the Scottish independence issue
#2146
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: the Scottish independence issue
We are not Scottish , but my brother is heavily involved with socialist politics. His organisation seems to be mad keen on an independent Scotland as a socialist enclave. He is spitting nails at the moment and saying people were duped. Coincidentally, the story is also that the country needs food banks to survive and is crushed under the heel of the bedroom tax.
#2147
Re: the Scottish independence issue
We are not Scottish , but my brother is heavily involved with socialist politics. His organisation seems to be mad keen on an independent Scotland as a socialist enclave. He is spitting nails at the moment and saying people were duped. Coincidentally, the story is also that the country needs food banks to survive and is crushed under the heel of the bedroom tax.
#2149
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,545
Re: the Scottish independence issue
I'd be willing to bet if there was a larger turnout at the elections for the Scottish Parliament, they will no longer be in power. 50% voted in the most recent Scottish Parliamentary elections, 63% voted in the most recent (Scottish) UK Parliament elections.
#2151
Re: the Scottish independence issue
There is no inequality ("=" with a "/" through it) sign on a computer keyboard, so "<>" is used as "not equal to". Anyhow, Hotscot's point was one of grammar not maths or programming.
#2152
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: the Scottish independence issue
Still, it strikes me as an outsider with no skin in this particular game that some of these voting parameters were an attempt to skew the vote in favor of yes. The teen voting appears to me to be particularly manipulative.
And is this correct that non-citizen residents were also permitted to vote? One of the reasons to limit voting to citizens is that the non-citizens have less commitment and less to lose from a bad decision. (Yes, I realize that this isn't a black-and-white issue, but it seems odd that someone with minimal and transitory attachments to a place would be provided with the opportunity to vote.)
#2153
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: the Scottish independence issue
American citizens also have to pay US taxes on their worldwide income even if they don't live in the US. So denying their expats a vote would be "taxation without representation".
#2157
Re: the Scottish independence issue
While 2 is certainly < than 3, my point was that 2 is not 3 ...
Perhaps .NE. would be another choice...
#2158
Re: the Scottish independence issue
That would really sort the men from the boys, wouldn't it - if you want to have a say in the country's future, pay taxes to the country! The US system of citizens being required to pay lifetime taxes on income earned no matter where you live really does make you 'earn' your right to vote, and gives you an incentive to give up citizenship (and therefore the right to vote) if you leave a country with no intent to return.
I don't pay UK taxes, and have no expectation of being allowed to vote in any election there - why would I be allowed to (am I allowed?! - I have no clue).
#2159
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: the Scottish independence issue
I never thought if it quite this way before ...
That would really sort the men from the boys, wouldn't it - if you want to have a say in the country's future, pay taxes to the country! The US system of citizens being required to pay lifetime taxes on income earned no matter where you live really does make you 'earn' your right to vote, and gives you an incentive to give up citizenship (and therefore the right to vote) if you leave a country with no intent to return.
I don't pay UK taxes, and have no expectation of being allowed to vote in any election there - why would I be allowed to (am I allowed?! - I have no clue).
That would really sort the men from the boys, wouldn't it - if you want to have a say in the country's future, pay taxes to the country! The US system of citizens being required to pay lifetime taxes on income earned no matter where you live really does make you 'earn' your right to vote, and gives you an incentive to give up citizenship (and therefore the right to vote) if you leave a country with no intent to return.
I don't pay UK taxes, and have no expectation of being allowed to vote in any election there - why would I be allowed to (am I allowed?! - I have no clue).
#2160
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: the Scottish independence issue
In UK - 10 years as an expat and then you are off the electoral register.