[0762]

Well the first thing I'll say, as said to apathetic (on occasions) kids, is many people in history fought for the right to vote! If you don't vote then forget the grounds for criticism - use your vote and vote for the best option that you think will make a difference to the future of our country. Re the tax issue, I disagree and will respectfully suggest that it is all about timing and Nicola Sturgeon/the SNP will indeed have the courage and conviction to eventually do it from a very strong position. As you yourself acknowledge, it's a vote loser but it's an extra governmental power that will be utilised at some stage and for the reasons that you suggest. However, I want the Scottish govt to be given the extra powers that were promised in 2014 and we've not even been given a min requirement of devomax. Why are so many people so fickle on that fact/broken promise alone??? My personal reasoning for paying additional tax (note my Council Tax, and others 'in the same boat', is up anyway!) is to 'blooter' the two tier education system into touch and push on with a top quality ed system for all our kids in Scotland - not just creating the best opps and plum jobs for private/public school kids to people who are buying it in for them and know exactly what they are getting for it - it's a 'them and us' situation that should not exist in this context! There is something inherently wrong with this set up that persists in a small country like Scotland with a relatively small population.