You may say this is very undemocratic, and it is, yet it happens all the time here in Scotland, albeit on a smaller scale.

For years, the government of the day has favoured councils that have voted for it and align with them.

We have to stop being so hypocritical, put our own house in order and admit that the kind of democracy we have is not is not functioning as real democracy. It is open to corruption and misuse of power.

Change does not come easily, nothing good ever does. But without change, Scotland will die a slow death, stripped of its resources and dignity.

Is that what we really want?

Perfection is not what we seek, but authenticity is essential. If we cannot be true to ourselves, who can we be true to? We must keep our dignity even when dealing with Westminster. If they want to keep playing dirty, let them, the world is watching.

Very often, it is not what we do that is deemed offensive, but what we say and how we say it. Truth is truth, and if people find it offensive, that is their problem, but we don’t have to dress it up and antagonise people. When we do that, we demean ourselves.

We are better than that.

When we look at politicians at the moment, all we see is egos on the march! Not policies…just egos.

We change the world by our examples, not our opinions. Voting for something that is not working all of the time is not leading by example, but furthering our opinions…that’s our egos at play!

Change must first come from within us, and if Independence is still the dream, then a change of direction should not be so hard...but is it still the dream? I do wonder at times. When people start to come out of their own ‘small corners’, I might start believing in them again. We must use the mistakes of the past as a springboard, not a defensive wall.