Exiled in a kilt

Ok, from those responses I see the Scottish Tourist Board is still doing its job quite nicely. This is generally a good thing (however if you read Sic transit gloria Scotia by Macdiarmid, you will get a differing opinion), however the problem is that at times it pervades the mindset of Scots as well. So many times I have heard people from Scotland uttering phrases such as "we have the best water in the world" its a myth - the standard of water treatment in Scotland is behind that of a lot of countries. If we are to advance as a country we really need to start to acknowledge our problems and try to deal with them instead of sweeping them under the carpet and hoping that the tourist & oil money continues to flood in.

We need to look at the reasons why Glasgow for example has a life expectancy of around 70, whereas those in the South of England has a life expectancy of around 8 years higher. Yes, some of this it can be argued as being due to the interest rates in the UK being set by the bank of England and Scottish factors and requirements not always being taken into account. However we have had tax changing powers in the devolved parliament for years now, and nothing has been done to address the problem.

We need to look at why (at the last time I saw the figures) 5 of the worst 8 areas in the UK are in Scotland.

We need to look at why for years Scotland has had the knife attack capital (per capita) of the EU.

We really need to look at why we have a habit of blaming others for our problems.

But what we need the most is for we Scots to take off our thistle coloured glasses and see-you-jimmy wigs. Stop living in a dream world and take ownership of our problems. Scotland can be a nation again, but until we address our problems from a personal level it may unforunately be an unsuccessful one.

"Hauf his soul a Scot maun use
Indulgin' in illusions,
And hauf in gettin' rid o' them
And comin' to conclusions
Wi' the demoralising dearth
O' onything worth while on Earth...."
~ Hugh MacDiarmid, My Quarrel with England

**Next up: The current situation**