This is likely to be a loooooong post ... and I don’t expect anyone to read it but with just 2 weeks to go until we take the vote I thought I would share the reasoning and journey behind my own thought process from turning my vote. I have kept my own thoughts written down over the last few years and I think that perhaps it would resonate with other people in my position. I’m not trying to turn anyone else or force my opinions on any of you, and have the utmost respect for those with opposing views from mine, but it’s definitely helped me to formulate my own opinion by doing this and I’d encourage you all to do the same :). Being from Inverclyde originally I’ve grown up in a constituency that has been stronghold Labour since the removal of the shipyards. As such, I’ve seen a lot from the Labour party in the area, and although I’ve chosen to vote SNP at each election, I always do my research to check that my views still align with my vote come each and every polling day. I like politics and I like to talk to people about it. Growing up and voting in Inverclyde always kept me relatively disengaged with Westminster Politics because I never felt like my vote counted. The First Past the Post system in General Elections means that it is unlikely for Inverclyde to ever send anyone but a Labour candidate to Westminster; and the seat being so safe meant that I never saw a lot of my MP around the area. But thats fine; thats democracy and when you have a choice between Tory and Labour at WM it’s unlikely that we will ever choose the former in Scotland again. I attended University at the University of Glasgow, where my political views were both strongly agreed with and opposed by my colleagues who are all equally strong willed and minded. I really enjoy debating with others; and even joined the fake parliamentary-style debates at one of the unions for while - where I even joined the Tory club to stretch my views and learn more than I had the chance to before. This disparity in views meant that for a couple of years while at Uni my political views were all over the place. Because I like to listen to everyone and can see why everyone would hold certain views (within reason ..), I found it difficult to find a party that encompassed everything I thought and felt. This really frustrated me a lot and I just felt like I was never going to be able to be involved in the system even though I really enjoy politics. I studied Law at Uni and definitely felt that from the get-go the majority of my classmates supported a No vote; the referendum was announced during the early stages of my degree and as such we heard a lot about it from our very popular high-profile No-supporting constitutional law lecturer. Because at this point I was the definition of undecided; I could see why the majority of my friends here were No voters. On nights out and in bars debates would regularly happen (sorry; stereotypes about law students ... I know) and I’d hear lots of remarks about the openly yes-supporting colleagues of ours and how they were all just nationalists who were obviously wrong if they disagreed with something our professor had said. I even specifically remember being shouted at in a club one night because I was told that I know absolutely nothing about politics if I had ever voted SNP. This made me think about going and doing some of my own research instead of just voting No the way I had originally planned to. I’ve attended town hall meetings, student debates, lecturer debates, read hundreds upon hundreds of articles & reports, read the white paper cover-to-cover and of course info & materials from both sides. I have generally enjoyed seeing materials from both sides (with obvious exception in the recent No Camp advertising which I have openly said that I find patronising and aimed to prey on personal insecurities of the working class; particularly women). I think the majority of us on either side all want the same changes; but just might disagree about the best way to get the changes we need. I decided to vote Yes not because I hate the Tories and think it will remove them from politics, but because I think it would be better for Scotland to be completely governed by a Parliament elected to serve Scotland; and if people want to vote Conservative in that state then that is absolutely their choice! I understand that democracy means that you don’t always get the parliament you vote for, but I think that our parliament being more representative than the current FPTP system at Westminster can only be a good thing; and is why the Scottish Parliament has been so good for us since it was introduced. Our government now needs all the fiscal and legislative powers of an independent state. I decided to vote Yes not because I hate the rest of the UK or because I hate London, but because I think Independence for Scotland will revive politics in all regions of the rUK; with London no longer taking centre-stage with more working-class areas like Birmingham and Liverpool having more attention placed on them. Indepdenence for Scotland could also allow those in Wales and Northern Ireland to stand up and be counted. I decided to vote Yes not because I think that we are fundamentally a more equal or fair society, but because Independence could allow us to become one. I think its fair to say that the majority of Scotland disagree with foodbanks, privatisation of public services, the gap between rich and poor and the gender pay gap. It’s also safe to say the majority of people in the rUK don’t agree with them. But with no real change promised in the event of a No vote, I think Independence and the fresh start it would give us as a country can allow us to have issues of equality and fairness at the forefront of our new chapter. There are many more reasons why I chose to vote Yes; I want rid of trident and the house of lords, I think a Yes vote would allow Inverclyde to develop exponentially, I want local democracy to mean something again and I think a main parliament that represents a smaller population is the way to do that; I want real and fundamental change in the way politics works in Scotland I think this is the way to do it. We’ve already had a taster of the change that can happen with the thousands upon thousands of previously disengaged voters stepping up and getting themselves back on the electoral register. I’m lucky that I’ve never truly struggled. I’ve worked to have enough money, I’ve attended University, I’ve been lucky to have a supportive family who have allowed me to pursue a number of valuable opportunities. I’ve been told a number of times on the campaign trail that my life is an example of how we are Better Together; but I’m not voting for me and so that I or my family will have more £, $ or ginger bottle caps in our bank accounts at the end of the day, but I’m voting for those who truly NEED change to happen, and to happen now. Those who are underserved, punished or simply forgotten about by the Union. Show me a No vote that will give Scotland full fiscal and legislative powers; show me a No vote that will revive UK politics to not pander to the rich, that will have electoral reform, that will remove the house of Lords, that will remove trident not just from Scotland but from all of the UK. Show me a No vote that truly make us better together, and I’ll vote No. Until then, I’ll campaign my arse off for a better future; and that future, I think, starts with a Yes :) Building a better future is hard and scary; this is true in all walks of life. I dont think that an iScotland will be a land of milk and honey. I think we will make a lot of mistakes as well as a lot of good decisions, but at least they will be our mistakes and triumphs and we can really hold decision makers accountable for them. Im sick and tired of moaning about the bad hands we are dealt by the perpetual Labour & Tory UK Governments and being unable to do anything about it. Its time to pull up our big-kid pants and take responsibility for our own future. I, for one, definitely think it will be worth it. If you’re interested in the referendum and want to chat, please mail me ! :)
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 21:19:05 +0000
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