[boogers]

And you can **** off too, you tedious bigoted bore.  This thread is just going round and round in circles because people like you keep stirring things up.

People like me... That'd be those of us who don't buy into the ridiculous group think? Who actually bother to research things?

OK. I can understand how it's annoying that facts and evidence continually  get in the way. I just wish more people would actually think for themselves rather than unquestioningly parroting whatever sloppy popular myth supports their viewpoint.

[althusser]

This thread is just going round and round in circles

There is a pattern -

Nationalist makes wild or exaggerated claim
Gets challenged on the point
Evades evidence
When evidence reaches undeniable levels, nationalist abuses challenger or questions their motives

[colincro]

the SNP council tax freeze actually prevents councils raising money to ameliorate the effects of their own neglect - pure Thatcherism in that respect.

Insane comparison.  Council tax freeze provides a small yet much needed relief to the often forgotten squeezed middle who have been getting it from all directions in the aftermath of the financial crisis and subsequently as is always the case.

Pls, what would you regard as "actual" redistributive policies in your opinion?

[Robon]

The freeze on council tax is causing real hardship, Cc.  I quote one anecdotal example.  Our local primary school will have an increase in numbers next session - does that merit an increase in staffing?  Unfortunately, no - the staffing is to be decreased from 4.5 full time teachers to 3 because there is no money.  I'm sorry, I thought the SNP had promised to decrease class sizes.  Meanwhile standards in reading, writing and mathematics have steadily fallen since the SNP have been in power.  I mourn the passing of our once prized Scottish education system.

One thing I will agree with you on, Aileen, is that this discussion is going nowhere.  I'm boring even myself, so it's time to take my leave.

[Iluvandy]

There is a pattern -

Nationalist makes wild or exaggerated claim
Gets challenged on the point
Evades evidence
When evidence reaches undeniable levels, nationalist abuses challenger or questions their motives

The only really undeniable evidence pertinent to this thread is that the SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats and that the Tories are in charge if Westminster.    There are also opinions, of course, but that is all they are.     Even the much vaunted facts are dodgy - it all depends how they are presented and sometimes what is left out is as important as what is included.    My opinion, and nothing will change it, is that Westminster is outdated and not fit for purpose.

[Aileen]

There is a pattern -

Nationalist makes wild or exaggerated claim
Gets challenged on the point
Evades evidence
When evidence reaches undeniable levels, nationalist abuses challenger or questions their motives

That is just downright nonsense because once again the word 'Nationalist' is being misued.  For the umpteenth time it's the Scottish NATIONAL Party.  Of course it has it's lunatic 'Nationalist' fringe but that doesn't mean we should all be tarred with the same brush.

Quite frankly I would be very happy to see this thread dropped, then we could revive the Scottish Politics one next year in the run-up to the Holyrood elections where no doubt once again Boogers and his ilk will stick their unwanted English noses in and tell the Scottish electorate how or how not they should be going about voting for the members of their own Parliament.   I'm not normally Anglophobic but I'm beginning now to see why some people are.

[althusser]

The only really undeniable evidence pertinent to this thread is that the SNP won 56 of the 59 Scottish seats and that the Tories are in charge if Westminster.    There are also opinions, of course, but that is all they are.     Even the much vaunted facts are dodgy - it all depends how they are presented and sometimes what is left out is as important as what is included.    My opinion, and nothing will change it, is that Westminster is outdated and not fit for purpose.

Agree with most of that. Not sure it replies to the point I was making, but fair comment on Westminster.

[Iluvandy]

Agree with most of that. Not sure it replies to the point I was making, but fair comment on Westminster.

The point is that  undeniable evidence is very difficult to come by.    The only undeniable evidence I believe in what I see in front of me, not a mishmash of facts and figures, which I cannot check.   And don't even get me started on New Labour.   I have still not, and probably never will, recover from the vote for the Iraq war.   If that was democracy in action then God help us all.   Or was it British Nationalism in action?