"I want indy but...."

No 'ifs' no 'buts' no monkey nuts. You either want independence for Scotland or you don't.

There is no half-way house. You are either committed to Scotland being free of London rule or you are committed to hanging around in a union of unequal nations being ruled by a never-ending succession of Tory Governments.

Today I want to look at "Yes buts". Those people who want independence, but feel they have a reason why not.

The 'buts' I come across, even among some Yessers, are manufactured doubts that the mainstream media and UK Government have been throwing at you since day one of the union. You'll be: "Too Wee Too Poor".

If you have a 'but' when it comes to Scottish independence, it is but a construct of their making, not yours. It is a seed planted to make you doubt your ability to run your own affairs. A Lawyer would always seek to introduce doubts in the minds of a jury to secure their client's acquittal. The same has been done to you.

This time we start the race at 50/50 Yes/No. The last time we started the push it was 20/80 and, if everyone that voted yes last time votes yes this time, then we are free of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 


'But' me no 'buts'. 

Most 'buts' start off as defensive shields, like the excuses wee kids use when they get caught doing a naughty thing:

"Did you draw on the wall?""Yes, but, but ,but, but....." 

Then we learn the deflection 'but':

"But Andrew threw my teddy in the bin!"

As kids we learn to justify and explain away our actions and absolve ourselves of blame by using the qualifier 'but'. We use it to get out of apologising. We use it to cut off conversations as if what comes after the 'but' is the 'end of'. Ahhh 'but'....

We all laugh at the incoherent torrent of defensive "Yeah 'but' no 'but'..." that spews forth from 'Vicky Pollard' in Little Britain. But have a listen out for the 'buts' that we all use day in and day out to prevent ourselves from taking positive action. 

"I would do that 'but'..."

The more we take charge of our responsibility, the less we use the word 'but'.  When you add a 'but', it turns an explanation into an excuse. Keep adding 'buts' and you've got yourself a reason and you've convinced yourself.

"I am late for work... but: the bus didn't come." 

(it's not my fault, don't blame me).

You are late for work. Apologise and take it on the chin. Nobody wants to hear the long drawn out explanation of why. 

"I would vote yes... but"

When you squeeze in this 'but' you are shutting down the possibility of an independent Scotland in your own mind. You create a conflict that probably has no bearing in fact and has more to do with fear.

Most 'but's are financial. Project Fear tapped into this to motivate people to vote No.

Let's look at some of the 'buts' Project Fear used.  
What about:

Currency?
Value of currency?
Pensions?
Trade?
Investments?
Debt?

These 'but's need answering. 
Key to the getting the 'yes buts..' into yes is having an answer. 

This time, politicians and activists must have a clear answer for these concerns. If we don't sort these worries out for voters, they are not excuses, they become reasons not to vote yes.

There was wholesale lying and fear-mongering done to pensioners in Scotland. All we had in our arsenal to counter their lies was a 3rd hand photocopy of a letter sent to a pensioner in Westhill from the Department of Work & Pensions telling said pensioner what their pension would be secure in an Independent Scotland. This time we can do better.

This time, we kick those 'buts'.