“Independence is best” 17/6/14
Sir,
It would suit Mr Morrison (Letters, 16 June) well to temper his language when referring to people regarding the referendum debate.Just because hundreds of thousands of folk do not share his views on the subject, does not automatically mean that they are “ranting” and “raving” or even “undiscerning.”
To imply that people who are, or thinking of, voting for Scotland to make her own
choices are dull or slow, is quite insulting and incredibly rude.
But by way of correcting some of Mr Morrison errors, let me say:
On oil, there has
been a record investment in the North Sea, £15 billion in the last year, with over
an estimated 40 years left in the North sea, and still untapped oil of our coasts,
we have the opportunity to make this work for us, not squandered on wars and tunnels.
Oil only accounts for 15% of Scotland economy, that compares to Norways 30% who now
have an oil fund that equates to £1 million dollars for every man woman and child,
while over the last four decades, Westminster, on Scotland's behalf, has amassed
the grand total of £0, it might surprise some to know there are only two countries
in the world to strike oil and get poorer, Iraq and Scotland.
On currency let us be
loud and clear, after independence Scotland WILL be using the pound, as a fully tradable
currency, any country could use it if it wanted to, this is a hard fact.
As to the
part of about the EU, nobody is forced to use the Euro, Sweden is testimony to the
fact,
so Mr Morrison is just plain wrong in his assertion, also, I don’t know of
any country trying to get out of the EU.
Independence will give Scotland a seat at the top table and a voice when key decisions
are being made regarding fishing and agriculture, whereas currently we are locked
out
Scotland currently is a place where 1 in 5 children are growing up in poverty, where
the poor and needy are punished by the bedroom tax, where the blood of hundreds of
thousands of innocent lives has been spilled in illegal wars, where good people are
having to choose between heating their homes or feeding their children, where we
get governments we did not vote for, it is the shame of any nation when those things
are true of it, but yet there is any amount of money for nuclear weapons, and tax
cuts for millionaires.
The reason that being independent will be better for us and
for Scotland is simple. Being independent will mean the people who care most about
Scotland – the people who live in Scotland – will be taking the decisions about our
future.
The choice will be ours. We will be able to make Scotland the country we all know
it can be.
John MacDonald
27 Upper Bayble
Point
Lewis