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The truths they don't want you to read....

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Thoughtcrime

Wikipedia: The Thought Police (thinkpol in Newspeak) were the secret police of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four whose job it was to uncover and punish thoughtcrime. The Thought Police used psychology and omnipresent surveillance to find and eliminate members of society who were capable of the mere thought of challenging ruling authority.

Orwell's Thought Police and their pursuit of thoughtcrime was based on the methods used by the totalitarian states and competing ideologies of the 20th century. It also had much to do with Orwell's own "power of facing unpleasant facts," as he called it, and his willingness to criticise prevailing ideas which brought him into conflict with others and their "smelly little orthodoxies." Although Orwell described himself as a democratic socialist, many other socialists (especially those who supported the communist branch of socialism) thought that his criticism of the Soviet Union under Stalin damaged the socialist cause.

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I have always believed that a healthy debate inside a political party strengthened the party and it's members. That was why I was disappointed when the '79 Group inside the SNP were expelled in the early 80's for their strong Republican Socialist stance. A leading light of that movement was one Alex Salmond.

I am just a tiny little unimportant cog in the great big machine, so my views don't count for much, but I do like to think that I adhere to and agree with the vast majority of the policies, and when the local branch take a position that is (a) wrong, and (b) contrary to national policy, I think it is only right that I make my views known, even to those who refuse to listen, discuss or debate.

Angus MacNeil explains his
windfarms policy to the SNP Council Group
How naive of me.

Us little cogs are supposed to shut-up, do as we are told, be undermined, forego our beliefs and principles and not rock the boat. Or else, as the email I received below demonstrates: -

Cllr Angus Nicholson (sic)
38 Francis Street

Stornoway

Isle of Lewis
HS1 2NF

23 March 2007


Dear Cllr Nicolson,

Your blog - http://angusnicolson.blogspot.com/index.html - has been brought to my attention. On 3 March you wrote an article in which you state that you are now able to run as an Independent candidate in the May elections. I believe that you have made clear your intention to run as an Independent, and have distanced yourself entirely from the SNP.

As a result, you have invalidated your membership
of the SNP and I will have your name removed from the membership list forthwith.

Yours for Scotland (sic)

Duncan Ross
National Secretary


So there you have it, after 28 years of membership they can't even spell my name correctly. Now, just thinking about standing as an independent is obviously a crime, which must be worrying for the other local SNP members who already sit as Independent Councillors. But, my goodness, I said all this 18 months ago, and only a fortnight ago the SNP drew my annual membership by direct debit.

There is an upside. I no longer feel constrained to temper my comments. So let's start with: - It's over 2 years since the Data Protection Act registration with the Information Commissioner lapsed. I repeatedly advised the MP and the Branch to comply with the law, but they still haven't. I used to pay for this and ensure compliance with the law, but after May 2005, it was made clear that this was not to be my responsibility. That makes all the emails that have been sent out, a breach of the law.

Then, of course, there are the party political emails I received from a parliament.uk address which are utterly contrary to the rules for public funding. I am sure that taxpayers will be unhappy with this sort of improper back door funding of a political party.

Phewww, that's a weight of my shoulders. If I need to cleanse my soul anymore, then here is where I will do it.

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh dear Angus, thrown out for speaking your mind. Why did you ever get involved with the SNP in the first place? Stay true to yourself as virtue is it's own reward.

Anonymous said...

This is just providing content for a gleeful pro-Labour machine and the WHFP.

Some facts:

1. There are far fewer seats in the Scottish Parliament than in the UK Parliament, so each seat counts for more up here.

2. The election will be close. No party will come out with a stonking majority.

3. Many of those seats are solid-block votes.

4. Thus, the relatively few seats that may flip between Labour and the SNP could in effect determine whether Scotland becomes independent, or stays under London rule.

5. This is one such marginal seat, with a low number of registered voters. Voting here has a disproportionately high effect on the future destiny of Scotland.

Giving a load of ammunition, out of revenge or spite or frustration, it matters not, to Labour may in effect leave you with a bigger legacy than the windfarms. You may end up being the person who significantly helps stop Scotland becoming independent.

There's your thought for the day.

Anonymous said...

Ah never mind, these things happen. And as everyone knows, its written in the Stornoway Constitution that every local organisation must go through at least one schism every five years, be it the Free Church, (although they have them every two weeks), political parties, the Sawmill Band, the Pipeband and the Brownies.

Anonymous said...

If the SNP are getting rid of a long time servant like Angus, they can count me out too.

Anonymous said...

Is Angus bigging himself up anon.?
Tch, tch, Angus you naughtie windmill loving, tax dodging, headline-seeking boy that you are. Go sit in the corner for the next 5 years, and give us all peace. Your friendly neighbourhood Tws.
PS I always vote, therefore so does Herself.

Anonymous said...

Is Angus bigging himself up anon.?
Tch, tch, Angus you naughtie windmill loving, tax dodging, headline-seeking boy that you are. Go sit in the corner for the next 5 years, and give us all peace. Your friendly neighbourhood Tws.
PS I always vote, therefore so does Herself.

Anonymous said...

The White Settler; I see you stopped your blog. Perhaps you need to stop critizing others and if you dont like what Angus writes then dont read it.

He is still the only one prepared to let people know what he thinks.

Angus said...

WASN (why the false ident?), the SNP have five MSPS in the H&I. What %age vote will it take to get 6? I'll tell you: an improbably large amount (over 50% by my crude reckoning).

I intend to vote SNP on the list, and advise others to do so too, in the hope of independence. I haven't changed my views.

Nor will I be told to reverse my principles for electoral expediency. All you end up with then are people who will say and do anything for a vote, and that's no good for democracy (unless you want spineless representatives).

Anonymous said...

Great exercise in shooting yourself in the foot, Angus. Not just yourself, but also by the party you supported for so long.

Anonymous said...

#3 - can to tell us your real name, or will you just hassle Angus for being honest with the voters - even if they don't like it.

Anonymous said...

#10 - shotting in the foot, or Angus being stabbed in the back? You think politicans should do what there partys tell them, or should they think for themselves? i'm with Angus on this

Anonymous said...

Angus, you may be a twat but at least you are prepared to be an honest twat.

Anonymous said...

Mr "holier than thou" MacNeil breaking the law? Surely not.

Angus said...

Still haven't received the letter .....

Anonymous said...

I feel that I need to answer the Anon. person who called me The White Settler. It is Thewhitesettler, get it right. And I think you missed out a letter or two, in your comments. May I say this that I enjoy reading Angus's blogs ( from time to time, although some are a bit emm, too sickly for my taste ) I do not dislike Angus, in fact I quite li, no, no,no, I'm going way too far there, however Angus is MY local council representative ( not exclusively mine, I allow neighbours to have him most of the time, and have never, so far, called on his services, in person ) and maybe if He puts Himself up there in this blog then I may (if I so choose ) make a comment, I believe that part is called freedom of speech. Oh and one last thing, I have NOT stopped blogging ( that was just a moment of madness due to family problems on the mainland ) and due to my current incapacity, my blogs are fast and furious just now. Cheery Tws........

Anonymous said...

Machaseo why did you feel the need to put ( no relation to TWS ) at the end of your comment? Should I be feeling hurt at this? Is it my deodorant? Answer please Tws...

Anonymous said...

Angus aint a twat, he is a rare example of an honest politician.I dont always agree with him but he is better that most of the invisible rest.

Anonymous said...

So Angus, hopefully you can now tell us how Mr Allan managed to walk into what is presumably a very well paid job working for Mr MacNeil when the job wasn't even advertised up here. This job is paid for by the public so surely democracy says that it should have been advertised to locals. I know many people who would give anything to secure a position like that and would have actually used the public's funds wisely and worked for their money. It is obvious that Mr. Allan is just using this position to fund his own electoral campaign. I would love to know how much work he does for Mr. MacNeil and how much time he spends running the campaign during "office hours". How is this good for the Islands?? I understand that it may be good for the SNP but that isn't the point. The one thing that Angus MacNeil could have done for the Western Isles is give one of them a job and he has even failed at that. As the questioners in the Gazette have asked week after week, name 5 things that Mr. MacNeil has done for the Western Isles since he was elected. As an SNP supporter I am struggling to name one.

Anonymous said...

Just as well you're out of the SNP, Angus. I understand it's not lawful to declare yourself a candidate (or even a prospective one) before an election has been called. Care to investigate that for purgatory purposes?

Angus said...

Actually, one can declare oneself as a candidate at any time. The issue is that your election expenses may start running from an earlier date.

Election law is actually quite simple and straight forward on this point.

Anonymous said...

truth will out; nice to see that Mr Allan is boasting on his website that he met with the NHS Chiefs, as SNP candidate. According to my information, he was supposedly working for Mr MacNeil at that particular moment, and being paid by the taxpayer i.e. ME.

SNP support job creation in the Western Isles? Only for their mates!

Anonymous said...

machaseo, if you were ever a floating voter, I'll eat a turbine in front of you and your white settler mates.

Angus said...

I want to disassociate myself from the term "White Settler", but I have permitted the posting.

Anonymous said...

Look at it this way. Alistair Morrison is a tosser and Alastair Alan is a time-serving placeman.

Whatever we do we are stuffed.

Can I vote "none of the above"?

Anonymous said...

machase - are you approving the fact that public servants are using public assets for their own purposes? You think squandering public assets is a good idea?

You must work in the Comhairle or the Health Board, rather than real life, you sponger.

Anonymous said...

That'll be a yes then, Mach0.

Anonymous said...

Who was it that said white settler mates? Firstly I am Thewhitesettler ( I prefer that to the term Incomer ) Secondly, I don't know machaseo, or I don't know him/her under that guise.
Thirdly, I do not have any mates.
Fourthly, I have friends ( you did notice that I used the plural there )
Fifthly, There isn't a fifthly, there wasn't a fourthly either, but it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
I have lived here ( that'll be the Isle of Lewis) for 20 years now, more than anywhere else I've ever lived,so button it pal or I'll get my good pal Betty to sort you out.Cheery Tws.....

Angus said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Angus said...

tws - I know you now! If you can control Betty you have my respect!

Anonymous said...

Hi Angus, like you I got a lot of party political stuff from Kenny & Rhona @parliament.uk, such as:-

3/5/06 11:00 Election Anniversary Party May 5th 2006

19/2/07 16:36 The monthly Branch meeting will be held tonight at 7.30pm.

Trivial? That's what every thief claims.

George Dutton said...

Angus wrote...
So there you have it, after 28 years of membership they can't even spell my name correctly.

It could have been worse Angus they could have called you Jack McDonald.

Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.

Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

Manifest desires,
Embrace selfishness,
Reduce simplicity,
Have few plainness.

The SNP,The way of the SNP(2007-)

George Dutton said...

Angus wrote...
"So there you have it, after 28 years of membership they can't even spell my name correctly."

As they were selling you down the river they could have said...

Dear Mr Huckleberry Finn.

I really must try and do something about my sense of humour?.

George Dutton said...

The picture on the front of this blog. I remember when that happened I have seen the film of it,it was gruesome to say the least. You actually see what happens.
The man holding the gun and about to fire it was a Colonel and the man he was about to kill was a Viet Cong. That Viet Cong had just shot and killed that Colonels wife and young daughter.