So let us talk about a new Scotland. I offer seven practical thoughts. First, around 13 years of age children will go through a ceremony, whatever their religion, and from then on we will treat them as growing adults, finding the adult in the youth. Adolescence will be defunct. Treated as adults they will take responsibility for what they are responsible for. For us all, that lasts through life.
Second, all nurseries and primary schools will be held in the natural world, in forests, by streams, in hills and valleys. Okay, perhaps an odd day in a classroom for older children. Blackboards are essential for maths (though not for poetry, best spoken) but blackboards can be mobile too. The factory system of education will be ended, at least up to the age of 12. As Connelly said: ‘There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing’. We will come to see a brightness in their eyes.
Third, art – and music, drama, dance – will be prioritised in all care services. In design of buildings, in the ambience created and in the job descriptions and management systems. Not that all have to have some unique skill but all should be allowed to recognise and share the vital importance of the art, dance and humour they bring.
Fourth, leadership of care will make empathy and intuition its central concerns. This will be hard. It will require reaching into systems that are deeply mired in other priorities. It will require leadership that can dig deep and wide. And ruthlessly.
Fifth, candidates for Westminster and Holyrood would be barred from standing for any political party (and would not be able to be members of any). Standing on their own platform their election expenses would be paid through taxation, so long as they secured 7% of the vote. At their risk. Political parties could lobby but not have their endorsement recorded on the ballot sheet. Nor put up slogans and posters. Political party broadcasts would cease. The focus would be on the person standing. It would be ‘I stand as your representative not as a member of a political party’. Drastic, well the times call.
Sixth, there would be 200 new members of the House of Lords. All hereditary peers would be dismissed. The criteria for membership would be outstanding achievement in science, law, music, art, medicine, journalism, dance, sport and even politics. Their wise task would be to cause a pause and reflection, and vital in doing that they should link in with chambers elsewhere – Nepal, Brazil, the USA, Canada – a live network of ‘what are you doing now, oh we tried that’. Live and transparent. The world is no longer there, it is here. Takes some filtering though.
Seventh, any enterprise – private, third sector, public – where the gap between the top remuneration and the bottom remuneration is greater than a 4:1 ratio would be deemed badly governed and unfit to trade. Now that’s drastic; where did I get this silly notion? Oh, yes, Plato.
I do not think it is time for independence, whatever that means, I do think it is time for revolution. Don’t you? We simply cannot go on as we are. We need to talk. To create the best future for the Scotland we all love.
Angus Skinner
Kenneth Roy’s piece on the R&A/Muirfield (1 August) is fine except for two small points. Muirfield is so exclusive that it is pointless to say half of the ruman race is excluded for entry: more like 99.9% including the male population.
Kenneth was so generous towards Alex Salmond as to say he inherited his love of golf from his father. I guess then that this publicity-seeking first minister may also have inherited his love of waving huge saltires at Wimbledon, in breach of both rules and etiquette, from his doting parents? Or maybe he is in fact a photo opportunity snatcher after all.
David Kinnon
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