[0762]

The problem for me Jim is that I don't know what list seat would be negatively impacted on the SNP particularly in my Edinburgh constituency location and that will be the predicament for anyone else trying to "game the system". Lotsa voters will not be well informed on knowing "who won what" previously and how much damage one could impose on a poss "back door" Unionist candidate by voting for the Alba Party. I'd love to wipe out a significant number of Unionist party candidates who the electorate never truly voted for anyway. If I knew for certain that I could attain that goal then I'd consider that 2nd vote option. Otherwise, I'm not gonna do that. I reckon Ecky's party could identify their top targets after doing a wee bit of historical assessment work re past election results and the "trick" being to persuade voters in these areas to not waste their 2nd votes on the SNP - done by issuing informative leaflets highlighting that fact but veering away from decent list SNP seats. I also think the OP data covering party preferences will eventually be compiled and published in late April and will give us a clearer where Salmond and the Alba Party actually stand in the final weeks leading up to this crucial Scot election on 6 May.

[0762]

I briefly watched snippets of the bbc Election Scotland Leaders' Debate as I was not gonna fully view a bbc set up chaired by the smirking Sarah Smith who shouldn't even be in her current bbc position at all because of blatant breaches of the bbc code of conduct. But one thing that was clearly obvious after this debate is the fact there is definitely no credible Scot govt "in waiting" - it doesn't exist and all these squabbling Unionist parties with lightweight leaders/non entities, and some kinda link/affiliation to their higher executive paymasters in London, is so transparent to any observing clear-minded Scottish citizen. Even Sarwar's snipe at DRoss to "grow up" just didnae inspire at all. I see a lotta left-leaning Scot Labour members/supporters backing Ecky's Alba Party, IMO a natural recourse to try and use their vote effectively.

[hibeejim21]

Ross is just odious, Slater came across a bit too preachy at times, and Rennie we know all about.... you reach for the mute button.

Sarwar performed a bit better than I thought being honest, but sturgeon was streets ahead.

[hibeejim21]

The problem for me Jim is that I don't know what list seat would be negatively impacted on the SNP particularly in my Edinburgh constituency location and that will be the predicament for anyone else trying to "game the system". Lotsa voters will not be well informed on knowing "who won what" previously and how much damage one could impose on a poss "back door" Unionist candidate by voting for the Alba Party. I'd love to wipe out a significant number of Unionist party candidates who the electorate never truly voted for anyway. If I knew for certain that I could attain that goal then I'd consider that 2nd vote option. Otherwise, I'm not gonna do that. I reckon Ecky's party could identify their top targets after doing a wee bit of historical assessment work re past election results and the "trick" being to persuade voters in these areas to not waste their 2nd votes on the SNP - done by issuing informative leaflets highlighting that fact but veering away from decent list SNP seats. I also think the OP data covering party preferences will eventually be compiled and published in late April and will give us a clearer where Salmond and the Alba Party actually stand in the final weeks leading up to this crucial Scot election on 6 May.

SNP 1 and 2 means more unionist seats. It's that simple.

Time to try and put maximum pressure on, Ecks idea is a solid one and is worth a go.

[0762]

Ross is just odious, Slater came across a bit too preachy at times, and Rennie we know all about.... you reach for the mute button.

Sarwar performed a bit better than I thought being honest, but sturgeon was streets ahead.

Based on what I saw, I thought the whole bbc presentation was bland and definitely the biggest loser. Also it was biased and unacceptable for the bbc to select three questions, one after the other, that were essentially hostile to independence. But that's what I've come to expect from Aunty. Lastly, where was the great vision - something like Scotindy is coming, lets prepare for a new bright future governing our own country and with no interference from outsiders! Something like that kinda theme. Btw DRoss really is odious and the most obsessed person when it came to a repetitive reference to Scotindy. I can't figure how anyone in Scotland would vote for him or his horrible political party that is clearly driven by a bigger shower of Brexit c#### from London.

[0762]

https://www.thenational.scot/news/192063...rive-indy/

This just confirms AGAIN what we are up against in Scotland. I think the reference to the Velvet Revolution by Chapman is really how it should be going but sadly we are up against a fascist Brit govt that is actively trying to suppress any positivity/good vibes re Scottish self-determination and a thriving future compared where these Brexit c#### have ended up with their lies and deceptions, jingoism, misogyny, xenophobia, hate, angst and all sorts of horrible behaviour (incl unlawful actions if deemed necessary!!) attached to a fanatical ideology that never impressed huge numbers of people within the UK population and never will.

[hibeejim21]

The lie that Scotland is subsidised by England exposed again and then quickly made to disappear.

[0762]

That was one of the biggest fibs peddled by unionists for years until a Tory named Lord Ashcroft attempted to prove it was true and discovered it was the exact opposite to what he actually believed. But he published his research findings anyway rather than try to hide the report. There was also a report in 2019 by the same guy who conducted an opinion poll that showed a majority of ill-informed people in England actually believed this myth as well - SHOWS THE POWER OF MEDIA INFLUENCE AND BEING DUPED INSTEAD OF GLEANING THE TRUE FACTS TAKEN FROM PROPER ECONOMIC STUDIES!! That is why most unionists of any standing don't even attempt to "try it on" with this shit any more because they know it can be quickly disproved and their "noses subsequently rubbed in shit"!

[0762]

I mentioned Chapman's reference to the Velvet Revolution contrasting Scotindy with the Slovak and Czech Rep's "Velvet Divorce" 1993. Looking more closely at that historic event, one can find that in the post indy years the Czech Republic govt substituted its exports and imports away from the Slovak Republic; the Slovak Rep did the same, substituting its exports and imports away from the Czech Rep, both in favour of Germany. For the economically smaller state, the Slovak Rep quite quickly substituted away from what was its much larger, more significant, export partner to what was a much smaller partner i.e. the Slovak Rep's exports to Germany were nearly three times less than to the Czech Rep in 1993, but as of 2019, the Slovak Rep's exports to Germany were nearly two times greater than to the Czech Rep. While the majority of Scotland's exports is with the rest of the UK, exports to the EU grew by an average of 4% pa over the last five years. Since 2010, growth to the EU outpaced growth to the rest of the world and the rest of the UK by a significant margin. Scotland is not only becoming more economically integrated with the EU but seemingly also with non-EU partners. Our historic economic performance has been strong, which bodes well for a small, open and independent Scotland. With modest population growth alongside good GDP growth, supported by stable participation in international trade, it seems Scotland is in a far better initial condition than either the Czech or Slovak republics, and can therefore expect similar, if not better, post independence outcomes.

[hibeejim21]

It's not really a good comparison.
The people actually didn't want to break up Czechoslovakia, they just had incompatible visions about the future. I don't even think they held a referendum did they ? I dont sense a great desire from Englands side to break up the UK (although I haven't seen any polls on that front)

Plus Slovakia and the Czechs have always had a different sphere of influence historically, the Czechs from Germany and Austria whilst Slovakia traditionally was linked to Hungary. The UK doesn't have that kind of division line, well not for hundreds of years anyway.

Scotland breaking up the UK is going to be a much, much bigger deal than Czechoslovakia dissolving. The UK's standing around the world (I know Westminsters) would be significantly reduced for a start without Scotland but also both countries economies are highly integrated and are much greater in a way the Czechs and Slovaks never really were. If Scotland becomes independent it's going to take years to untangle its relationship with the UK. It would come good for sure, but it would be a while before we got to the good stuff.