I'm sure he was talking to the elites behind the politicians :)

Whoa, if this dude was from the u.s., he would have had his nose un-painted red :->, But, if anyone wants ta do good,you say thank you, and may the politicians not get in the way ( I would have said beaurocrats, but i don't know how to spell it, leaves a bad taste in my keyboard.)

The red nosed man likes publicity, just like joke.
They are bored .

He's right.

Couldn't agree with his comments more. Just takes a wee bit of creative thinking, foresight and the courage to invest sensibly and in the appropriate amounts. There are so many areas of potential investment in alternative energy, engineering, and many other areas of science if you look around.

Methinks Alex Salmond is after a donaton a la Tom Farmer with his rather brown-nosing comments on Sir Tom H's remarks.

Na, I've no business here...Good luck..............

The Environment should be the main political issue in every country since (when you think about it) there's nothing more important. Alternative energy perhaps implies an environmental emphasis, but I would prefer it the other way round. I think an independent Scotland would tend to focus more on environmental matters than as part of the UK (DQ). It's one of many reasons why I'm in favour of us removing ourselves from the Disunited Queendom.

PS Al Gore for US president.

Anyone who has stayed in Scotland over the last twenty years can be classed as a patriot. Ok, he has money, earned by his own ability. If he says that you are going to have to work your butts off to achieve independence, I suggest that you believe him. True independence come from the belief that you are capable of bringing Scotland into the twenty first or twenty second era. As the Chookiembra once said, "pull your fingers out".

Unfortunately, for many of our representatives, mediocrity is the limit of their ability.

Does Mr Hunter not know that mediocrity
is Scotland's religion?

No Heidegger, mediocrity was the essence of all us guys who moved out when we could not cope any longer with the abysmall decisions of our elected leaders. We would like the very many patriots who are still alive and kicking in Scotland to make the effort. I am too old to come home, but Cheezus, I would love Scotland to first get its true patriots elected to government, and second to seek Independence. A really nice way to go, eh!

mediocrity is a condition expected of any nation ruled by another.

Scotland is a residual nation. Those with get up and go have long since went.

**13**

As always, Backward-looking Scots look to the past. What about the present century?

**12**

Combine mediocrity with the typical Scottish chip-on-the shoulder whinge about 'we wuz robbed' and you get a cringe mentality such as defines Scotland.

Too late Tam. With half the workers being government servants in one way or another; and with most of the other workers either not working or working for foreign owners, the socialists whether labour, snp or green have ensured the once proud Scots must emigrate if they wish to be independent and self-reliant.

Scotland is already doing well in financial services but unlike other countries this hasn't resulted in higher investment in other sectors.

Scotland's educational philosophy must be substantially improved in order for the country to rise above mediocrity. On the first day of a graduate programme I attended at the University of Glasgow,
we were told "It is NOT the student's place to ask questions." This "can't do" attitude runs rampant amidst the Scottish educational bureaucracy. I completed my M. Phil. studies in Israel, where I found a most positive, student-friendly, and advanced educational philosphy -- the foundation of an enlightened, forward-looking country.

There is no conflict between socialistic policies and the pursuit of excellence
There IS a conflict between the Service Economy and the Generation of Wealth. A successful wealth-creating economy requires (currently) a financal service sector. It is advantageous to locate this sector at home to maximise the benefits. BUT there is no substitute for manufacturing as a mechanism for distributing wealth to all levels and people of any ability. This makes the social handout policy redundant and it will wither.
One can measure the quality of a society by its willingness to care for its disadvantaged members.
So we must promote a Scotland which combines our legendary skills of creativity, work-ethic and generosity. I'm with Tom F and will support him.

Don't be too hard on bonnie wee Scotland , Tom. We've all but banned smoking and soon the whisky bottles will be smashed to oblivion. Here's to a drink-free Scotland.And when we waken up from our drunken stupour , we might be able to fix the few remaining things that are wrong with the world's finest country.

#4 Faye...agree.

He didna say from which direction mediocraty was being approached!

#22

"There is no conflict between socialistic policies and the pursuit of excellence"

Yes, there is. Socialism is the dead weight that keeps Scotland's growth low. There are far too many nanny-statists in the main parties.

It was Bill Clinton in the early 90's who had the campaign slogan "its the economy, stupid!".

Speaking as a tax dodger...I mean expat...I wonder why FOREIGN investors would come to Scotland knowing that they will hand over at least 30% of their profits to Gordon Brown (or whoever) when they can go to Ireland and only pay 12.5% tax? In Estonia and Dubai the corporation tax is 0%.

The multi-national companies or foreign investors will not invest in Scotland out of patriotism or nationalism so what makes some of our Scottish politicians think that the corporation tax isn't an issue?

BTW
I think it was Nicol Stephen who said recently that Scotland's economy was "punching above its weight". Really? Scotland has the worst performing economy in the EU and this is "punching above its weight"?
Some of our politicians need to get out more often.

As someone who left the employ of the Labour controlled City of Edinburgh Council last year I can say with certainty that there is a culture of encouraging mediocrity and blame. In addition there is a strong element of fear, managers fear their subordinates because many are more able as most of the managers I came across could never survive out in the'real'world so pretend that they can do something by hiding in the Council.
A situation exacerbated by a culture that demands paper qualifications but not ability or experience.

If just had a look at Paul Voltaire's website and his summaries of Edinburgh's suburban areas is as good a reason as any to vote SNP.

Good job, Paul :*P

That's 'I've', not 'If'!

Sir Tom Hunter is correct in his ambitions for Scotland but the only way to achieve them is to throw off the dead hand of New Labour. The SNP is as left as New Labour but has a healthy view of the importance of business. You cannot spent wealth you do not have...so encourage enterprise. Use the wealth the nation does have (yes oil enough) to invest in the future for our children. The further problem of the unionist parties..Labour Tory and Lib Dem is that their ambitions lie within Westminster....throw that off with a velvet revolution and focus on the needs of the Scottish people. It will be good honest hard work but we will be so much better for it. Let Scotland come alive again and yes lets have less of the negativity .

Come of it Tom, world leader? Get real! I'd be happier about being a Scot if we became less nationalistic and more realistic.

The biggest changes affecting Scotland are perhaps developments in global politics. This month, Germany assumed the presidency of the G8 and the European Union.

Ms Merkel (German Chancellor) says she wants closer economic ties between the EU and the US, and has mentioned that her tentative agenda for the G8 would include a first: the social dimensions of globalisation. However Scotland has no official input into this matter.

#18 what you talking aboot 'once proud Scots' ? I wasn't aware that pride had departed from the land.
Diddy.

At last "a bloke" talking sense! Hoorah

18. Good stuff. I particularly agree with your obvious appreciation of the merits of independence and self reliance.

Perhaps Tom can finance a live TV debate between Jack McC and Alex Salmond?
Now that would be money well spent

Tom Hunter is absolutely correct, he is prepared to help but we all need to play our part.

There are two problems that only the electorate can solve.

(1.) how to get rid of the morally, ideologically and intellectually bankrupt Labour/Lib-Dem coalition? ANSWER - it looks as though the SNP may be the only party big enough to accomplish this so why not give them our vote in May and get the job done. It does not really matter for now that their policies are make believe or that many in their camp are mental minnows (most of the comments above and the ‘it’s time’ chant) What matters is breaking the present coalition’s back so severely that a grown up debate can be held post the May election. There is no way that the SNP are going to gain sufficient support this time round to force the independence issue and there are constitutional safeguards in place to prevent this happening. We cannot support the Lib-Dems who are as guilty as hell in all of this, the Tories are no longer a credible party, SSP dead in the water (thank God) and Greens lack intellect.

(2.) are we fit to govern ourselves and if so should we leave the union? ANSWER – maybes aye / maybes no. In our present state definitely not, but with the right people in place and by opening our minds to modern solutions, as practised in other countries, this may indeed become a realistic option.

It is a two stage process, we are possibly starting to figure out the first part and we can worry about the next bit when the time comes.

Joke ,would,ny turn up,he would be too scared.
Wee eck would roast him like the chicken jack is.

Easy to say when you have all that money and people will listen. Who listens to my opinions? Farmer should go and stay in England. Most Scot's think he is a prat.

These posts and others in the Scotsman suggest that the country is verging on revolution. If Scotland was really a dictatorship, this chat board would be quickly shut down and the contributors traced and punished. So we have one thing in our favour, Scotland is not (so far) a dictatorship despite fears about the nanny state.

Oddly there are no articulate comments in favour of the the McConnell position. And yet the opinion polls show that McConnell is running a strong second to the SNP.

Are the Labour supporters afraid to say anything here, even under the cloak of anonymity? Or are they just too inarticulate to express themselves? Or are they under orders from Joke not to provoke the opposition? Or are they not in the habit of reading the Scotsman publications? Perhaps a combination of all four.

Absolutely correct. We can get out of our rut of economic decline, but only by doing something.

Only thing I disagree with is that Scotland shouldn't be aiming to go to the Moon http://9percentgrowth.blogspot.com/2006/09/scottish-space...

http://9percentgrowth.blogspot.com/2006/09/x-prize-founda...

38 This is a comments page and just because someone says 'It's time', doesn't, by definition, make them a mental minnow.

You don't have to be an articulate genius to know that many people have truly had enough of this patronising way of government and that there is another way forward.

Of course, an Independent Scotland would not automatically be a Utopian existence but it makes many people irritated that we continually get put down and told we're not good enough to even think about it.

Therefore, wait for it.....

It's time!

Hey spidey #13, give me a few examples of unique achievements delivered by Scots recently, that all happened a long time ago. since then we have become experts at claiming brew money, not working and litigation !

This country has gone to the dogs - you just need to look around you. I was in Glasgow yesterday and if you take a step back and look at the place its an utter cowp !!

At the end of the 19th Century, after generations of abuse, labour thought socialism offered the only glimmer of hope for the future. As we've seen in the 20th Century the Soviet and New Labour styles of socialism differ only in the speed of societal suicide.

It is time for the Scots to write their own government (bureaucratic) instruction manual. Let's call it a 'Bill of Rights'. In it we will clearly spell out the limits of what government can do, so that even politicians (once called civil servants) can understand. This should not be particularly difficult because our 18th Century Enlightenment Philosophers have worked much of this ground before.

Progress is most likely when the mediocre get out of the way.

Sir Tom Hunter pressed the right button. He is a first class example of the old time Scot who got up and got it ! Ambition is the driving force but it is useless without the Will. The Will to succeed. The Will to govern ourselves as our predecessors of old. And the Will to carry out our ambitious plans through from the drawing board to the hard tack!

Hold you head up Scotland and just go for it!

39
Oor Wullie & Broons level of comment is worse than mediocre.

The book 'Stone Voices: The Search for Scotland' by Neal Ascherson, Hill & Wang, is a good starting point for discovering how insidious the stumbling blocks to progress are.

46
We may come to govern ourselves as our predecessors did but remember when that was the case Scotland was very poor, backward and very insignificant.

If Scotland ever had any greatness it was as part of a Union which rose far above the many inward and backward looking, state supported whingers we seem plagued with today.

SNP wants democracy on planning rights by referendum! What a joke. Phone a friend and developers will be ensuring that some computer poll wins the "referendum".

The SNP needs to waken up - Scotland's asset is its landscape and ecotourism. Wake up, Wake up, Wake up SNP.

Sir Tom Hunter is right. A mediocre Scotland curtailed by its politicians.

Taxpayers money is being thrown at large multinationals who then close up shop so that they can capitalise on new tax breaks elsewhere.

Scotland has been famous for its inventors. But what do our current polticians do?

Starve Scottish inventors of vital cash!

What about George Leslie from the Orkney Islands?

http://www.land-care.org.uk/science/current_topics/2005/j...

Look at most of the USA and Canada - flat landscapes! Scotland has great scenery. Tourist figures prove that.

Scotland needs to waken up to the fact that its best selling feature is its landscape. But ...................the SNP wants to turn Scotland into an industrial wasteland littered with wind turbines everywhere ...........just like every other party who claims to care about Scotland.

Help our Scottish inventors and save Scotland's wild scenery.

SNP needs to ditch its policy of destroying Scotland's wild scenery before it will win the hearts and minds of people who care about Scotland and its dramatic wild scenery.

SNP should listen to people - it might win by a landslide - but unless it wakens up and realises that Scotland's best asset is its landscape, Scotland will continue to be a land of mediocrity, or worse,

condemned world wide as that place known as industrial wasteland covered with............wait for it.........

3,419 wind turbines! With more to come?

That is what so called 'green' poli

#27 W Smith........ During the recent Global Scot conference Nicol Stephen also said "private sector funders were hampering the drive to improve the number of successful start-ups by starving companies of the kind of risk capital that could make a vital difference to early-stage ventures."

He went on to say "That is very dangerous and short-sighted and ultimately damaging for the economy."

This is no longer just a matter of just throwing off the dead hand of New Labour. It's gone well beyond that. It's the dead hand of the City of London we can no longer afford and actually, neither can the rest of the Union.

Tom Hunter's remarks are welcome.

Our much hyped Holyrood parliament more resembles a glorified toon cooncil with most (not all)of its members immersed in their parochialism and incompetence.

To admit that is not to talk down Scotland. We have the talent but our bunch of rulers - politicians and senior civil servants are terrified on anyone with real talent getting close enough to expose their ignorance, lies, cowardice and short-sightedness.

For Scotland's sake, get rid of them !

Might face mediocrity?? From where I sit that is all I can see with this washed out fourth rate bunch of so called politicians. If they any indication of what might transpire under so called home rule then gawd help us all. Even you lot who believe in it.

I wish Mr Tom Hunter would go into politics he would be a breathe of fresh air. One that is much needed.

Mr. Farmer has recently announced that he is starting a new party. While I don't know enough about the gent to question his motives. I'd just like to note that in the American experience, third parties are sometimes used by the Establishment to weaken or destroy a movement--such as the Scottish independence movement that is currently being expressed in support for the SNP.

One way to destroy the SNP would be for this new party to run strong candidates in areas where they could siphon off enough votes from the SNP. If it prevented the SNP from winning a clear majority of seats then it could, in theory, be part of a governing coalition with Labour and sell out everything that might be gained from an independent Scotland to benefit his class interests.

All in all Mr. Farmer's lamentations have all the earmarks of Chamber of Commerce boosterism cobbled together 'Dare-To-Be-Great' flim-flam. Let's see who will be running along behind his Rolls as he scatters his farthings.

The scottish people are capable of leading the world in many fields. It appears that the politicians do everything they can to stifle business and 'their' people.

Tom Hunter is spot on - if only this was the calibre of person in the scottish parliment. He really does make these 'z' list, 5th rater MSPs look like exactly that ...

52 Typical Nicol Stephen. A sound bite about how it is all the fault of entrepreneurs & nothing to do with him. Meanwhile Scottish Enterprise spends £500 million a year on bureaucracy & pet windmill schemes. If venture capital is available in London & California but not here it is because venture capitalists look at his government & say that there are more profits & less paper shuffling elsewhere.

Meanwhile the "Lib" Dems are committed to putting political correctness inspectors across Scottish industry to ensure it is run according to the "expectations" of every "special interest group".

Sir Tom's comments regarding the enlightenment are spot on. Edinburgh's Golden Age was from 1760 onwards. Glasgow and Dundee flourished during the Victorian era.

Scots, because of the then successful system in place, moved throughout the Empire running the place and making fortunes. But where is that drive now? Cowed under the tyrannical jackboot of the Union? No. Because it was the Union that gave the opportunity. Crushed by successive and more corrosive social experiments and socialist policies? I think so.

If Tom Hunter is ready to invest in Scotland, rather than telling him to move out to England (as one post states) perhaps we should be debating what, where, why and when?

Nicol Steven is nothing but a chancer. He played about with the route of the Aberdeen by-pass so that he could make political capital out of it. The fact the revised route is now a much more expensive solution with no obvious advantage doesn't come into it. Anything he says should be taken with a bucket of salt.

As for the City or PI not rushing forward to pump money into his pet plans, can you blame them? The idea is to weigh the risks, assesses the merits and returns of a proposal and say yes or no. If private investors are saying no then it is only because they see less risk and more return on their investment elsewhere. Dont blame them, blame the people creating the investment climbate.

Neil of 9% Growth Party is one of the few here speaking with the necessary learning
-it is indeed all about economics.
I used to be a Socialist, boy was I wrong.
A great book:
Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell

If you are a socialist or believe in big government, this book could alter your entire consciousness. Boy is it liberating to have read that.
Individualism is not the same as selfishness.
That is the insight which comes of understanding the insight (and verifiable fact) that general prosperity is maximised by individuals who work to maximise their own benefit.
Free market and small government is not a religion, it is merely the most approproate means of achieving the level of material prosperity that we all need. It's not sensible for people to have personal opinions on this point unless they have at least read about classical liberalism, or, say, Statecraft by Thatcher, or the book above.
(if the mere mention of Thatcher throws you off, and classifies this author as the enemy, then we really are in trouble) -please be temperate

oops, reviewing above, most people in recent comments do seem on the ball about small government etc... sorry

SCOTLAND'S richest man has issued a stark warning to the country's political elite ahead of this year's Holyrood elections, saying they risk creating a "mediocre Scotland" unless they shake up their act.
Alex Salmond, leader of the SNP said: "We can argue about the sectors, but more important is the ambition which lies behind this, to move Scotland out of the mediocrity which we are currently in."

Here we have mediocre Alec Salmond talking Scotland down. If Salmond is correct Scotland is already mediocre, who is right?

Is it not pretty obvious that in socialist Scotland nearly everyone with get up and go has got up and gone? Beyond indpendence SNP has nothing to offer other than blood, sweat and tears - ours, not theirs.

Rather than let this be a vent for frustration (though that be understandable)
How about this: Socialists also have get up and go.

It's just that the social justice they want is not the end result of their policies. They have intentions, but lack understanding of the consequences of their policies.

#60 Bill, #57 Neil, #63 Rulesbutnotrulers

Well said Bill! The forerunner to Thatcher was, of course, Adam Smith and then much later Milton Friedman.

The irony is that the left-wing, old labour, socialist tax imposed on the Scots and Scottish companies originates from Kirkcaldy's Mr Brown.

India is very fortunate to have Mr Manmohan Singh who is credited with helping to start India's economic boom as Finance Minister and now he is the PM - an admirer of Friedman, Smith and Thatcher I believe. Singapore's Mr Lee Kuan Yew had the same basic strategy as Mr Singh - low taxation and less regulations for business.

BTW
An american neighbour of mine recently told me that some companies in Massachusetts were moving out of the state and moving to his home state of New Hampshire where business taxes are lower. Does this sound familiar?
(The nick name given to Massachusetts is Taxachusetts - maybe Scotland should called Taxedonia).

The old man is spot on!

Scotland needs to become the 51st State of the US if it ever needs to prosper. Scotland sent so many sons to the US where they could create science and industrial wealth. I think that every Scot should have a US passport.

As one who "got up and went" many years ago, I must say that why I left was because Scotland (and the UK in general) failed to grasp the concept of developing a semiconductor industry. Instead, the focus was on inward investment and pulling in jobs. Of course, without an indigenous industry, nothing stuck and the inward investments turned outwards, taking the likes of me with them. Conversely, look at how the US, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and now China all built successful industries that compete globally. Scotland got left in the dust.

If I look at where I live today, I see substantially more successful people per capita like Sir Tom; I seldom run into conversations and chat rooms about politics, but frequently talk business and technology; I notice that risk-taking and success are admired, respected and supported; and that people don't expect the government to make them successful, but get out and do it themselves. The people with “get up and go” don’t get driven out or suppressed to the point where they look elsewhere.

While back in Scotland this summer, I observed that the financial services business is strong and healthy, and there are a few pockets of innovation still going on, but the biggest topic of "business" conversation was retail. I saw very little of what I would call real “business” going on – just look in the newspapers’ “Business” sections to get a feel for it – it’s nearly all finance, retail and housing. Scotland appears to be becoming a nation of shopkeepers, bankers and politicians (both paid and armchair) with precious little interest in developing natural or man-made resources that can serve global markets.

I fail to see how a small place like Scotland with just 5 million people could have the critical mass to sustain independence. If you think there is too much overhead now, just wait and see what happens if independence is achieved. Devolution was a good move that gives Scotland local control much

Surely there ia misprint in the headline.
I'm certain it should read TO not OR!!!!!

#69 Global Scot
You've covered alot of ground so I won't discuss all your points.

You said "lead by example with the economy and don't wait for the politicians".

But surely the politicians have to get out of the way first by cutting the red tape and then cut the taxation - correct?

I heard that the reason Washington state has so many great companies like Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, etc, is because the business taxes are considerably lower than other states. Can you confirm this?

If this is the case then we go back to square one where there has to be a fundamental change to Scotland's form or style of government - correct?

#71

Yes taxes and incentives draw companies in their infancy and old age to more accomodating places. California invited everyone out West after WW2 and gave incentives, land, and sunshine. When the bundling of companies and the proximity of industry was established California was the place to start a company. Everything you needed was right there. Then as the infrastructure began to cost more and taxes on property were capped, businesses began to get taxed more. Other taxes were added in and on until in order to get a proper talent one had to pay a high salery. In the late eighties and early nineties other states such as Georgia, New Mexico, Arizona, and Washington State began to offer incentives to large companies-a start up is still going to do well starting in San Francisco and Los Angeles because of the proximity of infrastructure. Atlanta Georgia started in the late sixties when it was destitute. They offerred land and tax incentives. In 1991 Lockheed moved ten thousand high paid jobs to Atlanta from Los Angeles. Imagine cutting payroll by one or two thousand dollars a month over ten thousand jobs.($10mil to $20mil a month). Hughs, Lockheed and other companies moved divisions out of the LA area to the tune of tens of thousands of high paid salaries. Seattle made it easy for Boeing to situate there. In the twenties Boeing considered Vancouver British Columbia but the stuffy Canadians would not offer incentives. Atlanta is now booming. Seattle is booming. The formula is obvious. With the need of a new boom and the need to clean up our act, there are gazilions to be made in technology that helps undo the mess we have made: energy, trash, biodegradable trash, etc.

Yes, my comment "set the environment and clear the paths" is as you say, "cutting the red tape". However, with "cutting taxation", I think we would run into a "what comes first - chicken or egg" discussion. If you have a strong economy, then cutting taxation is relatively easy, but I doubt that cutting taxation will necessarily result in economy stimulation. I very much doubt that WA's great companies are there because of low taxes. I'm in Silicon Valley and the reason we have great companies like Intel, Google, etc. is because we have an environment that truly stimulates entrepreneuralism, supports and encourages risk. We don't have low taxes, but we still have a lot of extremely successful companies in a State with a strong economy. To me, it's not so much the level of taxation, but more about how it is spent.

My opinion is that Scotland's government should focus more on a style that creates an infrastructure of real support, help and encouragement for its entrepreneurs. The GlobalScot network has been a great start and the GlobalScot conference in September identified much of the recipe that will be required to make a significant improvement. Just listen to the speakers for some great insight and ideas... http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/services...

he is taking a lot of cack "Scotland must shape up or face mediocrity" sounds more like a slogan for encouraging someone to go to the gym shape up or end being a fat pudding.

#72 Kenneth
excellent - a lot of info there.

#73 Global Scot
Actually I have just checked your link and to be honest normally I wouldn't bother with Scottish Enterprise info - but the speakers listed look impressive. I'll check out what they have to say. I hope our politicians are listening.

Thanks to you both - its late here so I'm off.

Glad to hear some positive ideas being mooted. Scotland's cringe mentalitiy is the major drag on the innovators who are still there. I encounter a lot of creative peple in NZ who got up and went to get way from the choice of socialists in Scotland. They are unlikely to come back. How do we tackle the mentality that criticises success and demands handouts, or thinks 'independance' is the answer as everything will be nationalised and all wealth shared rather than earned? That is Scotland's big problem.

#73 Global Scot
I wonder if I could ask you how you would respond to someone who wants to start a business but is suspicious of government trying to husband entrepreneurialism.

As a potential cynic, (who did not go to the Global Scot conference, though might have done if I knew about it) --such a thing is good for politicians because they can hand out a lot of glossy brochures, and generate a feel good factor among participants. (i.e. my point is that it is undoubtedly good pr for politicians).

Outcomes (for participants):
1. "Enjoyed the conference and met people" -fine.
2. "Discussions were had and contacts were made" -potentially useful.
3. But: Did it or does anything deriving from it have a concrete effect on your business success?
-if the answer is "um, well..." -then isn't it merely a talking shop?

It looks to me like government husbanding and paying for something akin to a coffee shop.
(remember: that the conference exists is through taxation) (such conferences also exist in the private sector, where there is a market for them)

I think and hope that I represent economic expertise accurately by saying that the best thing government can do to encourage growth is set the minimum regulations that are required, set the incentives (including low tax and other things), and then get out of the way. To say anything more about Scotland in particular, what we definitely need is consultation from the experts (lets pray and hope this connection is made), on just how Scotland as the economy that it is can take a positive course like this. Hong Kong, Singapore, and now Dubai are stunning examples of economic success, although massively different from Scotland in their actual economic structure. What we need to see is what is possible and what specific economically sound measures can work for Scotland, and are not politically motivated.

PS (though this is an important point)