MAgazine
Lessons from New York
Democratic Socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani comfortably beat out billionaire-backed billionaire Andrew Cuomo, by 56% to 44% in the final round after vote transfers. Unlike Cuomo, his campaign centred around clearly articulated demands that reflected the needs of the people of New York.
What Scottish independence could deliver for the welfare state
To truly tackle poverty and build a fairer society, Scotland shouldn't just mimic others—it should be bold, learn from Europe's best, and lead with a Universal Basic Income that both saves money and eradicates poverty.
What I learned from the school that made my children
My last child leaves primary school and it gives me a moment to reflect on what our little rural primary school has achieved. There are lessons to be learned for all public policy.
Scotland is being dragged into an RTS crisis
The switch-off of the system that lets many households keep their electricity running is going to have a disproportionate in Scotland. For many it could be a real disaster.
Scotland is not for sale Pt. I
Scotland may not be privatising the public realm with quite the zeal of Starmer’s Labour, but it is happening constantly nonetheless. A vision for a public good-driven democracy is needed.
The Ocean Can’t Wait - Scotland Must Lead the World
A new piece of legislation currently passing through the Scottish Parliament would make Scotland world-leading on environmental protection. If you care about the sea, you should back it.
Turning the heat up - the right way
A series of new government consultations could lead to a home insulation scheme that actually works. You should support them and ask your politicians to do the same.
‘Scotland’s Future – Something Worth Talking About’
William Duguid on the Independence Forum Scotland’s upcoming conference in Perth
This is why the food system is unreformable
Our food system has become a system of corporate exploitation, addiction and early deaths. When every incentive points exactly the wrong way, you can’t tweak the system into shape.
Loch Lomond is a right, not an opportunity
To help the politicians understand why their actions over Flamingo Land have made so many people so angry, Tam Brotherstone explains what it really meant to a working class boy like him. It mean freedom, peace and tranquility - if only for a night.
A Minimum Income Would Be A Real Cost Of Living Guarantee
Instead of a “Cost of Living Guarantee” that doesn’t actually guarantee that you can meet the cost of living, John Swinney should adopt the long-awaited publication of a proposal for a Minimum Income Guarantee.
I want to choose how I’m cared for when I get old
None of us know what our health will bring in the future. A Living Will can help ensure that we get the care we want no matter what happens to us.
That’s so woke: time for a language of emancipation
The far right pose a threat in Scotland too, and we can’t be complacent by saying ‘independence will save us’ especially if the independence we offer is built on the economics which have given rise to the far right, i.e. austerity and the sustainable growth commission.
In an era of psychos we must learn from sociopathy
Sociopathy is both a real condition and also a perfect metaphor for our institutions. We need to learn from one to understand the other
Poor Show Swinney
John Swinney believes, falsely, that increasing social security payments for poor parents will discourage them from working.
They should ban that sort of thing!
Bans save lives - but they also ruin lives. To get them right we need an ethical and moral framework that helps us to understand the difference.
Fair Pay For All
The Scottish Government should add a clause to their Fair Work Framework to limit the maximum pay of executives in companies that wish to claim Fair Work accreditation.
Work To Live
Rather than ask how a UBI would improve life, we could ask what it would look like if someone tried to study the impact of taking a UBI away from us.
Learning from “Greens in Government™”
As we move forward, we must ensure that we are at the centre of decisions, that there remains a left-wing voice in Holyrood, and that we are not tempted by the neoliberal forces of even Scotland’s establishment if we are to return to power.
Who will speak for the seas?
The sea may look eternal and untouchable but human activity is doing enormous damage to our oceans. The Ocean Rights Coalition is calling for the oceans to be granted legal personality so that they can be properly protected.
