tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post8010258348530522798..comments2024-03-28T07:16:39.621+00:00Comments on Lallands Peat Worrier: SNP must reject Labour's penal premise on prison...Lallands Peat Worrierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18276270498204697708noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-37964826083230915382010-03-14T14:24:02.273+00:002010-03-14T14:24:02.273+00:00Sorry for the delay in response, James. I didn'...Sorry for the delay in response, James. I didn't notice your comment until now. "Repel" is a pretty strong word! I wouldn't say I'm repelled, but presently governed by complex, mutually inconsistent attractions! <br /><br /><i>(Although I admit, there are parts of the loose Greenie movement I have difficulties rubbing along with - the dogged, mirthless, uncynical Leftie-gauche student types who I recall being particularly tedious.)</i> As I think I've mentioned to you before, I've rubbed along with a number of committed members of the Scottish Greens in my social life. Many of the people I encountered were conscientious, intelligent, righteous. It also gave me a chance for comparative orientation, if you will!<br /><br />On what is often seen as the governing 'Green' category - the environment - I don't have very strong or well informed views. Which probably reflects the absence of a native spur to engage with the issues. At least thus far. That being so, self-identifying as a Greenie for me would feel rather difficult. <br /><br />Moreover, entailed are the invariable questions about parties of government and political parties very much in the minority, on the fringes - and from which side of the chamber one is more likely to realise your own vision of the fair, the just and the good. My own inclinations are to try to push the centrist party leftward on particular issues, as part of an internal critique of party orthodoxies. Sodding off entails an inevitably partisan "Othering" which concerns me, leaving the field uncontested. So as not to give an excessively rationalised account, deluding myself about the justifiability of the thing, I should admit that habit is an important determinant also of sticking by your existing affiliations.<br /><br />Its something which I've been thinking about more generally, and generating a number of uncomfortable and interesting questions about my affiliation and what degree of deviation from my own ideas I'm willing to suffer before a break becomes inevitable, or even the conscientious thing to do. As I hope my blogging reflects - I do try to engage with issues for myself, criticise when Salmond and Shoal's priorities and philosophies deviate from my own. I don't feel my SNP membership chaffing me, terribly that way, and so habit and broad alignment of views continues to rule. <br /><br />That said, I can envisage a future point where that might not be the case, warranting thought and consideration in the here and now.Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-18036250208724436152010-03-13T15:42:18.466+00:002010-03-13T15:42:18.466+00:00I'm intrigued to know what would repel you abo...I'm intrigued to know what would repel you about us Greens. Consider this a very indirect attempt to proselytise if you will.Jameshttp://twodoctors.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-32440950979084384642010-03-12T10:09:45.672+00:002010-03-12T10:09:45.672+00:00Anonymous,
I doubt it, frankly. Particularly beca...Anonymous,<br /><br />I doubt it, frankly. Particularly because there is much to be said for attending to the direction of your own ship, particularly if you think that it is drifting listlessly in the wrong direction. My own relationship with the SNP fairly regularly assumes such a posture. In particular, many of my views are undoubtedly closer to Patrick Harvie's than they are to Alex Salmond's. Do I jump ship, become a Green Nat in consequence? <i>(Psst! Don't tell Two Doctors' James, or he might try and proselytise me...)</i><br /><br />Yet the same thing would undoubtedly happen there - you'd feel yourself repelled by some aspect of your new party's platform and attracted by others.Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-48218057022487047802010-03-11T10:37:17.595+00:002010-03-11T10:37:17.595+00:00Isn't it only a matter of time till McLeish ju...Isn't it only a matter of time till McLeish jumps ship and joins the SNP?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com