by ukmav » Sat Sep 17, 2011 2:23 am
I am just a tad curious, where did I state that all laws in Scotland were the same as those in England or indeed the rest of the UK? I am well aware that there are differences and that there are probably sound reasons for these differences even if I am not fully aware of what all the differences or reasons are, I don't need to be as I don't live, work, invest in, or have any other reason to make myself aware of any specific legal differences between England and Scotland although buying a house there was a reasonably interesting experience. If you read my last post properly, which I doubt from your reply, you would have seen that I phrased this kind of point as a question rather than a statement, I am fully aware that I am do not know everything. I also accept that people can be authorities on matters which happened long before their birth however the problem with gaining one's knowledge from sources other than experience is that it is always tainted with the preconceptions of the author, history after all tends to be written by the victors indeed knowledge gained through experience is also tainted by the view of the individual but to a lesser extent largely. I am sure the history of World war two would be very different if written from a German perspective, so forgive me if I don't take your somewhat jaundiced views on Margaret Thatcher too seriously.
Your free to user services, of which I am well aware, I imagine you are acquainted with the envy with which they are viewed in England, may well be paid for through taxation the question is whose taxation? I know what your answer will be but I would have to question the ability of a nation of the size of Scotland to be able to afford to do these things, laudable though they are, simply through taxation of its own population without punitive rates of taxation, the numbers simply do not add up. I would point out, as I am sure, you need me to that that is not in any way intended as a slight on Scotland but is simply bald economic and mathematical truth.
Your sister, who I am sure is an admirable WPC, forgive me if I have her rank incorrect but that is what you implied, is undoubtedly aware of some of the differences in legal procedures and interpretation as well as laws through her training but I doubt that any police personnel at any level are fully aware of all the laws of the country they serve let alone neighbouring countries, my own cousin is a deputy commissioner in the metropolitan police and he certainly is not by his own admission. That having been said the laws of the two countries are broadly speaking very similar.
I was not arguing as to the culpability of Megrahi for this crime merely that he was the only person who had been convicted of it. Given Gadaffi's behaviour, it is entirely possibly that Megrahi had fallen out of favour and was set up by the then Libyan dictator. That the case was tried in the Netherlands is a political fact of life, most if not all European terrorists of this scale are tried there, I doubt that this in itself affects the validity of the verdict especially as it was reached by no less than three Scottish judges, I believe using Scottish law. Perhaps we should take a leaf out of the Scottish prison service's book and repatriate all foreign prisoners when they become ill just to save a few pounds, dollars or Euros?
Where did I mention being charged for parking in Hospitals? Where did I mention that a majority of Scottish people want complete autonomy from England? I simply stated that I would not be unhappy to see it come about. Where did I mention any of the imagined slights you seem to be accusing me of?
I have not told you what it is like in Scotland I have not attempted to do so nor would I given that I am English and live for the most part in England I have little knowledge of what Scotland is like although the parts I have visited are beautiful. I reiterate that the comments you seem to have taken exception to were phrased as questions that implies a lack of knowledge on my part and a wish to find additional information, sadly you have failed to supply that information.
I can only conclude from your short enormously bitter and inaccurate second post in reply to me that you have given up trying to argue coherently, if indeed that was ever your intention, and have resorted to attempting to insult me. Far better people than you have tried the same, it has very little effect on me, if you are willing to take a modicum of advice I would suggest that you do not waste your time or effort in doing so you are the only one it will bother and I am sure you have far better things to do with your life such as it is.
Still it has been awfully interesting seeing your views, incorrect, prejudiced, and second-hand as they are I hope to be able to discuss other issues with you at some point in the future.
If politics were an honourable profession no self respecting politician would be interested in it.
