...I would encourage people to vote for anyone but London. Admittedly, voting for a progressive party that does not have its political brain stuck in the corrupt Westminster sludge is easier in Scotland. If you are against sacrificing our troops in third-world countries for no obvious benefit to our lives here and against wasting money on weapons of mass destruction not to mention feeling a burning anger at politicians who line their pockets on our tax money....
You don't have to vote for a variety of xenophobic right-wing heidcases. No, the Empire is dead.
The SNP, unless someone can convince me here, is the most progressive mainstream political party in Scottish and UK politics. In the Scottish parliament, due to our fairer system of voting, you can also vote Green and still see your vote counted and represented. The Greens too have similar policies which would break up backward Britain and create an independent Scotland with progressive values similar to the Nordic nations. The Scottish Socialists too shared this vision and also had a significant representation in our parliament until they imploded due to having a leader with ego problems and jealous underlings who took the huff at the idea that he might have attended a swingers' club.
Unfortunately, voting Green for the Westminster parliament is probably a wasted vote if keeping out backward warmongering rightwing parties is your aim. The Lib Dems in England may be a good choice. But in Scotland, it is worth asking, 'what the hell do we need with a nuclear stockpile?' and 'wouldn't these £billions be better spent on schools, health and better public transport?'
Independence is common sense. Of course it 'works'. Does it mean that we'll all be rich? Probably not. But if other small nations can survive and thrive despite the boom and bust nature of international capitalism, and still provide excellent education to their kids and health services to all, then we can. I'm not voting for Salmond or his party. I'm voting for independence. I'm voting for no nukes, more community buy-outs, more Gaelic and bilingual education, a better NHS with no private interference, an end to people living in slums, cheaper public transport, more and cheaper renewable energy and most importantly, cheaper malt whisky.
Saor Alba is seas air ar casan fhèin.
