The mind needs to spend effort and energy coping with the constant conflict, and we can become uncomfortable, stressed and even irrationally angry when our attention is drawn to them.
Tag Archives: #SNP
The History of the SNP and the EU: A Tale of Antagonism
This blog post is based on a YouTube video titled “Why is the history of the SNP and the EU actually really antagonistic?” The Scottish National Party (SNP) portrays itself as a pro-European party, especially in recent years. However, a closer look at the party’s history reveals a more complex and often antagonistic relationship withContinue reading “The History of the SNP and the EU: A Tale of Antagonism”
Helping Nicola Sturgeon Resign
It will be hard for Nicola Sturgeon to go, and unclear who will replace her: but go she must. We offer advice on when, and how, to quit.
2022 in Review
Here are our highlights for 2022. It’s been a good year for the site, we more than doubled our visitors and increased the number of articles and analysis. January Most Scots started the new year blocked; and I was no different! I wonder what criticism it was that was too much so I made itContinue reading “2022 in Review”
Size Matters
What’s the best size for a country? The Scottish National Party make much of Scotland’s population of around 5 million as conveniently the best size for a country – as though simply by being around 5 million nations are predestined to be “wealthier, happier and fairer” but does their claim stand up to investigation? InContinue reading “Size Matters”
Scottish Soothsaying
Prophecy is a staple trope of mythology, and if Nationalism is anything, it’s an emotional appeal to mythology, often of an idealised past. The mythology of Scottish Nationalism has included a prophecy of the inevitability of victory, the surety in the collapse of the union, a glorious day coming where real or imagined wrongs willContinue reading “Scottish Soothsaying “
Separation Anxiety
The separation of the legislature and the judiciary is an indication, not a failure, of a healthy liberal democracy. It is the defining behaviour of populists to claim that they speak with the will and the authority of ‘the people against some defined elite. Independent courts must be able to hold the people’s representatives toContinue reading “Separation Anxiety”
Deficit Denial
Scotland’s Democratic Deficit Unionists and Nationalists are in deficit denial – but about different Scottish deficits. Unionists, quite correctly, highlight the challenges of Scotland’s nominal deficit – which would become structural, and therefore problematic, upon independence. Many nationalists downplay it or even deny it exists at all. In contrast, Nationalists highlight what they see asContinue reading “Deficit Denial”
Attacking the Media
“Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” Napoleon Bonaparte The technique we look at in this chapter of the Populist’s Playbook is “Attacking the media”. I like to start out with some definitions and parameters. So, what do we mean by media, and what do we mean by attacks? WhoContinue reading “Attacking the Media”
Promising the Impossible
One of the 12 tactics of Populists; Promising the Impossible. Why do they do it? How do they get away with it?! And what can we do about it?
The Populist's Playbook 