, and the Unionist media will be on the SNP like a duck on a June bug–complete with hysterical headlines about how the SNP are nutcases, we’re going to lose everything we’ve ever worked for, yadda yadda yadda.
I think (and have always thought) the SNP know exactly what they are doing. They have developed patience as a party, and the ability to absorb a lot of pressure, even from their own supporters. Patience can sometimes look like timidity to those of us who want independence NOW. But revealing a hand too soon just gives the opposition ammunition.
Despite all this difficulty, the SNP are gradually winning this game. It’s quite a balancing act they are performing, and one in which they have NO media support except for The National.
I’d say we need to let them get on with it without making demands, but continue to feed them ideas. We’ll get there!
I do not have faith that a neoliberal policy becomes radical after an election
It remains neoliberal
ALways
And that is why the DNP has to be radical now
As a general political rule of thumb, Richard, that is indeed true… but that’s not quite the situation here and Jan has a point. The national assembly consultations have trimmed back the Growth Commission’s plans just a wee bit, especially on the issue of an independent cuyrrency, and I have every reason to believe that the current motion for the April conference will not get an easy ride. Your suggestion is an excellent one – even if it would probably not, root and branch, get through at the moment but that’s exactly the kind of challenge which needs to be made – in whole or in part – to keep the party’s position fluid enough to change as time and opportunity, especailly the opportunity of Independence, come along.
My own feeling is that the struggle for our independence is going to get tougher and tougher the nearer we approach success – for the enfeebled Brexitania led by right-wing Tories who have learned zero from history, is going to be increasingly desperate to hang on to us. As that develops, a stronger (angrier?) and bolder rhetoric is going to emerge and a rightly furious Scottish public will increasingly look to more radical policies. This is still a longish game, but I think nobody should doubt the determination of both the SNP and the wider YES movement, very much including the AUOB marchers on the streets, to win it and win it well.
It is an argument
I confess I side with Robin McAlpine in this
I am not sure you are taken that seriously north of the border after this performance..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni5dTPBgLKE
I think I am
Thanks Richard,
Yes, many of us in Scotland believe that the green new deal would be the obvious way forward for Scotland, given its commitment to sustainability and putting people and jobs first, and because of the fact that our country has so many natural, sustainable resources which, as you say, we are in a position to exploit to our maximum advantage. Not so much radical as common sense if we want to have any future.
I would like to understand the issues around currency better. Can you please explain to me why you believe that we can’t transition to a new currency and that we have to have it from day one?
Why would using the pound to begin be disastrous for economic policy, in your informed opinion?
You say we would have no control over our economic policy. Why not? Can you put some meat around this?
I can’t possibly know how to vote on this unless I know the arguments for and against. As you know I know little about economics and am the first to admit it but I am trying to understand. Please do try to avoid economic jargon if possible! 🙂
Grace
In haste, my arguments are in the reports linked here http://allofusfirst.org/library/a-scottish-tax-system-imagining-the-future-2017/Richard
Thanks. That’s a bad link or the page no longer exists.
Sorry
Try this http://allofusfirst.org/New%20Common%20Weal/cache/file/E12166B7-A479-B678-060EBBB82D89B092.pdf