Opinion by Milena Popova

Scottish news: Andrew Lansley and my cat

I have had cause recently to compare private and public health care systems - with unflattering conclusions for both.

After a week at home with the flu and still not feeling the least bit better, I finally cracked and tried to book an appointment with my GP. The process normally goes something like this: I call at 8.29am, only to get their answerphone which tells me they don’t open until 8.30. I hang up and and redial, at which point the line is already engaged. I then proceed to redial every two minutes for the next half hour or so, until I finally get one step further - into the hold queue.

Opinion by Graham Ennis

Scottish independence: Vote Yes to leave the Titanic

I was impressed by the recent Scottish Times article, about the UK staring at the bleak future of a Lehman Brothers economic collapse. A collapse, it seems, where the entire UK state would sink like the Titanic....and of course, there simply would not be enough lifeboats for the poor people on board, once again.

So the UK, it seems, is forecast to be going down the slippery economic slope to a Greece-style disaster, an entire country becoming insolvent and eventually bankrupt, according to the expert analysis of international economist Professor Steve Keen. The world-renowned Australian economist has both credibility and track record with academic awards for his work and holds down a major teaching post at the university of Western Sydney.

Opinion by Bradley McLaughlin

Scottish independence: Scottish independence and fishing

THE INTERNET is like a great ocean; each piece of information a fish within that vast ocean. We surf it. Its tides an un-breaking crescendo of ingenuity and progress. Its shores connect us all. Despite some oil slicks, its purity is a boon to humanity; Our greatest achievement.

It’s been nearly a decade since I left school: a decade of personal metamorphosis and change. At school and for a few years following I was self-loathing; a closeted young gay; anti-american; catholic and a Unionist. I was a dreary reminder of the lack of self-confidence many Scots fall victim to. A turbulent sea of frustration held back by a flimsy dam of low self-worth, often resulting in torrents of illogical and irrational anger and hatred.

by Graham Ennis

MI5 -  More dangerous than the Hindu Kush Gungha Djinn 

Scottish independence: MI5 -  More dangerous than the Hindu Kush Gungha Djinn

There has been much recent comment, from the Unionist Political camp in Scotland, once again using the tactics of fear and smear, to imply that an independent Scotland would somehow be in serious danger of terrorist threats and violence, or even a possible weakness in the UK’s defences against them.

Most intelligent people will quickly realize the nonsense of this, but in actuality the true danger against Scotland is not from a remote band of Islamist’s thousands of kilometers away. It comes from places much closer to home.

 by Milena Popova

Scottish news: Alex Salmond and News Corp

Whose adviser said what to whom in News Corp? With both Rupert and James Murdoch up in front of the Leveson Enquiry last week, the plot thickens. One begins to wonder how many adviser and ministerial resignations and demotions Messrs Murdoch will have to their name by the end of this.

by Milena Popova

Scottish independence: Skintland - The Flip Side

Last week, the Economist raised some concerns over the economic viability of an independent Scotland. I am inclined to agree with Alex Salmond that the way these concerns were raised was patronising and condescending. I’d go as far as saying cheap and crass actually; yet there are some valid questions here.

Poet Carlos Drummond's memorial at Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Scots in South America: the Forgotten Diaspora

by John Fitzpatrick

South America is not as associated with the Scottish diaspora as traditional places like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but there is a strong link that goes right back to the “discovery” of Latin America by the Spaniards and Portuguese.

Smoke signals from the French Revolution which was born out of economic
crises and poverty

Scottish news and opinion: Independence tremors and UK eruptions

by Eric McLean

Scientists seem to spend a great deal of wasted effort trying to predict earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters.  Why then should we reasonably expect politicians to see a revolution coming?

Scottish news and opinion: Pay freeze hypocrites

by Mark Irvine

North Lanarkshire Council should hang its head in shame.

The Sunday Herald has exposed a secret pay deal involving big bonus payments to some of the council's most senior  officials - which must have been approved by the Labour Group that runs North Lanarkshire Council (NLC).

by Milena Popova

Scottish news: Fight for you digital rights

The rapid development of technology over the last fifty or so years has given new capabilities to the state, businesses and individuals. It has enabled growth by increasing productivity, it has radically transformed some industries and created others - such as the video games industry which is so successful in Scotland.

Yet the new capabilities technology provides also create new conflicts and pose some fundamental questions about the balance of power between citizens, businesses and the state in a variety of areas.