So here we are all 'devolved' and yet being governed overall by a party and PM we had no real part in electing and those we did choose are still harping on about Independence. I wrote that first essay against the background of those northerly isles of Orkney, a backdrop vastly different in political profile to the SNP heartland of Perthshire where I now live. So will I vote with the 'distrusting of the central belt' North or trust local golden boy and once party leader John Swinney? What solutions I wonder would my 15 yr old self come up with now?
Honestly I'm not sure. If the referendum were tomorrow I'm not sure which way I'd be voting. It does feel a little head v heart. Which is I think the problem facing the SNP Yes campaign. Because with Nationalism it really needs to be all heart. Recent polls show that although support for the Yes campaign is dipping that, if people found themselves even £500 a year better off they would vote with the SNP. Some even went so far as to say if their finances remained the same they would vote Yes. It's this second group that I think conform to traditional features of a nationalism agenda; engaging with the broader picture, putting their identity as Independent Scots above economics and yes voting with their heart. However as Andrew Smith, in the Huffington Post, points out it is probably the first group who will hold the key to success. This is how he puts it "In order to win they need to listen to people's concerns, no matter how trivial they seem, and focus as much on 'bread and butter' issues as grand narratives. In addition, the economic case for independence has to be articulated as something more than just an anti Tory vote."*
Wars of nationalism or peaceful campaigns as we see now are rarely fought and won on economic policy. It's true that in order to gain support the SNP will have to come up with some concrete and clearly understood answers to the economic questions being currently posed. I will try to come back to this at a later stage. However, I just dont think that when it comes time to go to the polling station that fiscal policy will be what makes me or anyone else of voting age (including those under 18 for I believe the first time in the UK in modern elections??) tick one box or another. In that moment the images we reflect upon will be our history, our identity and our 'nation' which ever way we imagine that to be. This romantic journey is often the basis of nationalism and where it all begins - 'imagining' and creating the collective memory through language, history and yes nowadays media. This romanticism is criticised by Tom Gallagher in his article "The Rapid and Unlikely Rise of Scotland's Independence Movement" saying "the freedom journey has enjoyed success in a febrile atmosphere of poor-quality media". Bit harsh Tom some people like 'River City' and 'Nina and the Neurons'.
Mr Gallagher (writer(decent)lecturer(poor)and previous tutor(very poor) of yours truly) who has written widely on various births of European nations is apparently quite well known for being anti Mr Alex Salmond, whom he calls machiavellian in this article. This is all quite amusing but doesn't really bring us further forward in the debate. Do I trust Mr Salmond? no not as far as I could throw him, but I do l like his tenacity and ability to stand up to Westminster.
The other element to consider here is timing. 2014 is just on the outer wave of the coalition government - their future is very much unknown. Should Cameron still have strong support south then Salmond will be able to garner voters with anti-conservative feeling. But the unpopularity of the coalition is based on the current economic instability and this is the big stumbling block for the Yes campaign. They cannot answer your questions about pensions, and sharing the country's debt, or whether Oil will be sufficient to launch this nation proudly into world's market. At least not the answers you want to hear.
Ultimately Mr Salmond's job is about capturing your imagination, fuelling your heart and stirring up any patriotic pride you might have. I disagree with Tom Gallagher I actually think they have used the media effectively and subtly. Yet again timing has been against them with 2012 being the biggest year for the Union in some time. Even Olympics can be forgotten though and 2014 is still 2 years of saltire waving, gaelic speaking, Westminster bashing and beautiful island images away!
NB: I will try to do another blog looking at the ins and outs of the process and economics and withhold the right to totally change my opinion several times ;)
P.S As always please do add to my muddled thoughts!
Andrew Smith| 24 Oct, 2012 08:50 PM BST Huffington Post
No comments:
Post a Comment