Scotland needs more self-help and less self-flagulation

I was writing about this in the 1990’s, 30 years ago! I was not the only one. In his great book What To Say When You Talk To Yourself, Shad Helmstetter, writes that what we say to ourselves is so very important. Denis Waitley in his book The Psychology Of Winning writes about what Olympic Athletes say to themselves as they line up for the high jump. Susan Jeffers, in her great work, Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway’, says something similar, and gives a demonstrable example of what she means when anyone say’s “I am weak”. Read the book and you will find out. I do wish that people, in general, would catch up on their reading.

Video, probably from installed security cameras, in the £2.6 million, "Press Room" of 10 Downing Street, of Allegra Stratton, being coy in a mock press briefing, about parties, that took place in Downing Street last Christmas, breaking lock down regulations, have now been seen. The response is loud and clear. However it is Allegra who had to “fall on her sword”.

The world of Westminster politics grinds on, with Boris Johnson, deflecting, and redirecting, all criticism, standing aloof, and maintaining these sins were the “minions”, not him.

Unbelievably, to me, many seem to accept that.

Then I glance about the world and see the "tin-pot-dictators" who now rule much of the political world. From the Philippines to Brazil, from Turkey to Australia, from Westminster to the Kremlin. I read the BBC, or should I, more correctly, write “The English Broadcasting Corporation”, report on Kate Forbes "balanced budget" financial statement 2021-2022.

Douglas Fraser wrote: “Big Vision, tight squeeze”. He went on to say: “That speech set out grand and uncontroversial themes: tackling inequality as it affects families and young people, helping Scotland make its contribution to reducing climate change, and helping businesses recover from the pandemic. The last of these left businesses under-whelmed.”

It was not long ago that a “super-majority” of Scottish voters gave their vote to Nicola Sturgeon to implement such policies. In the coming days, I predict, Anas Sarwar (Scottish Labour Leader), will tell Nicola Sturgeon that more money should be spent elsewhere. Douglas Ross (Scottish Tory Leader), will do the same. Nicola Sturgeon will then ask them both to tell her what cuts Kate Forbes should make in order that money can be spent elsewhere.

We all know that they will not follow though with any sensible suggestions, for they have none to offer. If they had Sarwar, or Ross, would be at the helm, thank goodness it is Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister.

Kate Forbes is correct to have a “Big Vision”, for in her role as Finance Secretary she is speaking for Scotland, just like in the books I mentioned above, she is using good “self-talk” and saying we, Scotland, are a strong and powerful nation, we can set out an ambitious plan, and we can achieve the goals which we set.

The “Tight Squeeze” Douglas Fraser invokes, is everything to do with the voters who coalesce around the likes of Johnson, and the other far-right politicians, who live, not by a vision of “better for all”, but by “better for me and my mates” – and train the rest of the population to put-up with what they get. After all they are OK with what they have got, and budgets are all about rewarding those who support us, and punishing those who do not.

Those of us who vote for the SNP, and who will vote for independence, have a vision for Scotland with full control over our financial situation, with our own central bank, where budgets are used to create money to reward everyone in our country and spur them on to even better.

We must tell ourselves “We are big enough, rich enough, strong enough”.
Cher Bonfis
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