tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958311231520405027.post1198106701442105075..comments2023-12-02T08:48:05.495+00:00Comments on Dave Watson: Class, Nation and SocialismDave Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02001339406583991407noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958311231520405027.post-20543342661786687432013-09-16T13:07:38.454+01:002013-09-16T13:07:38.454+01:00Haven't yet purchased as I am put off by the o...Haven't yet purchased as I am put off by the obviously biased cover.<br /><br />I am interested though in the notion that it is only in relation to the independence referendum that nation is posed against class.<br /><br />The UK is a multinational construct that asks all of us to sign up to a dominant British identity, more successfully in some parts of the UK than others.<br /><br />Much of the debate advanced by left unionists is that sticking with this Britishness is somehow more inclusive and internationalist than 'going off' to make our own decisions in our parochial Scottish Parliament. <br /><br />However, it is in defence of this Britishness that arguments about the retention of nuclear weapons, projection of military power, and defence of neoliberal values are clustered. Deconstructing Britishness undermines the justification for these positions. <br /><br />It will be the biggest wake up call to voters in England in a generation if Scotland votes Yes. It would certainly see the return of a Labour Government in Westminster - without the need for its Scottish MPs - if the Conservative Party was to 'lose Scotland'.<br /><br />For us to validate British 'pooling and sharing' controlled from Westminster is simply a recipe for continued growth of inequality across the UK. So, why would anyone with the interest of Scottish (or English, Welsh, or Northern Irish) workers at heart be asking for a No vote in September 2014.Stravoniannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958311231520405027.post-25750489349925689802013-09-13T22:55:19.605+01:002013-09-13T22:55:19.605+01:00I am minded towards voting for indy, but I don'...I am minded towards voting for indy, but I don't think that will be the outcome. Even if it was we still need some thinking about what happens next. A lot of what passes for debate so far is written from a right wing or far left fringe perspective. A bit of sensible left thinking very welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8958311231520405027.post-11867213464023063542013-09-13T20:16:00.361+01:002013-09-13T20:16:00.361+01:00Unlike some I have read it, well I did skip a few ...Unlike some I have read it, well I did skip a few chapters, but that is beauty of a book like this. Can't say I agreed with it all. However, there are some really good ideas here, as well as some quality analysis. Jim Thomasnoreply@blogger.com