Letters / Salmond cannot afford to lose here
I was pleased to see the aptly-timed launch of the “Yes Shetland” campaign (Yes Shetland gets under way, SN, 5 Dec 12).
As the SIC wrestles with its enormous budgetary problems any support it can muster from local agents of Alex Salmond’s “Bannockburn Anniversary Referendum” will likely be appreciated.
It has been claimed elsewhere that of Shetland’s total population of about 23,000 more than one in six – 4,000 – one way or another, work for the council. If correct it is a staggering figure.
A variety of reasons exists for this including the various oil-related pies in which the council has fingers and doubtless, also the well-known bureaucratic penchant for empire-building.
Much of the responsibility however lies with government.
For example, anyone who works in a large organisation will be aware that there is a mountain of regulations to climb before even the simplest of tasks can be contemplated and if we are to remain in “compliance” a bureaucratic monster must be created and sustained, playing straight into the hands of the empire builders – “we have to, it’s a “compliance” issue” – which to those who do the work means “a trouser-padding for the bosses” issue and thus of overriding importance.
As if that isn’t enough, the Scottish government’s egregious plan to become the “Green Capital of the World” to win Alex Salmond his Green Blue Peter Badge and the rest of us the dearest electricity in the world was embraced by previous councils who have, effectively, earmarked the remaining Shetland Charitable Trust funds for renewable energy projects.
This means money is no longer available for care homes (SCT used to pay £400/wk per patient – stopped and blamed on the tax man; how convenient) and other worthy purposes.
Surely the provision of a free lunch club for the elderly and music tuition for children by the charitable trust would not cause the tax man to “draa doon his broo” and cast his baleful gaze on such excess?
Alas, none of the money already committed to Mr Salmond’s pet wheeze, nor indeed, future instalments – hundreds of millions – will earn a crust until at least 2020!
So the trust simply hasn’t got the “cash to splash” at the time of most pressing need.
Those who enjoy witnessing the ritual slaughter of “Nanny State’s” most sacred cows will like Richard Littlejohn’s entertaining article on the following link in which he brings Nanny’s herd “to the Market Green.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2244247/Windmills-Africa–policy-die-for.html
While I can’t bring myself to give “thumbs down” for every coup de grace, he does set out succinctly and humorously much of what is wrong in our country today and in so doing, illuminates the points I’ve tried to make above.
Shetland will be a crucial battleground in the independence referendum; Salmond cannot afford to lose here yet his pet schemes are part and parcel of the council’s difficulties.
So will “Yes Shetland” use its influence with the SNP to win government support for the SIC’s current financial difficulties?
John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar
tullochj22@btinternet.com
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