scunnert wrote:
Now or later it will be a gamble. Given that the media is hostile to the cause of independence and will give their support of the unionist cause - it will be a battle we are not yet equipped to win.

Can we trust the opinion polls? I don't think so. Who can say how much they are manipulated and fabricated? So how much support is there for independence? I imagine from the antics of the unionist parties more than we are led to believe. At the same time I would imagine that the SNP have commissioned their own private polls and so know more than the rest of us.

As things stand however, we will not be in control of the process and that is worrying. I honestly believe that the UK power elite will do its best to falsify results if they fear losing. E-voting will make it easy for them.

Before mounting a referendum we must win over the media, wrest control of the process from Westminster, ensure counting is done manually, involve international observers, and have exit polls at every polling station.

We're just not ready. We are lambs in the wolves den and to get out we had better grow some sharp claws and long fangs.

Slainte

On the subject of the media scunnert

I believe if we could have just one week of everyone refusing to buy papers and refusing to watch any tv channel we could actually go back to a media system that actually reports the truth. We may even use words like honesty and integrity again.

Their whole existence is so wound up with advertising that the loss of even a days revenue would be catastrophic for them.

On the subject of polls and the antics of the unionist parties.

I believe they are aware of the growing number of people who not only support SNP but see Alex Salmond as a steady hand on the tiller. That can be the only reason for this total panic.

The reaction to this has two effects one they lie and the two is lets give a different reason to act as we are now doing. Then we have the power issue, such as, you will do as you are told or we will find a way to make you we are the ruling party.

As shown by two main reasons behind the fact that Westminster intend removing some powers from Scottish Government.

One - the nuclear power stations they want them up here and not down south and they will change that ability in the Scotland Act. They will remove the power from local government to refuse a nuclear power station. It will not benefit Labour but it will help the cause for independence.

Two - the voting system, they will never give up their power over that simply for the reason that it can be fiddled as long as it comes under the control of Westminster.

It would take a more intelligent person than I to find a legal and publicly supported way to overcome these difficulties. Hopefully Alex Salmond is that person.