Anniversary of the Union - another unwanted birthday!

The Scotsman recently asked me for my views on the 300th aniversary of the act of union. The article can be found by following this link:

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=79772007

or you can read the full version here.

TIME FOR A MODERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IN SCOTLAND

The 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Union allows us to take stock ofScotland's relationship with the 'United Kingdom'. The Scottish SocialistParty view is that the union should now be ended and replaced by anindependent, democratic, republic.The Union was born of bribery, the threat of military force and the nakedself interest of the merchant classes who lost their shirts on theirreckless Darien adventure. It was imposed by a privileged minority againstthe fury of the common people who burned copies of the Treaty in public.Far from the glorious golden age, the myth so beloved of unionists, 1707 setScotland in the role of junior partner in the bloodstained British Empire.Undoubtedly some Scots grew rich trading and supplying the sinews of military might. But for the average Scot it meant military service orgrinding poverty in the growing industrial slums.These evils were only alleviated by the growing working class movement at home and the liberation movements-starting with the Irish-abroad.Then as now what Burns called "the parcel of rogues in a nation" took the London shilling and from 'North Britain' loyally served the empire.The same representatives of the merchants and banking classes earnestlyproclaim Scotland's so called 'union dividend' and attempt to convince usthat without the UK Osama Bin Laden would be in Burntisland and we would allbe in abject poverty.The truth of course, is entirely different. The union is holding Scotlandback economically and politically, held hostage to another social agendaaltogether. Should the Tories win the next Westminster election thatdichotomy will be shown to be starker still.Scotland also urgently needs the break with British militarism, to close thetrident bases and strike out in a new direction.Just as at the enlightement Scotland can be a beacon of hope to the world offering economic security and ecological sustainability at home and peace and friendship to the world.