I notice that with one honourable exception (namely me) not one of your miserly correspondents returned your kind greeting.
There is a distinct Scrooge tendency among your readership.
We should take pleasure in the little human touch: a careless smile, the exchange of a friendly word or two, the sharing of our national day.
6 December 2004, 10:03:55 GMT – Like – Reply
rebbikker Libertarianism is a splendid notion which is totally incompatible with the sort of Thirdworldisation that current illegal immigration engenders and which negates hard won national sovereignty. The fact that Dickson is unable to see this tells us much about his delusional state.
5 December 2004, 20:46:46 GMT – Like – Reply
Stuart It never ceases to amaze me how many "libertarians" become die-hard statists when the topic of human migration comes up. There are few things more artificial, anti-freemarket and imaginary than the lines that states draw on the map.
Free your mind. Love your neighbour. Just chill.
5 December 2004, 19:54:46 GMT – Like – Reply
Stuart I do not support illegal immigration.
But I would like to see laws against economic migration relaxed. Significant inflows of economic migrants are vital to economic growth. It is no coincidence that countries like the USA, Sweden and England, with good rates of incoming migration, have sound growth-rates, low unemployment and a smaller pensions problem. Economic migrants tend to be young and to want to work, hard. Thus subsidising the leisure and retirement of the existing population.
Scotland has poor inflows of economic migrants, thus lower growth, thus we attract fewer migrants: it is a vicious circle of relative decline. I would like to see Scotland as a beacon of employment and growth, welcoming all-comers.
Many migrants will in due course become fellow Scots. Remember: we are all descendants of migrants. And Scotland is a classic Mongrel Nation. Our unity is built not on ethnicity, language or religion, but on civic institutions. Being a Scot is not in-born; it is a state of mind which many people can aspire to. I like my fellow Scots, and I also like people who want to move to or visit my country. I do not like people who bully weak minorities.
This is one reason why I support the EU, not just for free movement of goods, services and capital; but vitally because it facilitates the free movement of labour.
This whole strand was not about economic migration, but about giving protection to refugees - a totally different group of people.
5 December 2004, 11:18:09 GMT – Like – Reply
rebbikker It seems likely that no-one can figure why Dickson pursues a pro-illegal immigration agenda.The answer may be uncomplicated dislike of his fellow Scots.
5 December 2004, 04:03:56 GMT – Like – Reply
Simon Jester Attempt to debunk it. It would depend on the nature of the racist statements as to how I should do this.
Stuart Crikey, don't go on in this reconciliatory tone: you'll have me weeping.
I'm still stung by my badly timed spelling error. As I explained many months ago I do not use a spell-checker (it is too much like cheating for my liking) and my day-to-day working language is not English. So I can see where my brain got 2 T's in the word "literature" from. Still, a hell of a place to take a wonky.
We must agree to disagree regarding whether or not Verity's comment was racist, but I do not think he would stand a chance if dragged before a court of law because it is very inflammatory. He would never dare to publish it in a leaflet for example.
-"I support the freedom of racists to expose their views publicly"
Well, here is the crux of the matter: I do not. No matter how liberal and enlightened I try to be, I just refuse to tolerate racism: it is far too prevalent at all levels and facets of society, and it deeply damages all of our countries.
Racists seldom state their racism plainly, but live by innuendo and analogy.
May I ask: what exactly would you do to combat racism, if it were ever plainly stated?
2 December 2004, 16:25:05 GMT – Like – Reply
Simon Jester Stuart,
I do disagree with Verity's comment; it is not racist (for the reasons described previously) but it is misguided.
Moreover, I support the freedom of racists to expose their views publicly. Quite apart from the general principle of freedom of speech, it is a lot easier to rebut plainly stated racism.
2 December 2004, 16:07:36 GMT – Like – Reply
Stuart Simon,
Very good.
Well, if you are being ironic, then I withdraw my mild self-fulfiller jibe.
I hope that you do oppose both racists and far-right spokespeople. It seems to me that your only substantive objection is to my use of the term "sub-human", as all your other points are illogical fluff.
In light of the potential for offence to be taken by jews from idiots lightly flinging about words like fascist, communist and Hitler; I had better not join the massed ranks of F & W idiots by persisting with my ill-judged use of the term "sub-human".
I still want something really rude to say about Verity's racist comment. Oh...why bother... all you "libertarians" out there are on her side anyway.
2 December 2004, 15:58:37 GMT – Like – Reply
Simon Jester "It's sort of like bronzy or goldy, only it's made out of iron." - Baldrick, Blackadder
2 December 2004, 15:37:06 GMT – Like – Reply
Stuart -"Go on, you lying Nazi"
Ah...here we have your hand exposed for all the world to see.
May I suggest that you take said hand and apply it to your favourite solitary procedure.
"they are not my opponents, they are my enemies" - try looking up the word "opponent" in your favourite dictionary.
"Your numeracy and litteracy are lamentable." - from a man who can't add up or spell "literacy"!
As for the current crop of politicians - try comparing the CCA with Hitler's enabling act.
"Why are you defending anti-semitic statements?" - here, you have completely lost the plot. Go on, you lying Nazi, show me one instance where I have defended anti-semitic statements.
"Why are you defending a racist?" I'm not.
2 December 2004, 14:41:15 GMT – Like – Reply
Stuart Simon
-"When he stops labelling his opponents as subhuman"
Au contraire. I only labelled two of them as sub-human, and they are not my opponents, they are my enemies, "foes" if you like. My opponents are decent, mainstream politicians, and I respect them and support their campaign against racism.
Your numeracy and litteracy are lamentable.
When are you going to take the lesson from Godwin's Law and acknowledge that by referring to decent, mainstream politicians as "fascists" or "Hilters" the contributors have soiled the memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust.
3 comments:
Comments made on previous template:
Stuart
I was discounting alter-egos.
6 December 2004, 11:43:22 GMT
– Like – Reply
David Farrer
Stewfart returned the greeting!
6 December 2004, 10:50:52 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
David
I notice that with one honourable exception (namely me) not one of your miserly correspondents returned your kind greeting.
There is a distinct Scrooge tendency among your readership.
We should take pleasure in the little human touch: a careless smile, the exchange of a friendly word or two, the sharing of our national day.
6 December 2004, 10:03:55 GMT
– Like – Reply
rebbikker
Libertarianism is a splendid notion which is totally incompatible with the sort of Thirdworldisation that current illegal immigration engenders and which negates hard won national sovereignty. The fact that Dickson is unable to see this tells us much about his delusional state.
5 December 2004, 20:46:46 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
It never ceases to amaze me how many "libertarians" become die-hard statists when the topic of human migration comes up. There are few things more artificial, anti-freemarket and imaginary than the lines that states draw on the map.
Free your mind. Love your neighbour. Just chill.
5 December 2004, 19:54:46 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
I do not support illegal immigration.
But I would like to see laws against economic migration relaxed. Significant inflows of economic migrants are vital to economic growth. It is no coincidence that countries like the USA, Sweden and England, with good rates of incoming migration, have sound growth-rates, low unemployment and a smaller pensions problem. Economic migrants tend to be young and to want to work, hard. Thus subsidising the leisure and retirement of the existing population.
Scotland has poor inflows of economic migrants, thus lower growth, thus we attract fewer migrants: it is a vicious circle of relative decline. I would like to see Scotland as a beacon of employment and growth, welcoming all-comers.
Many migrants will in due course become fellow Scots. Remember: we are all descendants of migrants. And Scotland is a classic Mongrel Nation. Our unity is built not on ethnicity, language or religion, but on civic institutions. Being a Scot is not in-born; it is a state of mind which many people can aspire to. I like my fellow Scots, and I also like people who want to move to or visit my country. I do not like people who bully weak minorities.
This is one reason why I support the EU, not just for free movement of goods, services and capital; but vitally because it facilitates the free movement of labour.
This whole strand was not about economic migration, but about giving protection to refugees - a totally different group of people.
5 December 2004, 11:18:09 GMT
– Like – Reply
rebbikker
It seems likely that no-one can figure why Dickson pursues a pro-illegal immigration agenda.The answer may be uncomplicated dislike of his fellow Scots.
5 December 2004, 04:03:56 GMT
– Like – Reply
Simon Jester
Attempt to debunk it. It would depend on the nature of the racist statements as to how I should do this.
2 December 2004, 17:12:32 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
Crikey, don't go on in this reconciliatory tone: you'll have me weeping.
I'm still stung by my badly timed spelling error. As I explained many months ago I do not use a spell-checker (it is too much like cheating for my liking) and my day-to-day working language is not English. So I can see where my brain got 2 T's in the word "literature" from. Still, a hell of a place to take a wonky.
We must agree to disagree regarding whether or not Verity's comment was racist, but I do not think he would stand a chance if dragged before a court of law because it is very inflammatory. He would never dare to publish it in a leaflet for example.
-"I support the freedom of racists to expose their views publicly"
Well, here is the crux of the matter: I do not. No matter how liberal and enlightened I try to be, I just refuse to tolerate racism: it is far too prevalent at all levels and facets of society, and it deeply damages all of our countries.
Racists seldom state their racism plainly, but live by innuendo and analogy.
May I ask: what exactly would you do to combat racism, if it were ever plainly stated?
2 December 2004, 16:25:05 GMT
– Like – Reply
Simon Jester
Stuart,
I do disagree with Verity's comment; it is not racist (for the reasons described previously) but it is misguided.
Moreover, I support the freedom of racists to expose their views publicly. Quite apart from the general principle of freedom of speech, it is a lot easier to rebut plainly stated racism.
2 December 2004, 16:07:36 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
Simon,
Very good.
Well, if you are being ironic, then I withdraw my mild self-fulfiller jibe.
I hope that you do oppose both racists and far-right spokespeople. It seems to me that your only substantive objection is to my use of the term "sub-human", as all your other points are illogical fluff.
In light of the potential for offence to be taken by jews from idiots lightly flinging about words like fascist, communist and Hitler; I had better not join the massed ranks of F & W idiots by persisting with my ill-judged use of the term "sub-human".
I still want something really rude to say about Verity's racist comment. Oh...why bother... all you "libertarians" out there are on her side anyway.
2 December 2004, 15:58:37 GMT
– Like – Reply
Simon Jester
"It's sort of like bronzy or goldy, only it's made out of iron."
- Baldrick, Blackadder
2 December 2004, 15:37:06 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
-"Go on, you lying Nazi"
Ah...here we have your hand exposed for all the world to see.
May I suggest that you take said hand and apply it to your favourite solitary procedure.
2 December 2004, 14:53:03 GMT
– Like – Reply
Simon Jester
Stuart,
"they are not my opponents, they are my enemies" - try looking up the word "opponent" in your favourite dictionary.
"Your numeracy and litteracy are lamentable." - from a man who can't add up or spell "literacy"!
As for the current crop of politicians - try comparing the CCA with Hitler's enabling act.
"Why are you defending anti-semitic statements?" - here, you have completely lost the plot. Go on, you lying Nazi, show me one instance where I have defended anti-semitic statements.
"Why are you defending a racist?" I'm not.
2 December 2004, 14:41:15 GMT
– Like – Reply
Stuart
Simon
-"When he stops labelling his opponents as subhuman"
Au contraire. I only labelled two of them as sub-human, and they are not my opponents, they are my enemies, "foes" if you like. My opponents are decent, mainstream politicians, and I respect them and support their campaign against racism.
Your numeracy and litteracy are lamentable.
When are you going to take the lesson from Godwin's Law and acknowledge that by referring to decent, mainstream politicians as "fascists" or "Hilters" the contributors have soiled the memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust.
Why are you defending anti-semitic statements?
Why are you defending a racist?
2 December 2004, 13:16:52 GMT
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