WOULD you like to join in and participate in a vision of a democracy fit for the 21st century, where every voice is heard, every vote is valued equally, and every citizen is empowered to take part?
Constitution for Scotland is a registered Scottish charity with the aim of advancing participative democracy within the community of Scotland.
We ask you to consider the following questions regarding the content our proposed constitution for an independent Scotland and invite you to take a look at our draft model constitution and propose how these aspects could be improved and incorporated for the future.
Q1. Under the current centralised system of government are our professional political leaders too distant from the everyday lives of their constituents?
Q2. Undoubtedly there are many capable and conscientious politicians but following a couple or more terms in office in a secure well-paid job do they lose their edge?
Q3. Over the past decade, how much closer has Scotland moved towards the more democratic style of government enjoyed in the Scandinavian countries?
The Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland was a trailblazer for real democracy in Scotland. It was like a huge public jury. It brought together more than 100 people who were selected to mirror the make-up of Scotland in terms of age, ethnicity, disability, and gender – more than half of the group were women.
For the many of us who feel locked out of the decisions affecting our lives, here was an example of people just like you and me coming together to advise the decision-makers.
READ MORE: HAVE YOUR SAY: Would you like an EU referendum after Scottish independence?
The Scottish Government is championing economic wellbeing as central to a vision of society as we would want it. To achieve that vision will require a change in how Scotland is managed. Good government (or management) happens only when power is shared, and decisions taken close to where they will have most impact.
Only then will all levels of society feel empowered by knowing their voices can be heard and listened to. Then they will feel part of the system they live within and be confident that system will enable them to engage on equal terms with similar-minded folks both at home and around the world.
In Article 12 of the publicly participative website Constitution for Scotland, there are proposals for a de-centralised system of governance including multi-tiered local government incorporating decision-making community and area councils. Come and give your views on what your local community and area councils should control.
The Constitution for Scotland website – www.constitutionforscotland.scot – is based around an internationally accredited software platform that enables participants to comment, propose amendments, and then vote on their preferences. In essence, it’s a structured form of blog that is available to enable online voter participation on issues that concern us nationally, locally, and personally.
In a recent poll, 71 % of the younger generations were supportive of independence. Understandable, as it is about their future. With their familiarity with media tech, using such a platform should be easy-peasy for them to build the equivalent of an online citizens’ assembly. If a bunch of old-timers (plus some younger help) can handle a participative website such as Constitution for Scotland surely the skills of younger Scots, could generate the next stepping stone to independence?
Returning to the phrase economic wellbeing – economic – is unfortunately the keyword as money is what mainly determines the current standard of living and hence the wellbeing of most folks. Too many of Scotland’s population do not appreciate that Scotland has always been a successful international trading nation and even today has a positive export trade balance, despite the investment limitations imposed by the devolution system within the Union with England, which country operates with a negative export trade balance and does not suffer from such restricted investment.
READ MORE: Independent Scotland may hold EU referendum under new SNP plans for indyref2
Scotland’s ambitions for self-determination have always been about internationalism, from Winnie Ewing’s “stop the world, Scotland wants to get on” to Nicola Sturgeons recent COP26 diplomatic outreach and her reassurance to EU nationals living here, that Scotland is their home.
A nation can only be truly independent when its national government controls both its currency and central bank. We suggest that you check out Article 8 of the Constitution for Scotland, where there are several proposals for the economic wellbeing of Scotland when we are self-governing. Article 8
provides you with an opportunity to read the comments from knowledgeable financial experts and add your own positive ideas where appropriate.
You can join more than 12,000 visitors, read more than 1000 comments and participate in preparing a constitution for Scotland. Many people post comments and amendments and vote on this interactive website because democracy is an evolving process and open to everyone.
To interested groups, the Constitution for Scotland team offers a “Guest Speaker” introduction, demonstration and Q&A session within your own Zoom meeting. Please contact info@constitutionforscotland.scot to arrange.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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