[0762]

I'm sure there was some talk amongst clinicians and officials of the CDC re trying to impose a mandatory line re vaccinations because of the threat from these anti-vaxers - easier said than done IMO. But one can understand why decent-thinking people like Fauci and others are thinking in this way.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavir...hp&pc=U531

Meanwhile the number of infections down south hits a record high as expected! I reckon that figure will be doubled up by next Thursday - all down to awful mismanagement of a situation that requires extreme caution.

[St Charles Owl]

I'm sure there was some talk amongst clinicians and officials of the CDC re trying to impose a mandatory line re vaccinations because of the threat from these anti-vaxers - easier said than done IMO. But one can understand why decent-thinking people like Fauci and others are thinking in this way.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavir...hp&pc=U531

Meanwhile the number of infections down south hits a record high as expected! I reckon that figure will be doubled up by next Thursday - all down to awful mismanagement of a situation that requires extreme caution.

Its worse than that, its all down to partisan politics and self preservation on behalf of Republicans who are afraid of Trump!! They don't give two hoots about the people and the fact that nearly 100% of current deaths in the US are full on Trumpettes who refuse to get vaccinated is the irony of it all, they are killing their supporters!!

Mandatory vaccines will never fly here, too much invasion into individuals rights, but that will backfire on the GOP as well, god forbid the Government should tell their citizens what to do with their body, unless of course you are woman who is pregnant because you were raped or a transgender woman looking to use the women's bathrooms. The GOP is a despicable party at the moment, the Dems aren't a whole lot better but the GOP makes them look like saints!!

[0762]

Yep! I've watched and listened to a lotta debate on CNN re GOP and its attempted assault on democracy itself re these "voting amendments" in certain US states - noticeable it is GOP and Trump associated supporters who are clearly "at it" to try and change the electoral system to suit them, but effectively restrict certain voters from voting - very concerning and President Biden even debating it last week as an affront to democracy and asserting that the voting rights of Americans will not be compromised in any way. The chat re possible mandatory vaccinations cropped up on a CNN interview with a concerned virologist/COVID expert from New York City who perceived it was one way of possibly stunting the high growth of infections in many of these southern states like Alabama albeit a desperate measure. As you say: they are dealing with crazy people in so many cases, real "nut jobs" whose actions are impacting on lotsa other innocent people in their communities!

[St Charles Owl]

I am sure you have seen the story of the House Dems in Texas getting on planes to DC so that a vote cannot be held in TX on their new voting rights bill? Turns out that if that bill passes then its not only the poor who will struggle to vote but it will be women as well, more specifically married women. This bill forces women to provide numerous documents to prove who they are now they are married and have changed their names, and this is irrespective of how long ago it was when you got married. I also say the poor because these bills are not racially motivated, nor are they racist, but they are targeting the poor in society who can't just leave jobs to vote or who can't find the childcare to take a few hours to stand in line because the bill restricts the hours you can vote. It just so happens that in most Southern state the poor are also people of color, either black or Hispanic/brown. If it was up to the current GOP only white men would be able to make decisions, its Gilead if ever I saw it!!!

[0762]

Watching yesterday's euphoric scenes in Italy when Mancini and his Azzurri heroes returned from England with the Henri Delaunay trophy deservedly won and "in the bag". And what a great story that unfolded re the trophy spotted lying next to a Scottish newspaper on a table in the Rome bound plane - Saturday's edition of The National in full view with the front page depicting a "photoshopped" Braveheart character (blue-painted face n all) of Mancini with a caption - Save us Roberto, You're our final hope!!! The Italian football team somehow acquired a copy of The National before the Euro final at Wembley and Mancini and that great defender/warrior, Chiellini, talking to the Italian media, both saying it was absolutely hilarious and they all loved it!!! A Scottish link to this deserved final win by Italy!! You couldn't make it up!! And Mancini now nicknamed Roberto the Bruce lol! Priceless!

Just looking at the IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) response/rejection to lotsa complaints/insinuations from England fans that the National front page article of Braveheart Mancini was "anti-English" (heard that line before in another context btw!!! Becomes a tad tedious and desperate/bogus TBF!!). IPSO officials chucking out the complaint and iterating there is no mention of the word "English" in the headline or article. Indeed that front page was embraced in lotsa Euro newspapers in their sports sections and the fact it was a well presented humorous depiction of Italy's manager through a Scottish perspective and vast numbers of people in Italy and elsewhere viewed it in that context. In certain Italian sports circles they found it to be as intended - absolutely hilarious banter!! IMO what actually happened was this National front page headline preceded (Saturday edition) the Euro final on Sunday when England were supposed to win (their press/media were prematurely salivating at the prospect!) their first Euro trophy at their home ground, Wembley Stadium - they didn't do it and that defeat was a huge factor in generating all these complaints from bitterly disappointed fans down south and elsewhere who were eventually looking for sources of blame incl the England players who missed their crucial pks, and the manager, Southgate, in a public/political "fallout" that must have lasted an amazing 4-5 days.

[0762]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/go...hp&pc=U531

At the moment the whole indy movement is sitting dormant while the Scot govt tries to "get to grips" with the COVID crisis. That's where we are as is the case in most other countries. However, a recent resounding Scottish election result in May provided the "direction of travel" for the current Scot govt when it comes to eventually moving for separation from a fractured Union that is irreparable. Also no significant campaigning happening at all and as for a wee lying weasel like Gove??? I wouldn't believe anything that this lying little toad utters as experienced by various groups like the Scot Fishermen Federation and others who have been stupidly duped by him and others within his party/govt who would lie to their own mothers in order to impose their political will on anybody who is stupid enough to believe their disingenuous bullshit.

[0762]

Just perusing recent SNP research info taken from the HOC library analyses, the data covering per capita wealth, poverty levels, social inequality, productivity, pensions, govt deficit and unemployment. It reveals how the UK has vastly underperformed compared with other northerm Euro states. Independently proved "factually correct" by readers of the Heriot Watt University, this data shows a massive failure over the past two decades eg pension payments are the worst compared with the UK's 13 nearest Euro neighbours, the worst poverty levels under the OECD definition and the least supportive UK welfare system over the past 20 years compared with 14 countries in NW Europe. Also UK productivity has been the weakest of the 13 neighbouring Euro nations for every year since 2009 - no doubt politically motivated austerity measures played a big part in this failure. It just proves that a Westminster govt and this so called precioussss Union isn't working for Scotland and that is without taking into account the massive detrimental effects to Scottish business interests and the negative accumulated change in exports since the Brexit referendum with Britain now located at the "bottom of the pile" of affected countries. It is also clear from this data that smaller countries like Scotland perform economically better than the UK. We are effectively being "held back" in a partnership where it is not a partnership of equals. We need to move hopefully sooner rather than later and also get rid of this ludicrous £205B (yep, this cost of this WMD provision has gone up!!) Trident project once and for all.

[0762]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/scotland%...hp&pc=U531

And a historic moment in Scot and Brit politics unfolds as the SNP govt finally "join hands" with the Scot Greens. I think the Scot Greens still realise that a lotta Scot voters gave them part of their vote allocation because they had a Scot indy mandate, as has always been the case down the years, even though there was a justified concern re the impending climate crisis and optimism re the changes that can be implemented to make Scotland one of the top eco-friendly countries on the planet, a country that already provides about 95% of its energy from renewable energy sources. The next step is to endorse that policy by removing nuclear weapons and support infrastructure from our country once and for all - that will come with independence! I loved the symbolic display of the two Saltyres behind the FM, Harvie and Slater in the formal Scot govt announcement at Bute House, Edinburgh. The only thing that was missing was the "two fingers" gesture above the flags - a fitting response to the months n months of the Tory/Brexit hijacked Union Jack that has been shamelessly and deliberately set up to show a predominant St George Cross at every opportunity given to Johnson et al during COVID briefings and other formal Brit govt announcements - totally obsessed with their flag/flag-waving policy and the ultra RW nationalist message it conveys.

[hibeejim21]

Holyrood is set up for coalition style governments, it's why it's ludicrous to have a pop at the SNP for not getting a majority in a system not designed to give them one.

If it wasn't for the list vote the other parties wouldn't be much of an opposition. The tories have half a dozen seats with FPTP all in sparsely populated, rural areas full of retired/wealthy people. They only want to disrupt the parliament and return to Westminster/scottish office.

Labour seem to have checked out completely as a functioning political party, and the Lib-dems are about to be even more invisible with Rennie going. Both of them chained to the deteriorating unionist vote.

So a partnership with the greens makes sense in the long run, it wont all be smooth sailing but hopefully it means innovative ideas on the environment and economy for the future.

[0762]

I thought last week's critical comments by that ex-Scotland Office minister, Ian Duncan, were incredible!!! He said how pointless this UK govt dept was!!!?? Good on him for confirming to most resident Scots, with any political savvy, something we've known for years as it has been clear for a long time that the Brit govt in Scotland (or whatever current designation it is) doesn't "get" Scotland and indeed successive Secs of State for Scotland, incl the current Brexit non-entity, were de facto Secs of State AGAINST SCOTLAND. However, Duncan commented that he didn't "mind" there being a Sec of State for Scotland? Personally I "mind" these ignorant, lazy (by his own admission!) expensive non-entities playing at being Scotland's voice (not) in the Cabinet Also remember that the number of civil servants and money piled into this "pointless dept", The Scotland Office, has been significantly increased!! What for, esp in a country that has food banks for the poor!!???