OK, I've been watching the election results closely all day, and it's still too close to count, and the electoral system is clearly the shambles we expected. Take a look at the Scottish Parliament and you'll get a good idea why anything remotely concerning Scottish politics, usually ends up a disaster.
Although my political opinions might not interest anyone further afield than Elgin, this is my platform and I will express them, because that is my constitutional right.
I did vote for the SNP, not because I agree with probably half of their policies, but because I wanted Labour out, and in that respect, only the SNP have the potential to drive them out. The trouble with our electoral system is, even if the SNP gain a majority, unless they find another party willing to form a coalition, we could be looking at another Lib/Lab alliance, especially with the Lib Dem reluctance to allow the people of Scotland the chance to have a referendum on Independence. My cynical side tells me that it's an obvious ploy by them to get back into bed with Labour.
Anyway, I here you ask, why do I want Labour out so badly? Well, if you lived here in the North East of Scotland, you wouldn't need to ask. I can't think of a single positive thing Labour has done for me since devolution. There are many negatives though, too many:
- I now owe £13,000 in loans and fees for educating myself.
- I haven't had an NHS dentist for 4 years. My last dentist was a South African, who went private as soon as he was able. I can't afford private treatment, so I don't get any. Welcome to the Third World !
- The road infrastructure here is probably 30 years out-of-date and public transport is expensive, occasional and fairly inaccessble!
- My country is involved in at least 2 pointless wars, which have no support by the people and we're losing badly!
- There are no jobs here, what few jobs there were have been filled by immigrant workers, prepared to work for the minimum wage (sometimes less), and this in turn has driven wages down also!
- Bizzarely, last year, although a full-time student with a wife and 2 kids, my student loans were considered by the Council to be income, and I had to pay full rent and council-tax, wtf?
These are my grievances with Labour! I don't know what a SNP in majority will do for this country, but even if it's only enough to give Labour a fright, that will do for me!
