Resignation out of necessity

Some word is probably warranted at momentous turning points as this.  We live in historic times to be sure.  Though, it is often not so easy to tell that from our vantage in harried every day living.  Taking in the view (orienting the map so to speak) goes unnoticed in the clutter of cares.  

On occasion, it is rewarding just to pause awhile to appreciate the vista.  This we hope to do soon, to pull up and span the landscape of Eildon Hills from Scott's View.  Scott's View was a way stop for renowned Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott as he went about his business in the Scottish Borders.  It is said, so common was Sir Walter's brief pause at his favorite view that the horses pulling his hearse from his home at Abbotsford to his final resting place at Drybugh Abbey eerily stopped at Scott's View without command.  A last view, it is said.  

Since time immemorial the Eildon Hills have been the stuff of folklore.  Well before the arrival of the Romans by several thousand years, the Eildons were considered portals to the enchanted lands of the fairy folk.  In any case, following Sir Walter's lead, each of us should take more time to reflect...meditation instead of medication.        

As for reflecting upon Scotland's near term political future, the word "surprising" comes to mind.  No other word describes the recent resignation of Scotland's longest serving First Minister (FM) Nicola Sturgeon. After 8 years at the helm, FM Sturgeon's resignation was undeniably a surprise, a Valentine's massacre of a sort.  No one was prepared for it.  Nor is Scotland well prepared for the outcome of the constitutionally mandated election, currently ongoing, to replace FM Sturgeon.  Scotland has until March 27, 2023 to decide where it will stake its future.   

These observations should be tempered.  Native Scots may well bristle at comments from abroad about their parliamentary doings at Holyrood.  Still, we humor ourselves as having accumulated at least a small opinionated voice in regards to Scotland's political affairs, having been many times to Scotland on our Easter sojourns.  As an aside, Holyrood is a "metonym" for Scotland's government.  It is similar to using Washington when referring to America's government.

With that grammatical note made, my opinion of FM Sturgeon's tenure is less than genial.  Sturgeon's government (under her SNP--Scottish National Party) has made a horrible mess of just about everything they've had their hand in...including the latest constraints upon grammatical pronouns it seems.  It is inexplicable, almost bizarre really, that Sturgeon's tenure in office would end in ruin upon the senselessness of a reactionary New Age cultural war...the garbled straits of "transgenderism".  "Woke" gone amok.  

The sad part is, it is not as if Scotland has no other more pressing needs to attend.  But, reactionaries do what they do.  Reactionaries, whether American, or Scottish, or any other, seldom afford themselves much in the way of reflection or meditation.  That's why they seem to always end up in messes. 

As to messes, the CalMac ferry contract comes to mind.  Ignoring the highly questionable aroma of kickbacks and contract corruptions, the people of Scotland's isles rely upon ferry transportation.  In many cases it is a matter of dire need, sometimes life or death.  Comparatively then, the fanciful reconstructions of pronouns (or for that matter re-plumbed personal bodies) do not even make the list of noble pursuits or sensible governance. 

Meanwhile, the necessary construction of two CalMac ferries remains five years overdue and some £112 million overrun.  FM Sturgeon's young protege, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, has continually shifted goalposts on the ferries.  No end in sight.  This debacle notwithstanding, Secretary Forbes (now on maternity leave) may be considered Sturgeon's most likely replacement come March 27.  SNP options are thin.  So it will either be Forbes or Deputy First Minister John Swinney.  For his part, Swinney promises a "rigorous approach" to the ferries that remain in the now nationalized Ferguson docks on the Clyde.  Taking on the role of Acting Finance Secretary (with Forbes out on maternity leave), "rigorous" Swinney permitted Ferguson shipyard to miss its deadline for filing its annual accounts.  And so it goes.

[Editor note:  On March 27, the less than competent minister Humza Yousaf was elected as FM for the SNP, Forbes placed second, and Mr. Swinney stepped down.]  

If it were only the ferries, maybe one could ignore.  But it's also bus lines, with routes being eliminated and possible strikes and protests over losing access to rural local public transportation.  Then, there's Scotrail, a rolling mismanagement that is now nationalized.  Its trains are vital to Scotland's economy.  They are also under rolling labor strikes.  Ditto the Highland airports.  To put it mildly, public transportation in Scotland is in disarray.  Then there are the teacher strikes, and the nursing strikes. 

 

FM Sturgeon could find nothing more pressing than to introduce transgenderism and continue to push an independence referendum despite the UK court's clear rejection of Holyrood's authority to do so?  Despite the 2014 vote (which rejected the SNP independence drive), it was understood that that would be a once in a generation vote.  Ah, but the SNP further shifts the goalposts.  Short generations in Scotland it seems...unless you're talking about the delivery of crucial ferries.

Bottom line, FM Sturgeon's resignation was the only way she could extricate herself and retain any dignity at all.  It's been 8 long years of nothing but a mess in the guise of forcing an ill-thought independence--one in which the SNP would of course remain in power.  Sensible or effective governance is apparently beyond the SNP's abilities.  It too should step down, en masse.  Roll up the banners. SNP clearly cannot handle basic governance over public transportation, public health, public education... 

So, what to do?  Paper over inadequacies and push an incomprehensible transgenderism bill.  That also failed, and so FM Sturgeon had no other way out, her resignation being too little too late.  It was illogical to push to be a new sovereign nation, not when so many of Scotland's basic needs have not been met by the very same political party seeking to manage Scotland's independence.  

By way of example, their latest independent plan calls for continuing use of the British pound until the SNP can come up with some sort of currency.  Maybe Bitcoin?  As if that's working well.  If CalMac ferries are any indication, an independent currency will take years upon years at an ever increasing cost.

Perhaps Holyrood should join us in our reflections at Scott's View.  Besides, tales of fairy folk in the Eildons are no less fanciful than depending upon the word of the SNP.   

“For he that does good, having the unlimited power to do evil, deserves praise not only for the good which he performs, but for the evil which he forbears.”--Sir Walter Scott.