Ethical 'Choices'

So, I can feel a theme developing here...

It seems that 'green' is the new 'black', as the environment becomes an increasingly fashionable topic. Environmentally-friendly and ethical living was once the preserve of eco-warrior Swampy and some trendy rock stars. Now the politicians have muscled in, and these issues are fast loosing their street cred, but they are also - more importantly - becoming more prolific among ordinary people like you and I.

I've been vegetarian most of my life, done my best (mostly) to recycle and to buy products that aren't tested on animals. For years I thought that made me an ethical consumer. Over time, I started buying organic fruit and veg, fairtrade tea and sugar, and using energy-saving light bulbs. I walk to work, I read my newspapers online, and do my best to conserve energy at home. But I know all this is not nearly enough.

What has struck me with most of these steps is how much more they have cost me. Now, this is a cost I choose to absorb. I'm prepared to pay more in order to limit my impact on the environment, and support 'ethical products'.

Unfortunately, not everyone is in such a privileged position. Not everyone can afford to pay more for their weekly shop. A fifth of all people in Scotland are living in poverty, and they don't have the 'luxury' of paying more for environmentally-friendly products.

Of course, there are some things we can all do to reduce our impact on the environment that cost nothing or actually save us money - such as walking rather than driving, and not leaving your TV on standby. However, most 'green choices' are more expensive.

The point to this particular ramble of mine, is that we should not forget that there are many people who simply cannot afford to live in a more environmentally-friendly way. Taxing behaviour that is bad for the environment is fine in principle, but it is a form of indirect taxation - which we all know impacts disproportionately on the poorest in society.

The solution to this is simple of course - rid Scotland of poverty! But until we are empowered to do so with independence, we must be balanced in our calls for polluter pays taxation.

Dr Spin

I was 'privileged' today to hear a speech from the infamous Alastair Campbell at COSLA conference. In an otherwise witty and engaging speech, he still managed to insert what he came to Scotland to do. He made an offensive remark about Alex Salmond, and said that he hopes 'nobody votes SNP' at the Scottish Parliament elections in May. When asked why he thought the SNP were doing so well in the polls, he muttered something about the media looking at the SNP through a 'prism', that polls told us nothing and that focus groups would produce a true reflection on attitudes in Scotland. What!?!

Just who does he think he is? He stood there and admitted that Scottish politics was not something he knew that much about and that it was none of his business really because he doesn't live in Scotland. Yet, he was happy to have a pop at the SNP on behalf of his London pals. How dare he slight the ambition of the people of Scotland, who are increasingly supporting independence and rejecting the spin and lies of those who seek to talk down our country.

Thankfully, we live in a democracy, and the people of Scotland can choose to vote SNP and choose independence. I hope they do.

Are they for real?

Now, I've been involved in politics long enough to realise that when people don't have anything sensible to say, or a cogent argument to make, they resort to tactics like scaremongering. This is particularly true of politicians desperately trying to defend the union and talk down Scotland.

Their latest tactic? They are writing to the letters pages of newspapers, challenging the SNP to explain how we could possibly fund independence. Excuse me! This is beyond the realms of ridiculous - even for the usual suspects.

An independent Scotland would, of course, be funded in EXACTLY THE SAME WAY as every other independent country on the planet! The wealth created in any given country is taxed by the government of that country. This money is then used to pay for everything from schools and hospitals, to social security and defence. Not exactly rocket science (but maybe a bit beyond the average unionist politician...)

Oh, and apparently after Scotland is independent, people will leave in droves. Really!?! Where will they go? To other independent countries? Surely not. If they are so adverse to independence for their own country, surely they would find it equally distasteful elsewhere...