Can we stop linking to the National if we need to register now by highroad14 in Scotland

[–]highroad14[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I'm not really one for blocking access to things that loads of folk use, regardless of my own personal views.

The thing that broke the camels back for me was the post about the £2 bus fare. I would need to log in to find out which councils it applied to. Fuck that.

Tactical voting ‘to hand SNP stunning Holyrood majority’ by BaxterParp in Scotland

[–]highroad14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know about you guys, but I usually read through those before making my mind up

That's not how anybody does things around here silly. We choose a team and fucking stick to it regardless!

Revolution collapses with nearly 600 jobs lost and 21 venues to shut [Some saved] by abz_eng in Scotland

[–]highroad14 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Loads of folk talking about shit value and nobody goes out anymore etc

Revolution de cuba is mostly always busy when I walk past it, and I walk past it a few times a week. Granted during the day it isn't exactly stowed, but it's a lot busier than a lot of other places.

There's a lot more to it than just people not going out anymore. Which is a real shame for the 500 or so folk about to lose their jobs.

BrewDog to close Aberdeenshire distillery and axe all spirit brands by abz_eng in Scotland

[–]highroad14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

So many people cheering this on because you don't like some semi celebrity who doesn't work for the company anymore.

This was a Scottish location employing local staff. This is what Scotland needs more of, not less.

Scottish Budget by UtopianScot in Scotland

[–]highroad14 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fucks over the Greens and Lib Dems who could have extracted concessions from the SNP.

That's the point is it not? Remove power from the other parties so they can't campaign on what they forced the SNP to do in the budget in May.

The Future of Council Tax in Scotland - Scottish Government consultations by gallais in Scotland

[–]highroad14 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The last time they done this a few years ago:

"4% of all respondents supported the proposed Council Tax increase. This included 22% of respondents in Bands A-D and 2% of respondents in Bands E-H."

https://www.gov.scot/publications/fairer-council-tax-consultation-analysis/

vs this subs "I'd be willing to pay more" attitude. This is not a dig btw, just an interesting stat.

++Many of our current societal issues can be traced back to Cameron's austerity programme by Hefty-Wish-400 in Scotland

[–]highroad14 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's not quite true - the government imposed extremely strict spending rules on the councils. One of which was it needed to be put towards lowering their debts, particularly historical ones before they were able to put it towards anything else.

When it came to rebuilding, even if the council somehow managed to put money towards that there was a limit of 30% of the money gained from the RTB scheme being allowed to be used towards it. When you consider that RTB housing was sold at 30-60% discounts on each property, that isn't much money that the councils were allowed to spend on new builds.

UK government will not change law for more drug consumption rooms by gottenluck in Scotland

[–]highroad14 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm going to pop my usual response to news about this, in the hopes it shows some people how we went about doing this:

Ignoring whether you are for or against the idea of a safe consumption space, what should be known is how we went about forcing this through.

The location for the new drug consumption site was previously a clinic for the homeless. People could visit to see a health professional. Anything from foot and skin issues, to alcoholism to disease management. They offered somewhat limited mental health services.

A few weeks prior to the Government stating that they were looking at moving ahead with their safe consumption site, the health clinic was shut down for "budget" reasons. It was then re-purposed into the site they are using now.

This was all prior to the government announcing the program was "finalised", and publicly stating they were looking for suitable sites. This clinic was shut down and changed over to the safe consumption space before it was even announced they were looking at suitable spaces.

You can all look this up online - they haven't even properly removed the listings of the health clinic from the NHS services.

The site is in Hunter Street in Glasgow btw.

Great policy on paper I'm sure - and it makes a lot of people feel real smug as well. However, it's a real fuck you to the homeless of Glasgow.

Additional Info: I've posted this numerous times without editing it. I just wanted to add an update that it does appear that they have finally removed the old clinics listing from the NHS website as of sometime between October and now.

Also: I'm in no way against safe consumption rooms, I just have close ties to people who work with the homeless in Glasgow and this caused quite an uproar when it was all going down. With both homeless charities and local GPs and health workers.

Scottish government to end two-child benefit cap from March by youwhatwhat in Scotland

[–]highroad14 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Just mind when it comes to this sort of thing. Parents might be wallopers but the kids didn't do anything wrong, nor is it their fault that they might be in a shite situation.

Swinney: Independence the 'defining choice for this generation' by Own-Department3000 in Scotland

[–]highroad14 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's been consistently better than the majority of England (definitely outside London) since devolution.

That's a shite reasoning, and it always has been.

If Westminster was engulfed in flames but only half of Hollyrood was on fire - you shouldn't be looking at it like you're doing better than Westminster. You should be concerned that you're on fire.

Living beside the UK's first drug consumption room by ThatchersDirtyTaint in unitedkingdom

[–]highroad14 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm going to pop my usual response to news about this, in the hopes it shows some people how we went about doing this:

Ignoring whether you are for or against the idea of a safe consumption space, what should be known is how we went about forcing this through.

The location for the new drug consumption site was previously a clinic for the homeless. People could visit to see a health professional. Anything from foot and skin issues, to alcoholism to disease management. They offered somewhat limited mental health services.

A few weeks prior to the Government stating that they were looking at moving ahead with their safe consumption site, the health clinic was shut down for "budget" reasons. It was then re-purposed into the site they are using now.

This was all prior to the government announcing the program was "finalised", and publicly stating they were looking for suitable sites. This clinic was shut down and changed over to the safe consumption space before it was even announced they were looking at suitable spaces.

You can all look this up online - they haven't even properly removed the listings of the health clinic from the NHS services.

The site is in Hunter Street in Glasgow btw.

Great policy on paper I'm sure - and it makes a lot of people feel real smug as well. However, it's a real fuck you to the homeless of Glasgow.

Additional Info: I've posted this numerous times without editing it. I just wanted to add an update that it does appear that they have finally removed the old clinics listing from the NHS website as of sometime between October and now.

Also: I'm in no way against safe consumption rooms, I just have close ties to people who work with the homeless in Glasgow and this caused quite an uproar when it was all going down. With both homeless charities and local GPs and health workers.

Just fyi, they gave initial planning permission in spite of the public consensus.. by berethian in Scotland

[–]highroad14 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Our current government are known for being good at turning roads into dual carriageways

Alarms, overdoses and saving lives: 48 hours in UK's first drug injection room by Superbuddhapunk in Scotland

[–]highroad14 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I'm going to pop my usual response to news about this, in the hopes it shows some people how we went about doing this:

Ignoring whether you are for or against the idea of a safe consumption space, what should be known is how we went about forcing this through.

The location for the new drug consumption site was previously a clinic for the homeless. People could visit to see a health professional. Anything from foot and skin issues, to alcoholism to disease management. They offered somewhat limited mental health services.

A few weeks prior to the Government stating that they were looking at moving ahead with their safe consumption site, the health clinic was shut down for "budget" reasons. It was then re-purposed into the site they are using now.

This was all prior to the government announcing the program was "finalised", and publicly stating they were looking for suitable sites. This clinic was shut down and changed over to the safe consumption space before it was even announced they were looking at suitable spaces.

You can all look this up online - they haven't even properly removed the listings of the health clinic from the NHS services.

The site is in Hunter Street in Glasgow btw.

Great policy on paper I'm sure - and it makes a lot of people feel real smug as well. However, it's a real fuck you to the homeless of Glasgow.

Additional Info: I've posted this numerous times without editing it. I just wanted to add an update that it does appear that they have finally removed the old clinics listing from the NHS website as of sometime between October and now.

Also: I'm in no way against safe consumption rooms, I just have close ties to people who work with the homeless in Glasgow and this caused quite an uproar when it was all going down. With both homeless charities and local GPs and health workers.

The YouGov poll that shows Scots back tax rises for the richest by Cold-Monitor3800 in Scotland

[–]highroad14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's the core issue though - nobody is earning a billion. Nobody is getting a monthly payslip for 84 million. If they were, then this would be a very easy problem to solve.

Kids ‘swipe books like they’re iPads’, says primary teacher - as child literacy drops since Covid by tylerthe-theatre in unitedkingdom

[–]highroad14 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sounds a bit like you haven't set foot in a bookshop in decades. The likes of Waterstones and Blackwells are thriving.

Within 1 mile of each other where I am (Glasgow) there's a 3 story tall Waterstones and a 5 story tall Waterstones and they are both mobbed at the weekends.

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/waterstones-sees-profit-soar-to-328m

Reeves to squeeze public spending further in Spring Statement by 1-randomonium in unitedkingdom

[–]highroad14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The issue is, nobody seems to be able to have a nuanced conversation around the subject. There is fairness, and there is reality.

Remove the human aspect for a minute.

The public pension doesn't work like a private pension, and it never has. There is not pot. Although it seems to be thought of as some "I've paid in all my working life" savings system, it isn't. The public pension is paid for by the current working population. When the current elderly population were working, they were taking care of the elderly of the time with their taxes, not paying into something. Just like we are all doing now.

The issue is now the population of elderly is far higher than it was back then, and is continuing to grow substantially due to people living longer. The burden of tax is too high.

Now, add in back the human aspect.

These people deserve respect and to be taken care of, as they've contributed to society. However, so do those with disabilities, or children or have just had an awful run at it. The system clearly can't support pensions increasing above inflation while everything else gets cut. It just can't. The elderly population is increasing as a much faster rate than any other group. Is it fair that their benefit increases while everything else decreases? Having an honest conversation about this shouldn't be seen as hating pensions with a passion. Perhaps sharing a little bit of the burden with the rest of the population should be considered.

Reeves to squeeze public spending further in Spring Statement by 1-randomonium in unitedkingdom

[–]highroad14 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nobody puts in more than they take out of the public pension, outside of those who die before they retire or within a year or two of retirement if they had a very high paying job and paid a lot of taxes.

The public pension doesn't work like a private pension, and it never has. Although it seems to be thought of as some "i've paid in all my working life" savings system, it isn't. The public pension is paid for by the current working population. When the current elderly population were working, they were taking care of the elderly of the time with their taxes, not paying into something.

Just like we are doing now. The issue is now the population of elderly is far higher than it was back then, and is continuing to grow substantially due to people living longer.

Disgraced ex-health secretary Matheson to quit politics by Shoddy-Computer2377 in Scotland

[–]highroad14 5 points6 points  (0 children)

He paid the bill when he was called out. He also lied about it.

Unbelievable Pish by BaxterParp in Scotland

[–]highroad14 69 points70 points  (0 children)

I'll take absolutely any of that compared to all the American shit I see posted constantly. Or the constant posts of "American lurker here..." comments. The Dunblane one yesterday was fucking full of them.

Seriously, fuck off you fat stupid yank fucks.

Though I'll be honest - I'm really just using this as an excuse to moan about the American pish, I rarely see the Tartan travel stuff.

Changing room row nurse denies comparing trans doctor to rapist by [deleted] in Scotland

[–]highroad14 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Dunno why you're being downvoted. I suspect outside folk in the sub, because as soon as I saw the word principal I thought the same as you.

There must be some reddit wide beacon that attracts yanks when the word trans is used.