Great thread.

CES .. you have said a lot of really interesting things, and I seem to agree with you on everything (?). Perhaps I should re-read !

I am a Scot so I'll add that I agree we should have a national anthem that looks to the future and doesn't deal with a military battle we won 700 years ago. Aye, I love the song, but surely "us" having beaten the English is not the only thing we have to build a nation on.

I do believe in Scottish independence, but ONLY because I think that most Scots would vote for a Socialist Republic and I can't see that happening in the UK.

As far as the poll tax is concerned, I do think they were trying to test the waters with us Scots, and they made a BIG mistake. One day I will never forget is the day we boarded a double decker bus to take us to Janette McGinn's house to have a garden party, in honour of the Sherrif's Officers that were coming to poind her furniture to pay her poll tax debt. Funnily enough they never turned up !

Talking of Janette McGinn, socialism and republicanism, isn't it a pity that her late husband, Matt McGinn never wrote a national anthem fitting of his people ? He would have made a grand job of it. Since that isn't the case I think we should stick to A Man's a Man for a' that.

Red Rabbie